UK Manufacturers Urge Government to Address High Electricity Costs

British manufacturers are raising concerns over soaring electricity prices, which remain significantly higher than in other European nations. In a joint letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and Make UK have warned that UK steelmakers are paying an average of £65.97 per megawatt-hour—substantially more than their counterparts in Germany (£49.50) and France (£43.49). This pricing gap is threatening the global competitiveness of British industry, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on precision instrumentation and control systems.

Rising energy costs have already contributed to the closure of key facilities, including Ineos’s synthetic ethanol plant at Grangemouth. In response, the TUC and Make UK are urging the government to take immediate steps to lower energy prices for energy-intensive industries. They are also calling for a clear, long-term strategy to bring the UK’s industrial electricity costs in line with those of its European neighbours. Without swift intervention, the risk of further job losses and long-term damage to the UK manufacturing sector continues to grow.

For companies such as Amelec Instruments, which supply essential signal conditioning and process control solutions, the current energy climate highlights the critical need for energy-efficient technologies. By improving energy management and optimising operational efficiency, these solutions play a vital role in helping businesses navigate the pressures of high electricity costs.

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