The deadline to apply for a discount on the Climate Change Levy (CCL) tax for poultry producers has only a short window left for businesses to apply.

Eligible producers have been advised to contact NFU Energy, who administers the scheme on behalf of the NFU, by the end of February in order to process applications before the deadline.

The Climate Change Agreement (CCA) scheme, which provides substantial discounts to the Climate Change Levy (CCL), is available to producers involved in poultry (meat and eggs), pigs and horticulture.

Eligible businesses that sign a CCA receive a discount to the CCL, the tax added to electricity and fuel bills, in return for reducing their energy use and carbon emissions in line with agreed targets.

NFU Energy administers the pig, poultry and horticulture, CCA schemes, making the application directly to the Environment Agency on customers’ behalf  and providing expert help and guidance to members of the scheme.

Gas users in the scheme will see a 22% increase in their allowances this year amounting to a discount of 86% and Imported Electricity users will continue to see discounts of 92% on the CCL tax they must pay. These savings could be critical at a time when energy prices are so high.

In order to receive the CCL discount, eligible businesses need to:

• Sign a Climate Change Agreement - a legal agreement between them and the Government that commits them to meeting future energy efficiency targets.

• Return energy and production data at set intervals to prove they are actually achieving these targets.

For further information on the scheme and to apply, visit the NFU Energy website by clicking here.