Can my business avoid the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme? Unfortunately not. The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is MANDATORY and it places legal obligations on organisations to disclose information and (for larger energy users) report on emissions and purchase allowances from the Government.

Any organisation that does not comply with its legal obligations under CRC will be subject to financial penalties.

The qualification period for the introductory phase of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme was January to December 2008. It is the energy bills from that year which will be used to decide participation.However, actions taken now to reduce your business's energy usage will strongly count towards your position in the first three years' league tables, which will be published as a way of judging the relative performance of participating companies.

The qualification period for the first seven-year CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme cycle is the 2011 calendar year. Companies below the current qualification threshold but who anticipate growth in their business's energy usage, especially due to company growth and expansion, should look for ways of saving energy now - in order to avoid inclusion in the next cycle.

As companies involved in the scheme reduce their energy usage, and as the Government continues to set more stringent emission targets in order to meet their overall targets of an 80% emission reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, expect the qualification threshold to be lowered for the next phase.

KEY DATES - Please note some dates have changed as of October 2010 in an announcement made in the UK Government's Comprehensive Spending Review.

Jan-Dec '08:		Period used to identify which organisations have consumed more than 6000MWh of half hourly metered electricity.
July '09:		The Environment Agency issued letters to the billing address of all half-hourly metered properties to make them aware of CRC.
April '10:		CRC Scheme officially begins. This date will be used as the start of the 1st compliance year and the start of the 'Footprint Year"
Apr-Sept'10:		Official Registration Period.
Apr '12:		First sale of allowances to cover following year's forecasted emissions.
Apr'12:		Footprint Reports must be submitted and allowances surrendered.
Oct '12:		1st Recycling Payment will be made with companies receiving allowances plus/minus bonus/penalty depending on their League Table position.

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