UK energy firms using £40bn support scheme blocked from paying bonuses

Government's energy markets financing scheme will also bar dividends to shareholders

Energy companies attempting to tap a 40bn government scheme to protect them from volatile prices will be blocked from paying bonuses to executives and dividends to shareholders.

The energy markets financing scheme (EMFS), devised by the Treasury and the Bank of England, is intended to offer a safety net to help energy firms facing short-term financing problems.