26/07/2012

Centrica Reports 15% Rise In Profits

Owners of British Gas, Centrica, have reported a 15% rise in first-half adjusted operating profits to £1.45bn.

The results include a 23% rise in operating profits at its residential energy division, British Gas, to £345m.

The company said volumes were boosted by the "colder than usual" weather between April and June.

In May, British Gas suggested that bills could increase for customers this winter, blaming rising wholesale gas costs.

However, wholesale prices have dropped since then.

The warning came just four months after it had announced a 5% cut in its standard electricity tariff.

But prices in the first six months of 2012 were still higher than a year ago, as electricity prices were raised 16% in August 2011 and gas bills also went up by 18%.

In its latest results statement, Centrica chief Sam Laidlaw said the group had performed well despite "challenging market conditions".

(H)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

31 July 2008
Centrica Posts £1 Million In Profits - To Consumers Anger
British Gas owner Centrica has posted half-year profits of almost £1 billion - much to the anger of consumer groups. Centrica maintain that it has been "absolutely necessary" to raise household gas prices as profits were down 20% in the first six months of this year to £992 million - down from £1.23 billion in 2007.
23 February 2012
Labour Slams British Gas For "Enjoying Huge Profits"
Labour's Shadow Secretary has slammed Centrica, owners of British Gas, after reporting profits of £2.415 billion. Caroline Flint MP said people will be shocked when millions of families are struggling with their energy bills while British Gas enjoys huge profits.
30 July 2015
British Gas To Cut 6,000 Jobs
British Gas owner Centrica has announced it is to cut 6,000 jobs by 2020. The announcement comes as the group reports a doubling of profits at the British Gas business in the first six months of 2015. In its annual Interim Results report, the company said half the jobs lost would be through redundancies.
30 July 2009
Centrica Profits Drop 5.6%
Energy giant Centrica has reported a 5.6% drop in profits in the first half of this year, but believes it will remain focused on delivering stability and growth throughout the rest of 2009. However, profits from British Gas, part of the Centrica Group, rose to £299 million from £166 million in the same period last year.
23 February 2006
Centrica profits rise to £1.5bn
British Gas owner Centrica has announced an 11% increase in profits, taking the amount to £1.5 billion. Centrica attributed the profits to its gas production and storage operations. The announcement is set to cause controversy, coming a week after British Gas announced that the cost of gas and energy bills would rise by 22% this year.