big freeze boosts centrica profits - residential energy storage
Centrica, the UK gas owner, has seen a 3 increase in profits from its residential energy sector.
Between £ 2% and £ 0. 356 billion as it cashed the freeze in the first half of this year.
After the supplier raised the tariff by 6% in December, it earned a profit from the cold weather.
The announcement by UK natural gas housing that its energy supply profit has increased from £ 0. 345 billion in the same period last year could spark anger.
It has promised that it will use higher revenue for the time being to temporarily limit more tariff increases, but activists have called on the company to cut prices further.
Sam Laidlaw, chief executive of Centrica, said: "In the unusually cold winter, our customers use more gas to keep warm and we are doing everything we can to help them control their energy costs, make the bill simpler and clearer.
"Compared with last year, the average gas consumption of residents increased by 13% in the same period, and the electricity consumption increased by 1%.
Profits increased due to cold weather, partially offset by higher commodity prices and new duties to provide energy efficiency measures in customers' homes
Environmental costs rose 37%.
Centrica's chief financial officer, Nick Luff, tried to transfer part of the responsibility for future tariff increases to the government --backed ECO (
Obligations of energy companies)scheme.
According to the plan, the customer will be assisted by the cost of boiler repair, replacement or insulation, which will "inevitably affect the customer's bill in the end", he said ".
Loff, who does not rule out the possibility of further tariff increases this winter, said that "the cost pressure is still rising", while fluctuations in wholesale gas prices may also be a factor.
"We will keep the price as low as possible for as long as possible.
"If the price has to rise, we will postpone it as long as possible," he said . ".
The UK natural gas residential profit increased by 9% for Centrica's overall revenue, from 1 to 1.
Between 45 billion and 1. 58 billion.
Revenue rose 14% to 13.
7 billion, including energy generation and storage activities.