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Profits jump at British Gas firm Profits jump at British Gas firm
(about 1 hour later)
Energy firm Centrica has reported a sharp jump in half-year profits as its British Gas unit returned to profit. Energy firm Centrica has reported a sharp jump in half-year profits, as losses ended at its British Gas unit.
Centrica made operating profits of £1.25bn in the six months to 30 June, up from £692m a year ago.Centrica made operating profits of £1.25bn in the six months to 30 June, up from £692m a year ago.
British Gas's residential business made profits of £533m during the period, compared with a £143m loss in 2006.British Gas's residential business made profits of £533m during the period, compared with a £143m loss in 2006.
Profits were helped by higher profit margins stemming from lower wholesale gas costs. The firm made two price cuts for consumers earlier this year. British Gas has cut prices twice this year. However, Centrica said more cuts are unlikely in 2007, as wholesale gas prices for the coming winter are high.
British Gas said the price cuts had helped to recruit 46,000 new customers in the second quarter of the year, raising total customer numbers to 15.8 million. Price cuts
Profits at British Gas were helped in the first half of the year by lower wholesale gas costs over the winter months.
British Gas announced its first set of price cuts for customers in February, although they did not come into effect until March.
The results in the first six months have been due to exceptional circumstances and will not be repeated in the second half Roger Carr, Centrica chairman See Centrica's share price
The firm said the price cuts had helped to recruit 46,000 new users in the second quarter of the year, raising total customer numbers to 15.8 million.
However, Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw rejected criticism that British Gas could have cut prices sooner.
"We clearly had a very volatile price. We moved very quickly," he told the BBC.
"We moved in February when if you remember it was actually still snowing. And certainly we wanted to try and pass those price reductions through as soon as we possibly could."
Last year, about a million British Gas customers switched to other suppliers.Last year, about a million British Gas customers switched to other suppliers.
'Exceptional circumstances' Centrica said improving customer service at British Gas remained a "top priority".
However, the company added that although British Gas's performance had been "very strong" in the first half of the year, this was not expected to be repeated in the second half. "Whilst we have some way to go, we have progressively strengthened our performance in this area."
Price volatility
While Centrica said that British Gas's performance had been "very strong" in the first half of the year, this was not expected to be repeated in the second half.
"The results in the first six months have been due to exceptional circumstances and will not be repeated in the second half," said Centrica chairman Roger Carr."The results in the first six months have been due to exceptional circumstances and will not be repeated in the second half," said Centrica chairman Roger Carr.
Profits at the British Gas business were helped by low wholesale prices during the winter, as the mild weather cut demand, while it did not cut prices for consumers until March. While the lower wholesale costs benefited British Gas's results, they hit Centrica's production business, with Centrica Energy's operating profits down 42% to £337m.
However, the lower wholesale costs hit Centrica's production business, with Centrica Energy's operating profits down 42% to £337m.
Centrica said that wholesale gas prices were set to climb in the months ahead.Centrica said that wholesale gas prices were set to climb in the months ahead.
"Wholesale gas prices for the coming winter are high and there is still uncertainty over the level of price volatility and customer demand due to unpredictable weather patterns.""Wholesale gas prices for the coming winter are high and there is still uncertainty over the level of price volatility and customer demand due to unpredictable weather patterns."