Energy bills from the cold snap will bite
If the temperatures weren't enough to make you shiver, the extra costs from cranking up the heating may do.
Osborne: 'We have to do everything to keep bills down'
The Chancellor has urged energy companies to reconsider their price hikes, in an interview with ITV News.
Anger over British Gas and npower's hike in prices
Households across Britain could be plunged into a "long, cold winter" after two major energy suppliers increased their prices today.
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Energy bills from the cold snap will bite
If the temperatures weren't enough to make you shiver, the extra costs from cranking up the heating may do.
Read the full storyCentrica reinvesting profits to prevent price rises
Energy supplier Centrica is to reinvest profits to keep prices low for "as long as possible", after demand for gas rose by almost a fifth in the prolonged cold snap at the start of 2013.
The firm, which hiked prices by 6% in December before the cold snap began, said average residential gas use was 18% higher in the first four months of 2013 than in the same period in 2012, and average electricity consumption was 3% higher.
The firm said it recognised "the economic pressures facing many of our customers", and said it expected annual profits to hit £602m in 2013.
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Renters warned over gas safety
Tens of thousands of private renters could be at risk from gas safety hazards, according to housing charity Shelter and British Gas.
One in 10 people say their landlord or letting agent had failed to ensure a gas safety check was carried out in their home in the last year, a study of more than 4,300 private renters found. Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb said:
It's absolutely vital that renters are aware of the need to get an annual gas safety check. Meanwhile, landlords need to know that gas safety is not optional. Failing to get a gas safety certificate can put lives at risk.
An annual gas safety check and certificate is required by law and is the legal responsibility of the landlord.
British Gas owner reveals £10bn US gas deal
1.8 million homes in Britain will be heated by gas imported from the United States. It comes after British Gas owner Centrica signed a deal worth £10 billion.
Centrica says the 20-year contract with the Sabine Pass liquefaction plant in Louisiana will play an important role in ensuring the UK's energy security.
Why should British Gas make any profit at all?
Some Twitter users questioned why British Gas needed to make a profit at all:
@britishgas could you operate as a break even non profit organisation? #AskBG We all need power so you won't go under. Puzzled.
From @NorwichHPExpert on Twitter:British Gas replied:
Hi @norwichhpexpert Not really. In that model there's no opportunity for investment in future energy supply #AskBG http://t.co/ABOY2T25hv
From @BritishGas on Twitter:Hi @cbavington We want to keep Britain's lights on so we need profit to invest in future energy supply #AskBG http://t.co/ABOY2T25hv
From @BritishGas on Twitter:British Gas said any customers who required further help with their account should call 0800 048 02020.
The questions not answered in British Gas Q&A
A selection of #AskBG questions have so far gone unanswered:
@britishgas the video is all well and good. But are we going to see the prices decrease now your are clearly making a profit? #AskBG
From @abbyalisheldon on Twitter:@britishgas could you operate as a break even non profit organisation? #AskBG We all need power so you won't go under. Puzzled.
From @NorwichHPExpert on Twitter:?@britishgas Hello Bert! Whose stapler did you pinch to get lumbered with this job today? #AskBG
From @emma_rowley on Twitter:Advertisement
British Gas offers Twitter Q&A
Following today's announcement of a 11% profit increase, British Gas is offering to answer customer questions in a Twitter Q&A:
Our Customer Service Director, Bert Pijls, is answering your questions until 2pm. Tweet using the #AskBG hashtag.
From @BritishGas on Twitter:One Twitter user asked if today's profit announcement would mean a future price cut:
@britishgas After November's price rise, are you now going to lower prices as your reported profits indicate you're doing all right? #AskBG
From @butterfly494_ on Twitter:Rather than give a direct answer, Bert Pijls linked to a YouTube video:
Hi @butterfly494_ great question, difficult to answer on Twitter! Check out this video for more detail http://t.co/OwQoPFhJEE
From @BritishGas on Twitter:No 10: Govt and energy industry should help families
by Alex Forrest - Political CorrespondentAsked about the profits of the British Gas owner Centrica rising by 11%, the Prime Minister's spokesman said:
What consumers and the industry expect is that the Government and the regulator should be working together to help families.
That's what we are doing and that's why the Energy Bill will enshrine in law the PM's desire that consumers get the best tariffs.
Centrica: Tariff simplification means 'discounted deals disappear'
Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw told ITV News Business Editor Laura Kuenssberg that he agreed with David Cameron that "there has been too much confusion and proliferation of different tariff types."
He said simplifying pricing would mean that "the range between cheapest and most expensive is going to narrow" and that "the deeply discounted deals are disappearing".
British Gas was writing to customers every six months to advise on the cheapest tariffs available, he added.
Centrica boss: Gas profit margins fell year-on-year
Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw told ITV News Business Editor Laura Kuenssberg that British Gas profits rose because of increased consumption and that margin per household actually fell.
He said that wholesale gas costs rose "by about 13%" and not all of that increase was passed on to customers, "which is why our margins actually went down year-on-year."
"We had a cold winter - much colder than the previous winter, which was actually unusually warm - so we sold a bit more gas, which is why the British Gas profits were up," he added.
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