Scottish Gas owner hails colder weather

Energy group Centrica today said power usage at its Scottish Gas consumer division has risen strongly due to the colder start to 2015.

The firm said residential gas consumption at the operation, which also trades as British Gas, was up 10 per cent in the first three months of the year, withy electricity usage up 2 per cent, “reflecting colder than normal temperatures in the UK compared to a warm 2014”.

Centrica’s number of residential energy accounts was broadly flat at about 14.8 million and it has set aside an extra £50 million to invest in customer service over the next three years.

The group also said its upstream gas and power businesses continue to be affected by the low commodity price environment, and it remains on track to meet its target of a 25 per cent reduction in capital expenditure to about £800m this year, followed by a 40 per cent cut to £650m in 2016.