EXIT STAGE LEFT PURSUED BY SUBSIDY!

A member of the Big 6

If you are searching for material to build the character of a pantomime villain then perhaps you need look no further than the members of the big six energy cartel, who are busy squeezing every ounce of profit out of their customers (most of us) when not flogging off free low energy light bulbs, etc. With that in mind the news that Centrica, who own British Gas owner reported a rise in half-yearly profits, following the unusually cold winter boosted gas consumption should come as no surprise. Centrica's adjusted operating profit increased by 9% to £ 1.58 billion pounds in the six months up to the 30th June, rising from £ 1.45 billion pounds for the same period in 2012.

Amidst the statistical wizardry and smoke and mirrors that passes for energy profit related statistics, the  residential arm (of British Gas) saw its profits rise 3% to £ 356 million pounds, up from £ 345 million pounds one year ago. Like all the other cartel members last November (2012) British Gas upped its energy prices by 6% - basically because - in their largely unregulated farce that passes itself off as the ‘free energy market’ – they could. The news of Centrica's results came a day after EDF (the French energy company) announced that its UK pre-tax profits were some of £ 903 million pounds.

Interestingly enough, just before the profits were announced, House of Commons, Energy and Climate Change Committee (ECCC) realised a report which said that Ofgem (the Energy regulator) is not doing enough to make sure that energy company profits are transparent. MPs stated that the watchdog was "failing consumers by not taking all possible steps to improve openness". The committee also noted that "working out exactly how their profits are made requires forensic accountants".

Energy Profits before People?

The ECCC believes that Ofgem should force energy companies to standardise their bills to make it easier for consumers to compare the value for money of different energy providers. They also believe that it should be possible to break down the total cost of the bill into its components, i.e. wholesale energy prices, supply costs, the cost of implementing government energy policies, operating costs, and profit. And that consumers should be given details of price changes in pounds and pence, and not just in percentages

At the same time EDF stated that it was pulling out of the US nuclear power market because of the widespread availability of shale gas. This later announcement should come as no surprise, as at the end of the day it comes down to chasing easy money (and making excessive profits) when faced with a complicated and pretty much free energy market (one literally awash with resources) the cartel members will tend to back off seeking permanent subsidies (easy money) which make farcical any suggestion that the UK energy market is neither free or open for completion.