British Gas to post profits hike

Lewis Whyld/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Fury over recent rises in utility bills will be stoked when the owner of British Gas is set to reveal that profits at its residential arm rose by a quarter.

Centrica's British Gas Residential is expected to post a 26% hike in profits to £352 million in the first half of 2012 as the UK's biggest energy supplier benefited from the cool start to summer and higher prices.