Energy crisis: British Gas owner Centrica triples profits to £3.3bn

The energy giant Centrica, which owns British Gas, tripled its profits last year to more than £3 billion – despite the squeeze on consumers hit by soaring bills – with some vulnerable households forced onto prepayment metres.

The firm said it would be paying one billion pounds in tax.

But its chief executive declined to say if he would waive any of his £1.6 million bonus.