British Gas falls short on promised £35 savings

British Gas said this week that it is cutting the average annual energy bill by £35 – but you could save much more by switching to a cheaper tariff.

Two nuclear power stations could be out of action until December, says EDF

Two nuclear stations that play a vital role helping to keep Britain's already fragile electricity system intact could be out of action till the end of the year, EDF Energy said on Thursday.

British Gas must pay £5.6m for blocking firms from switching

British Gas has been ordered to pay £5.6m in compensation and fines for blocking businesses from switching suppliers and failing to tell others their contracts were ending, Ofgem said.

Threats to energy companies risk 'the lights going out', warns Centrica chief

Centrica, the owner of British Gas, has warned that the intense political debate over gas and electricity prices has put Britain at risk of blackouts as soon as next year.

Energy companies make concessions after 800,000 customers leave 'big six'

The scramble to win new energy customers amid growing complaints about the "big six" power companies intensified on Friday with an independent supplier cutting its prices and one of the large providers promising to pay back annual credit balances.

ScottishPower to cut energy bills by 3.3pc in wake of government green levy deal

Energy giant ScottishPower is preparing to cut household bills by 3.3pc, becoming the fourth major supplier to pass on savings from the Government’s deal to cut green levies, The Telegraph has learnt.

Energy firms' profit from customers has risen 77% in a year, says Ofgem

The big six energy firms face further pressure over household bills after the industry regulator revealed that profits per customer climbed 77% last year to £53.

Centrica threatening to pull plug on £2bn offshore wind farm plan

British Gas owner Centrica prepares to abandon £2bn offshore wind farm plan because subsidies offered by the government are too low.

Energy firms expected to increase prices by 8%

Record average fuel bills of £1,500 a year were predicted for 2014 on Friday as British Gas and other big six power companies prepared to announced big price increases of around 8%.

Big six energy firms accused of 'cold-blooded profiteering'

The big six energy suppliers have been accused of "cold-blooded profiteering" after official figures showed they had more than doubled their retail profit margins over the last 18 months and were now earning an average of £95 profit per household on dual-fuel bills.

Coalition's energy policy blamed for insulation job losses

More than 800 jobs have already been lost in the insulation industry as a direct result of the government's flagship energy efficiency policy, a business group has claimed.

'Switch and save' option for energy customers

Tens of thousands of struggling households who owe money to their energy supplier will be freed up to switch to cheaper deals as part of a raft of measures announced on Sunday.

Centrica defends 23pc leap in British Gas energy profits

Centrica defended a 23pc surge in profits at its British Gas household division, insisting the jump was due to the comparison with a “weak” 2011.

Centrica shareholders revolt against executive pay

Centrica has become the latest company to feel the force of the “shareholder spring” as more than 16pc of its investors failed to back its executive pay - on the same day it warned household bills were set to rise even further.

British Gas puts 550 jobs at risk

British Gas intends to close its Southampton call centre which could result in 550 job losses, in a "blow" to the local area.

£110bn energy investment plan revealed

Plans for £110bn investment into electricity generation in the UK have been unveiled in a white paper by the Energy Secretary Chris Huhne.

The radical plans aim to tackle the current challenges facing the electricity market to deliver the biggest reforms since privatisation, which Mr Huhne said will end "25 years of policy dithering."

The reforms include long-term price contracts with domestic nuclear power plants and offshore wind farms and measures to increase low-carbon electricity generation, including renewable energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) to make electricity prices more stable.

British Gas fined for breaking green energy rules

British Gas will have to hand the energy regulator more than £4m in fines and repayments after breaking the rules on getting energy from green sources.

The company fell foul of the regulations that stipulate energy suppliers must get around 10pc of their power from renewables, such as wind farms.

They have to present documents called Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) to prove this. Any shortfall incurs a financial penalty paid into a central pool

Centrica profits rise by 24 per cent.

The energy giant Centrica sees its profits rise by 24 per cent to £742million on the back of the coldest British winter in 100 years.

The company - which owns British Gas - raised prices by seven per cent for eight million customers just two months ago, taking the average dual fuel bill from £1,157 to £1,239.