British Gas urged to cut prices

British Gas has been urged to trim its gas and electricity prices after parent company Centrica unveiled a large increase in profits.

News that the company enjoyed a 23 per cent year-on-year rise in profits in the first half of 2012 may dismay people struggling with debts who have found the problem being made worse by the pressure of rising fuel bills.

This has prompted price comparison site uSwitch to call for the firm to pass the benefits on to customers.

Director of consumer policy Ann Robinson said: "These soaring profits show that British Gas could and should cut its prices ahead of winter.

"This would go some way to acknowledging the pressure customers are under."

Commenting on the news, Audrey Gallacher, the director of energy at Consumer Focus, said consumers would be "shocked" by the news, as it undermines the argument by British Gas and other energy firms that they needed to raise prices to maintain their profitability.

By Joe White