14 August 2012

E.On profits increase by 24%

Top six energy supplier E.On has announced an increase in half year profits of 24% to £245m thanks to renegotiating its supply contract with Gazprom.

Top six energy supplier E.On has announced an increase in half year profits of 24% to £245m. The German owned utility company attributes the increase to below par performance last year and it's renegotiation of long term supply contract with the Russian gas producer Gazprom which backdated the improved deal.

In a letter to the shareholders, Dr. Johannes Teyssen, E.On's Chairman & CEO said: "We've left the trough of the previous financial year behind us and made tangible progress implementing our strategy” adding: "Following our long-term agreement with Gazprom and those already reached with other suppliers, our gas business is no longer a strategic work in progress. Natural gas from E.ON can, in conjunction with the transformation of Europe's energy system, continue to play a key role in the future.”

Although E.On have promised not to increase prices in 2012, Richard Hall, Head of Energy Regulation at Consumer Focus feels the industry is not passing on savings saying: "Such a big increase, hard on the heels of British Gas profit rises, will leave customers questioning whether the price they're paying is fair. Wholesale prices are now a long way from their peak and E.ON has reported greater margins based on changes in their costs. This will reopen questions on whether falls in wholesale pricing are fed through fairly and fully.”

While the individual consumer is unlikely to be able to retrospectively review their gas supply contract with their supplier, it is certainly worth ensuring you are on the best deal available by comparing gas and electricity suppliers.