In 2012 we faced some truly chilling weather with the temperature dropping to sub-zero temperature and at one point -18oC in Redhill; With the temperature going lower than what our buy one get one free gloves could bare, we dusted off the cobwebs of our heaters and bumped them up to as high as we could go, but who really profited from the relaxing warmth of our gas or electric heaters?
It was recently reported that British Gas had an increase profits from its residential energy supply by 11% compared to 2011 to a staggering £606m as they said gas consumption had risen by 12% in 2012.
With the change in climate these recent years we become more reliant on indoor heating to survive the cold temperatures as recent studies show that our body has become less adaptable to changes in weather compared to prehistoric findings where they had found that because of them being thrown into direct harsh weather conditions.
Though the issue that has sparked many complaints against British Gas is the fact some believe the company had used our vulnerability to the cold against us so they could increase their profits by raising the prices in the recent years despite a 12% of consumer consumption which had led to its increase in profits by 11%. In a moral perspective, some complain that British Gas had failed to change their prices despite knowing the drop in temperature and with a recent survey that 18% of England and Wales are in fuel poverty, which some people believe was a bit heartless though in a business perspective many would back up British Gas as they were still lower than most of their competitors. This then raises the question that if the cheapest provider still created a dent for many people in England and Wales who are categorised as fuel poor, then is one company only to blame though is it the industry or us as the people who refuse to give up our heaters.
