Centrica and British Gas - statistics & facts
Centrica provides energy to residential customers and small businesses in the United Kingdom through its subsidiary British Gas, to Ireland through Bord Gáis Energy, and to businesses through the segment Centrica Business Solutions. Its segments also include British Gas Services & Solutions, Energy Marketing & Trading, Upstream, and, until January 2021, Direct Energy. Centrica is one of the largest utility companies in the UK. In 2022, Centrica’s number of employees stood at almost 20,000, with the majority working for British Gas.
British Gas is one of the so-called “Big Six” energy suppliers in the UK, the group of energy suppliers that enjoy the greatest share of the UK's energy market. Since the end of 2020, the number of complaints per 10,000 customers received by British Gas increased to the highest complaint rate among its large-scale competitors.
How Centrica and British Gas were formed
Centrica originates from British Gas plc, which was formed because of the privatization of the British Gas Corporation in 1986. It was one of many privatizations brought about during the time Margaret Thatcher served as British Prime Minister. Further changes took place in 1997, with British Gas undergoing a demerger to form Centrica and BG plc. Centrica itself retained the British Gas brand, allowing it to provide gas and electricity to residential and business customers in the UK.British Gas is one of the so-called “Big Six” energy suppliers in the UK, the group of energy suppliers that enjoy the greatest share of the UK's energy market. Since the end of 2020, the number of complaints per 10,000 customers received by British Gas increased to the highest complaint rate among its large-scale competitors.
