Continuous operations 2018 2019 2020 2021
Turnover 23,304.0 12,994.0 12,249.0 14,744.0
Operating profit (standardised) 1,332.0 465.0 1,405.0 (74.0)
Interest paid (net) (280.0) (251.0) (219.0) (191.0)
Other income/expense (458.0) (1,235.0) (1,784.0) 1,135.0
Pre-tax profit 575.0 (1,034.0) (577.0) 767.0
Taxation (333.0) (10.0) 145.0 (218.0)
Post-tax profit 242.0 (1,044.0) (432.0) 549.0
Profit for financial year 183.0 (1,023.0) 41.0 1,210.0

above are the audited centric figures for the last 4 years. I dont recall any public outcry at the losses in 2019 - except perhaps from the shareholders who own the company and who didnt get a dividend at all. Or in 2020 for that matter.

In any business, whether plumber or oil company, they will maximise profit for their owners as indeed is their duty. They do this by charging what the market will bear. Costs are irrelevant - you the consumer dont look at their costs when the market means prices are falling and the supplier is l,osing. You only think of them when prices are rising. Did you try to pay Centrica more in 2019?

question B is a different issue. On the surface it looks sensible because people are suffering but if the government were to do this and force a price in the UK lower than the market level, there would be supply issues big time. Many of the gas tankers from the middle east sail without a customer for the gas and only decide the port to land their cargo as the cargo owner does a deal at the best price he can get when they arrive. I've seen gas tankers anchored off Falmouth waiting a week or two for the best deal. Then there is the issue of subsidies and the EU. The government has chosen the best way of tackling the issue with an excess profits levy and payments to users but this still has issues. Can they levy charges on Total or Other foreign firms? Do they do it by nationality or by supply. Would the likes of Total supply at all if the UK government levied extra taxes on them that say the French government didnt?

P.S. The financial numbers were in eat columns in the draft but the software messed them up.

Last edited by howard; 29/07/22 10:40 AM.