Energy prices to rise for millions of households in April February 5, 2021 Ofgem has today announced that the energy price cap will return to pre-pandemic levels from April due to changes in wholesale prices. The price cap will increase by £96 to £1,138 for 11 million default tariff customers. There will be an £87 increase to £1,156 for those using payment meter. Ofgem has allowed the increases [...]
British Gas boss received poo in the post amid fire and rehire row February 2, 2021 The chief executive of British Gas owner Centrica was “sent excrement” in the post yesterday amid an ongoing row over pay at the firm. Chris O’Shea told MPs at a business committee meeting today that the package was received by his wife and teenage son “with a note about fire and rehire”. British Gas engineers [...]
British Gas engineers extend strike over company’s fire-and-rehire policy January 20, 2021 British Gas engineers extended their second five-day strike to seven this morning amid the company strategy to fire and rehire workers on poorer conditions, union GMB said. GMB National Secretary Justin Bowden said: “British Gas engineers are being fired and rehired and have been left with no choice but to take action again.” However, according to British Gas parent company Centrica, it has [...]
British Gas owner Centrica still suffering from fall in business power demand January 14, 2021 British Gas owner Centrica said that the coronavirus pandemic was continuing to heap pressure on its finances, with business electricity demand still down as people continue to work from home. In the second half of the year, the firm said that business energy demand was down 15 per cent, compared to 30 per cent in [...]
MP calls for City watchdog to probe ‘patchy’ British Gas insurance January 13, 2021 A Stockport MP has called for City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), to investigate a British Gas backlog dispute as more than 100,000 could be left without home insurance. British Gas parent company Centrica has been accused of provoking a strike which has left its ‘HomeCare’ customers without cover. Writing to the FCA this [...]
British Gas engineers launch second strike over fire-and-rehire dispute January 12, 2021 GMB union members have launched a second five-day strike in opposition to British Gas’ planned fire and rehire pay cuts and conditions. Workers will strike on 20, 22 and 25 January, as well as 1 February, GMB said. GMB national officer Justin Bowden said: “The months and months of fire and rehire pay cut threats [...]
British Gas engineers start five-day strike in row over pay January 7, 2021 British Gas customers have been warned of “massive disruption” as engineers this morning began a five-day strike amid a row over pay. Thousands of staff members could walk out in protest at new contracts, which the GMB union says amount to so-called fire and rehire tactics to cut pay on pain of dismissal. GMB national [...]
British Gas workers turn up the heat on strike threat for up to 20,000 staff November 25, 2020 British Gas workers have cranked up the heat on potential strike action over the Christmas season unless it “takes the gun off table’, the GMB trade union has said. Thousands of GMB union members will vote on industrial action in a ballot opening on 1 December, which could see engineers refusing to fix British Gas [...]
British Gas pays out £1.7m after prepayment supplier error August 27, 2020 British Gas will pay out £1.7m after the energy supplier failed to inform hundreds of thousands of customers that it had changed prepayment supplier. On 1 January, the Centrica-owned firm changed top-up provider from Paypoint to Payzone, but failed to notify 270,000 customers. Ofgem, the energy regulator, said some British Gas customers had suffered as [...]
Coronavirus: British Gas to furlough 3,800 staff April 8, 2020 British Gas has become the latest of the UK’s energy suppliers to take advantage of the government’s job retention scheme, furloughing around 3,800 employees as the firm scales back operations due to coronavirus. The UK’s largest household energy supplier, which is owned by services giant Centrica, said furloughed employees will be paid 100 per cent [...]