Pressure for a windfall tax on energy companies intensified today.
Research commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) revealed that altogether the six biggest companies paid £1.635bn in dividends last year – a 19% increase on the 2006 total of £1.378bn. This is not a position to defend!
According to the research by consultants SQW,
Centrica increased its dividend payout from £409m to £478m,
EDF from £105m to £110m,
RWE Npower from £37m to £250m,
and Scottish and Southern Energy from £400m to £474m.
Whilst you are paying your next energy bill you might want to consider these numbers. If however you are a sheareholder you may have less of an issue.
In the circumstances you should ensure that your boiler is regularly serviced to ensure that it is efficient and not wasting gas.
