Centrica controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
British Gas prepayment-meter installation practices
Reports alleged that agents working for British Gas had obtained warrants and entered homes to install prepayment meters, including in cases involving vulnerable customers. Ofgem opened an urgent investigation, British Gas suspended warrant-based installations and the regulator later concluded that historical practices breached licence conditions. In May 2026, British Gas agreed to pay £20 million into Ofgem’s voluntary redress fund and provide additional compensation and remedial measures.
2023
Energy-crisis profit and affordability criticism
Centrica and British Gas faced political and public criticism as energy prices and household bills rose while Centrica reported unusually strong earnings. The company attributed much of the volatility to market conditions, regulation and timing effects, while also announcing customer-support measures.
2021
British Gas engineers continue strike over proposed contracts
Public backlash
British Gas field engineers continued striking in New Malden over contracts they said Centrica was forcing on them through a “fire and re-hire” threat. Centrica said the contracts were necessary to protect jobs and that dismissal and re-engagement had been removed for a significant majority of employees.
Source excerpt
Field engineers with British Gas waved banners and flags and observed Covid safety measures at their picket in cold and wet conditions on Shannon Corner in New Malden on Monday (February 1) as they decried the new contracts drawn up by Centrica amid the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
British Gas workers are continuing to strike in New Malden over a "fire and re-hire" contract they say is being forced on them by parent company Centrica.
A spokesperson for the company said: "Our business needs to change to survive and protect 20,000 jobs. We know change is difficult but we have offered a fair deal that has been negotiated over 300 hours with unions – where base pay and pensions are protected. "Using dismissal and re-engagement has always been a final resort option. That’s why we have worked so hard to ensure that it has now been removed for a significant majority of our employees – eighty-three percent have already agreed to the new terms."