He added: “It is perfectly true that there is volatility in wholesale energy markets. But it seems equally true that such volatility hits consumers not shareholders.

“Consumers will feel justified in claiming that they are being taken for a very rough ride by energy companies.”

And customers are on course for more misery as Centrica said wholesale prices remained high and were rising.

Centrica defended it decision to increase British Gas bills, saying the division would be loss-making by now if it had not made the move.

British Gas claimed rise was needed because wholesale costs had risen by 51 per cent for gas and 61 per cent for electricity.

But online price comparison service uSwitch.com attacked British Gas for putting investors before customers.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch, said: “Consumers have a right to feel like Britain’s biggest energy company is taking them for a ride. Revealing huge profits only a month after hitting customers with an inflation busting price hike is like having a £571 million elephant in the living room - it was never going to go unnoticed.

“British Gas was clearly hoping that consumers’ memories are short, but their pockets deep.”

Centrica said today that strong performances at its other businesses also helped lift group underlying operating profits, at £1.95 billion last year.

The company’s British Gas services operation, which installs gas and central heating systems, saw operating profits rise by 48 per cent to £151 million while Centrica’s Storage business posted a record £240 million in profits, up from £228 million in 2006.

The group trimmed its British Gas residential workforce by 2,000 last year and said up to another 1,000 roles will go in 2008 as it looks to save a further £60 million.

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