centrica

Centrica plc, commonly referred to as Centrica, is a British multinational energy company and services provider. The company is headquartered in Windsor, Berkshire, and operates through a portfolio of subsidiaries, most notably British Gas, which serves residential and commercial customers in the United Kingdom.

Centrica was created in 1997 as the parent company for the privatized British Gas plc. The name Centrica is derived from the word central, reflecting its role as a central hub for energy services. Since its formation, the company has expanded from purely retail energy supply into broader energy-related services and international markets.

In the United Kingdom, British Gas is the consumer-facing brand that supplies gas and electricity to households and small businesses and offers home services such as boiler cover and repairs, as well as energy efficiency products. In North America, Centrica operates Direct Energy, a retailer of energy and related services to residential and commercial customers. The group also includes Centrica Energy, an upstream oil and gas business with asset interests in regions including the North Sea and other areas.

Centrica is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a component of several indices. The company has pursued strategic restructurings to emphasize its core activities in energy supply and services, while seeking to optimize its asset portfolio through disposals and efficiency initiatives in response to market and regulatory pressures.