Performance was measured in a benchmarking report carried out by Innovest for WWF-UK, which measured such things as company policy, actual practice, performance against regulatory standards, and coherence of carbon management and strategy.

It was found to have surpassed the expectations of WWF and was commended for its policy on climate change. Gearoid Lane, Managing Director British Gas New Energy, said:

“We’re delighted to top the green league table of energy suppliers. It recognises how seriously we are taking our responsibility to manage our own carbon impacts and the lead we’re taking in providing customers with low carbon products and services. It also highlights the fact that the electricity British Gas provides has the lowest CO2 emissions of all the major UK suppliers.

The study also compared the ‘carbon profiles’ of the electricity generation companies by assessing their portfolios, their emissions over time, performance against renewables, their commitment to energy efficiency, and the initiatives which the companies are taking.

Centrica were particularly noted for their best-in-sector electricity generation carbon intensity (they are the only company to report a year-on-year reduction in carbon intensity), the launch of British Gas New Energy which confirmed them as a fast identifier of customer demand, and their recently re-launched environmental awareness campaign.

Mr Lane concluded last week: “Today’s announcement further reinforces the Carbon Disclosure Project’s recent report, which recognised Centrica among only 60 companies worldwide as a sector leader in the area of carbon disclosure and climate change strategy.”

British Gas has just launched a new tariff in time for winter, which is causing a stir in the energy market and could lead to even greater competition between providers. Karen Darby, founder of price comparison site SimplySwitch.com, said: “It is great news for consumers that the energy companies are, once again, prepared to battle it out. Switching suppliers is now easier than ever before and energy firms need to compete on both price and service levels if they want attract and keep customers.”

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