British Gas, Shell and BP are among the UK utilities slammed by campaigners. Energy company chief executives are being paid up to £8million a yearEnergy giants have pocketed £420billion in profits in just four years as millions of Britons struggle with soaring bills and the cost-of-living crisis - and fat-cat bosses cash in with seven-figure pay-packets.
Norwegian state-owned energy giant Equinor - responsible for more than a quarter of Britain's gas - has made £117.4billion worldwide in those four years. 'These numbers may look like fantastic amounts to shareholders, but the reality is that these profits have caused pain and suffering among people living in fuel poverty for the last few years.'
MailOnline has taken a look at how much the key players are being paid and the size of their companies' profits on the day many more household bills - including for council tax, broadband, mobile phones and the TV licence - are being increased. 'Nevertheless, one would expect someone paid such a huge sum to show greater leadership and responsibility and actively to challenge the pay-setting process, rather than saying he doesn’t deserve it before shrugging and accepting it anyway.
He also apologised after it emerged agents working for British Gas had forced their way into homes of poor and vulnerable people to fit expensive pre-payment meters. His pay jumped from £6.3million in 2021, with the 2022 figure including a £2.6million annual bonus and a £4.9million long-term shares award on top of his £1.4 million annual salary.
Mr Auchinloss was paid a £1.02million salary but this was topped up to £8million overall - including £4.6million share-based rewards and a £1.8million bonus. Climate campaigners expressed fury when Equinor reported 'grotesque' record-breaking annual profits amid the ongoing energy crisis.