Utility group Scottish and Southern Energy shrugged off lower electricity prices to post a 8.2 per cent rise in pre-tax profits.

In the six months to September 30, Scottish and Southern, which trades as Southern Electric in Oxfordshire, said pre-tax profits came in at £213.3m, against £197.1m at the same point last year.

Turnover in the period was up to £1.5bn, compared with £1.32bn last time.

This was despite a £30m reduction in operating revenues in its power systems division because of pricing reviews by regulator Ofgem.

The acquisition in August of the south Wales retail electricity and supply business of Swalec from British Energy also contributed to the business.

It boosted Scottish's customer numbers, bringing it up to nearly four million electricity and one million gas customers.