Centrica boss Sam Laidlaw gives up bonus

4th Nov 2013 15:34

Centrica boss Sam Laidlaw has vowed to give up his bonus this year amid anger over rising energy bills, including a 9.2 per cent increase by its subsidiary British Gas.The Chief Executive said consumer confidence in the energy sector had fallen to "all time low" so he would forgo his bonus."Just to continue in this world where households are under pressure, and assume it is business as normal, is not the way thoughtful remuneration committees think about it," he said at the Confederation of British Industry's annual conference.Laidlaw's pay package last year totalled £4.96m, including a £2.6m "long-term incentives" bonus package. He said if the government reduced green taxes and levies, the savings would be passed on to consumers. Laidlaw added that more than half a million British Gas customers will receive a special discount of £60 this winter as well as a £135 warm home discount.Shares rose 0.23% to 355.60p at 15:52 on Monday.RD