Profits at utility group Viridian beat forecasts

Northern Ireland- based utility group Viridian reported a 10 per cent rise in interim profits to £70 million and said all divisions…

Northern Ireland- based utility group Viridian reported a 10 per cent rise in interim profits to £70 million and said all divisions were performing well.

Turnover grew by a strong 35.6 per cent to £162 million as volumes in the Republic grew and higher fuel costs were passed on to customers.

The group's Energia electricity supply business continues to grow its customer base in the Republic.

Viridian said the recent electricity price increases sanctioned by the Irish energy regulator should enable Energia "substantially, but not wholly" to maintain its operating margins against a background of higher gas prices.

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Profits were also helped by a number of cost-cutting initiatives.

Veridian said its Huntstown generator in west Dublin was operating at 95 per cent capacity and that construction has begun on Huntstown 2.