Rising wholesale gas costs will make utility bills rise again this winter, according to British Gas' parent company, Centrica.

The company released its interim management statement this morning, which said gas costs would be 15% higher this winter, with 'non-commodity costs...outside our control' adding another £50 to domestic energy bills on top of that.

'The trend for retail energy costs therefore remains upwards,' it said.

Centrica also said it was on track to see a 10% rise in profits from its residential business this year.

British Gas supplies 15.9 million UK residential accounts, and said average domestic gas consumption in the first four months of 2012 was 1% higher than the previous year, while average electricity consumption has fallen 3%. This, it said, reflected 'colder than usual weather in April 2012 following mild conditions in the first quarter, and the impact of energy efficiency measures being undertaken by customers'.