ENERGY firm operating costs are making up £242 of customers’ bills, a report has revealed, while supplier profits are expected to rise by 8 per cent due to the price cap changes.

An analysis of operating costs by the Warm This Winter campaign reveals today that energy firms may be spending almost as much on marketing, which includes sponsoring football teams, event venues and creating TV adverts, as they do on operating customer contact centres.

General operating costs, which go into the standing charges paid by households, also consist of central overheads such as office rents and the cost of maintaining energy meters.