According to newspaper reports energy companies are making £105 of annual profit from each customer, leading to accusations they have cashed in on the cold winter. This is an increase of 40 per cent over the last three months, according to Ofgem, the industry regulator, and the highest level since at least 2004, when the records started. It is also, experts believe, the most money energy companies have made since they were fully deregulated by the Conservative government at the end of the 1990s. Almost 10 pence in every pound paid by customers for their bills is now going directly into the coffers of utility companies.  The figures come just a few days before British Gas is expected to unveil a bumper set of profits. Helped by strong demand for gas during the cold weather in December, annual profits at British Gas could beat the record of £571 million set in 2007.