The sale of Houston-based Direct Energy would allow Centrica to become a "simpler, leaner business" focused on the UK and Ireland, said chief executive Chris O'Shea, adding that the sale would strengthen the company's balance sheet and "remove a source of earnings volatility".
The company, which was dumped from the FTSE 100 index, also on Friday reported a half-year loss of £135m due to the coronavirus pandemic as it took a one-off charge of £1bn, including £251m in restructuring charges and £785m on exploration & production and power assets reflecting a reduction in commodity price forecasts and nuclear plant availability issues.
Earnings before interest and other costs fell by 19% to £869m in the six months to June 30.
More than 100,000 customers left Centrica's home heating brands in the last six months, including 62,000 British Gas customers in the UK.
