Centrica plc is a British multinational utility company with principal operations of electricity and gas supply, and is the largest supplier to domestic customers in the United Kingdom. It primarily serves the U.K., Republic of Ireland and North America. The company was founded as the Gas Light and Coke Company in 1812 and became Centrica in 1997 after British Gas split into three different companies. Centrica employs 38,848 workers and is headquartered in Berkshire, U.K.