Australia's AGL H1 profit down 11pct on warm winter

SYDNEY, Feb 26 (Reuters) - AGL Energy Ltd , Australia's second-largest electricity and gas company, said on Wednesday underlying first half profit fell 11.4 percent after a record warm winter reduced demand for energy.

Underlying profit for the six months to Dec. 31 was A$242 million compared with A$279.4 million a year ago. Underlying profit excludes changes in the value of financial instruments.

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; editing by Andrew Roche)

((byron.kaye@thomsonreuters.com)(+612 9373 1815))

Keywords: AUSTRALIA EARNS/AGL