AusNet first-half profit down 52%

AusNet Services' first-half profit falls sharply, to $178.6 million, but the energy distributor expects to lift its dividend payout for the full year.

Victorian energy company AusNet Services' first-half statutory net profit has fallen 52 per cent on its previous year's result, when it received significant tax benefits.

Net profit for the six months to September 30 was $178.6 million, down from $374.5 million a year earlier. Excluding the one-off items, net profit was down 16.9 per cent.

The company declared an interim dividend of 4.4 cents a share, 50 per cent franked, and expects to increase its full-year dividend to 8.8 cents a share.