Household energy price cap is expected to rise by £209 a year from July

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “Energy companies have made more than £3 billion in profits in the last three months on their UK operations and energy bills are now set to rise.

“Households are being asked to absorb an increase driven entirely by conflict and instability in the Middle East, while the industry that profits from the volatile gas market continues to cash in.

“We are also now able to see the clear danger that will come in October if the cap stays at a similar level. If bills remain high when heating season begins, millions of households already in energy debt or struggling to keep their homes warm will face an extremely difficult winter.

“Households need reassurance and support, not a summer of suspense. That means the Government must act before winter to spell out what support will be available.”

“The only lasting answer to the seemingly permanent energy bills crisis is to reduce our dependence on gas and the volatile markets that drive our energy bills. That means boosting energy efficiency and renewables and every year we delay that transition is another year households pay the price.”