The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has responded to increases in energy bill costs announced by Ofgem.
Increases from October will affect 11m household on default or standard variable tariffs, plunging many into fuel poverty, the centre stated.
Ian Preston, pictured, head of household energy services at CSE, said: “The energy advice sector will face a tsunami of demand from people needing support once furlough ends, benefits reduce and bills go up. This price increase on energy bills is hitting at the worst possible time just before winter, when millions of people are already struggling to pay their bills and people are spending more time at home than ever due to the pandemic.
“Cold homes cause misery, ill-health and social exclusion. Many government and industry support programmes are due to end soon and people will struggle to survive. A warm home is a basic human right and it’s going to be a really tough winter unless we see action to maintain support for people in vulnerable circumstances.”