National Energy Action says millions of people are now facing daily high temperatures or dietary difficulties

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A charity warned that the increase in the energy price ceiling in April could double the heating cost of the average household since April last year.

The fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) warned that compared with last winter, the average dual-fuel energy bill per customer has soared by more than 230 pounds, and may add another 550 pounds per year.

NEA also warned that the average household gas bill may increase by £467 compared to October last year, which means that the average household heating cost will double since last winter.

The warning comes as suppliers across the UK have closed in recent weeks, after natural gas prices have soared fivefold compared to the beginning of this year.

Energy regulator Ofgem boss Jonathan Brearley (Jonathan Brearley) said that regulators will need to reassess the price cap on energy bills.

The current price cap is set so low that energy suppliers have to pay more for the natural gas they buy than they can sell.

Due to a series of problems on a global scale, energy prices have soared on a global scale. The increased demand from the reopened economy is combined with the increased demand from China and the less windy summer than usual.

Currently, regulators limit the energy bill for more than 14 million households to an average of £1,277 per year.

Consultations on potential changes will end in February, and they may be implemented in early April, when the price ceiling will change.

Even before the potential changes, analysts at Cornwall Insight predicted that energy costs would soar to £1,660 per year for price cap customers.

An NEA poll found that six out of ten British adults said that if heating costs doubled, they would reduce a considerable or large amount of heating use.

Currently, about 85% of residential buildings in the UK, or 23 million households, still use boilers and central heating systems to connect to the gas grid.

NEA CEO Adam Scorer said: “Every home should be a warm and safe place, but for more than 4.5 million British homes, the cold reality is very different and worse.

"The cost of living in the UK is at its highest level in a decade, and household energy costs are the biggest driving factor. When the cost of basic services rises, the people with the lowest income are hit hardest.

"Since last winter, bills have increased by more than 230 pounds, and millions of people are now facing the dilemma of eating hot or eating every day. We estimate that energy bills will soar again in April, doubling the average household heating bill last year.

“During the same period, the income of the lowest-income people fell by more than £1,000 a year. Think about it. For those who are already on the fringe of the budget, the cost of keeping the family warm has skyrocketed and the budget collapsed. How many useful tips or Smart shopping cannot solve this problem."

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