Ministers are being urged to introduce an “emergency heat tariff” to protect households from soaring energy bills this winter.
The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has called for the Government to cap the cost of heating as experts warn the typical annual energy bill could jump by £276 in January.
The intervention comes ahead of a forecast 16% increase in the energy price cap, which could push the typical dual-fuel bill to almost £2,000 a year.
The coalition wants ministers to act before millions of households face another sharp increase in heating costs.
The TUC has separately called for a social tariff to cut energy bills for the majority of households.
Calls for an ‘emergency heat tariff’
Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said ministers need to provide more support as the number of households struggling with energy costs is expected to rise.
“With the number of households in fuel poverty set to soar again and at the most dangerous time of the year, the Chancellor has no choice but to act to provide increased targeted support to vulnerable households and plan to deliver wider universal help for people facing a sixth winter of high energy prices.
“If ministers do nothing, millions will spend this winter in cold, damp homes, unable to cook a hot meal. People will get ill. Some will die.
“Every one of those avoidable cases will be on this Chancellor’s watch.”
The coalition has advised that gas could be capped at 10p per kilowatt hour, warning it could potentially reach as high as 12p this winter.
The situation for domestic UK energy bills really isn't looking good. The chart below shows gas prices (which feed into elec bills too) spiking at the highest levels since the core of the Ukraine conflict energy crisis.
The immediate impact is the rate you can get a new fix at… pic.twitter.com/uXbMBbI5K6— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) September 9, 2026
TUC calls for social tariff
The TUC has also urged the Government to take action to reduce bills for households more widely.
General secretary Paul Nowak said: “The Prime Minister has rightly recognised the need to give people breathing space with so many households under the cosh – but this energy bill emergency means the Government must go further and faster at the Budget to protect households.
“That means cutting energy bills for the majority of households with a social tariff, paid for by a tax on banks’ enormous profits.”
National Energy Action chief executive Adam Scorer added: “The autumn Budget must deliver additional targeted support for households most at risk this winter, alongside action to tackle energy debt and improve the least energy efficient homes.”
Energy bills could hit £2,000
The calls for emergency help come as Cornwall Insight forecasts a major increase in energy bills from January.
The consultancy expects the average dual-fuel energy bill to rise 16% to £1,999 a year from January 1.
That would be £276 more than the October-to-December level and the biggest rise since January 2023.
Cornwall Insight said the increase is being driven by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted gas supplies in the UK and worldwide.
The vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route has been effectively closed since the Iran war began in February, according to the consultancy.
EU gas storage levels are also at their lowest September level for 15 years.
Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, said: “These prices are going to hit households hard.
“January is already a difficult month for many, with cold weather and bank balances still recovering from Christmas, and now they face the biggest price cap rise we’ve seen in four years.
“At the moment, we can’t yet see an end to the volatility, and with gas stocks as low as they are, the effects of the conflict could be with us for many more months.”
Bills are rising tomorrow
The warning comes as households face an immediate increase in bills from October 1.
Ofgem's price cap will rise by 4%, taking the annualised bill for a typical household in England, Scotland and Wales paying by direct debit to £1,723.
That's around £5 more a month, or £60 a year if the level remained unchanged for 12 months.
More than four million households on standard energy tariffs will be affected.
The increase comes as cooler weather means more households will be turning their heating back on.
Electricity VAT is being cut
The Government is removing the 5% VAT charge on household electricity bills from October 1 until March 31 next year.
Government estimates suggest the move will save the average bill payer around £45 a year.
However, households will continue to pay 5% VAT on gas.
The VAT cut therefore comes just as the price cap rises and ahead of the potentially much larger increase forecast for January.
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Budget could bring more help
The next major opportunity for the Government to announce additional support will be the Budget on October 28.
Cornwall Insight said the Budget may offer some further help to households under pressure.
Mr Lowrey said: “However, the Government is going to have to think carefully about the type and level of support that they make available.”
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