Homeowners looking to compare gas and electricity prices may be disappointed that costs could still rise, but energy companies have welcomed government openness on the issue.
Energy bills could rise by as much as eight per cent over the coming months and years as more revenue will be needed to fund clean energy development across the UK and help reach ambitious carbon reduction targets, reports the Financial Times.
The government is looking to improve energy-efficiency in the home and protect consumers more effectively as a result of the likely price hikes, in a bid to prevent more households falling into fuel poverty.
Jenny Saunders, chief executive of National Energy Action, the group that campaigns for the fuel poor, told the paper: "We are, however, concerned at the timeframes involved and the potential narrowing of assistance to pensioner households when millions of low income families are also in fuel poverty and need access to lower tariffs and protection from rising prices".
Energy companies have been criticised for failing to reduce their prices in line with corresponding reductions in wholesale costs.
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