Prices hikes from five of the major energy suppliers along with a freezing cold winter will concern vulnerable householders, Consumer Focus has warned.
Writing in the Telegraph, Jonathan Stearn of the consumer watchdog noted that utility bill increases will tip more homes into fuel poverty, where families spend more than ten per cent of their income on heating their house.
"Fuel poor households not only spend a much bigger proportion of their income on their heating, they are also much more likely to live in cold, energy-inefficient homes," he pointed out.
"This means that to make ends meet, hard-stretched pensioners, families and disabled people face incredibly difficult choices on whether to cut back on their heating or the food they put on the table - which could put their health at risk."
Mr Stearn's comments come after energy supplier E.ON announced a price rise for its cheap gas and electricity customers, which will come into effect on February 4th 2011.
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