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Rishi Sunak is under growing pressure to provide support for millions of households expected to struggle with energy costs this winter.
More than 140 charities and organisations are urging the prime minister to avoid a “costly sticking plaster” and support Britons against “once unthinkable” prices.
Energy bills are set to be about 13% more expensive on average than they were last winter, which were the highest in living memory.
As a result, a third of British adults expect to struggle to afford their heating bills over the winter months without government support, according to a survey for National Energy Action (NEA).
In an open letter, a coalition including NEA, Age UK, Citizens Advice and MoneySavingExpert calls on the government to act.
“With winter fast approaching, short-term, targeted support is needed to protect the most vulnerable households in and on the edge of fuel poverty,” they wrote.
“These are people whose bills have become so unaffordable that they are having to make the desperate choice nobody should have to make – between heating and eating.”
It adds: “This is a long-term problem that requires a sustainable safety net for these people. Anything else will be a costly sticking plaster.
“There’s now a significant risk that no new protections will be in place by the time they are desperately needed.
“One of the most effective ways the government can address this enduring challenge is through the introduction of comprehensive targeted energy support, sometimes referred to as a social tariff.
“This would provide a deeper price protection for all households struggling with their…
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