Martin Lewis has demanded 'action and planning now' from the UK Government over the skyrocketing energy bills after new analysis suggested they are likely to hit £4,200 for some households in January.
In a new dire outlook for households, Cornwall Insight said bills are set to soar to around £3,582 in October, from £1,971 today, before rising even further in the new year.
Ofgem is set to put the price cap at £4,266 for the average household in the three months from the beginning of January.
And the Money Saving Expert said the increased costs would leave many people 'destitute', as he was horrified by the news and even came back from a social media break to voice his thoughts.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "Action and planning is needed now. The zombie government needs to wake up sooner than 5 September. These amounts are unaffordable for millions.
"The January figure equates to 45 per cent of the full new state pension, and a higher proportion of the old one. The rise alone on the January prediction, from when the help was first announced in May, is roughly £1,400 a year.
"That rise alone swallows up not just £400 help for all homes, but even the £1,200 for the poorest. This will leave many destitute. Tax cuts won't help poorest, including many elderly and disabled who've higher usage. Cutting green levy would be just tiny sticking plaster on a gaping wound.
"The leadership debate must not ignore this portentous national cataclysm any more. They can't say they weren't warned. The excuse 'we need to wait for Ofgem figure' doesn't wash. In May the government asked Ofgem for forward guidance and made plans based on that. It can do the same now.
"An action plan is needed today. They are all in the same party, let's call on them to come together for the good of the nation rather than personal point scoring. People's livelihoods, mental wellbeing and, in some cases ,very lives depend on this. This is a desperate."
He said the costs would swallow up all of the proposed financial support already announced - including the £400 help for all households and the £1,200 payment to those who are facing the greatest pressure.
Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, said: "While our price cap forecasts have been steadily rising since the summer 2022 cap was set in April, an increase of over £650 in the January predictions comes as a fresh shock.
"The cost-of-living crisis was already top of the news agenda as more and more people face fuel poverty - this will only compound the concerns.
"Many may consider the changes made by Ofgem to the hedging formula, which have contributed to the predicted increase in bills, to be unwise at a time when so many people are already struggling."
Morgan Wild, head of policy for Citizens Advice, said: "The cost-of-living crisis is already having a devastating impact on people's lives.
"Every day we hear from people who can't afford to turn the lights on or cook their kids a hot meal.
"The Government did the right thing by bringing in targeted support, but it won't be enough for people to manage these previously unthinkable price hikes.
"The obvious place to start is to increase benefits to keep pace with the cost of living. There's no time to waste."
READ NEXT
- New disability payment sees 1,275 people apply during first month of launch
- Warning to people applying for new PIP-style benefit who fail to report changes
- PIP claimants may see changes to Motability Scheme start this summer
-
What happens if you apply for PIP but should have applied for new disability payment
-
PIP claimants will see 13 big changes when they transfer to new disability payment
