Brits should reduce their energy use as bills spiral out of control, the Chancellor has suggested.
Nadhim Zahawi said everyone needs to "look at our energy consumption" - days after No10 insisted people should not feel they should cut down after grim warnings about gas supplies and spiralling prices.
After Ofgem confirmed the energy price cap would rise to an eye-watering £3,549 a year for households on default tariffs in October, the Chancellor promised "more help is on the way".
“We know that's not enough. We've got to do more," Mr Zahawi told broadcasters.
He said options were being prepared for the new Prime Minister, but wouldn’t go into detail on what they were.
Keir Starmer said it is "absolutely unforgivable" that the Government is "missing in action" over the crisis.
Asked if Brits should reduce their energy use, Mr Zahawi said: "The reality is that we should all look at our energy consumption. It is a difficult time.
"There is war on our continent.
"Very few people anticipated war. Wars happen in far-flung places. It is now here with us. We have to remain resilient. My responsibility is to deliver that help."
It comes after No10 said on Monday that people shouldn't panic or cut back on their energy use.
A spokeswoman for the PM said: "These decisions, in terms of energy consumption, remain decisions for individuals.
“Households, businesses and industry can be confident that they will have the electricity and gas that they need.”
Meanwhile, Mr Zahawi was forced to deny that the fractious Tory leadership contest had left the Government paralysed.
Told people were being left in the dark, he told broadcasters: "That sounds like we're not acting on this."
The top Tory added: "We know (Vladimir) Putin has now worked out that actually this is quite a potent lever. You look at what's happening in Germany and the rest of Europe.
"We need to make sure there's more support. My preference is for it to be targeted.
"Why? Because it will give us a much longer, more leeway, to be able to face down Putin and send a very important message to him that this is not going to work."
Earlier, Boris Johnson came under fire for failing to send ministers to appear on television morning shows in the hours following the announcement.
Liz Truss is not expected to appear today, instead making a statement where she pledged to “immediately” take action to cut taxes and suspend green tariffs.
But the Tory leadership frontrunner, who has previously derided “handouts” to help families pay their bills, did not set out further detail on her cost of living plans.
Her rival Rishi Sunak said that protecting people from rising energy bills will be his "immediate priority" as PM.
He told broadcasters: "That is my track record in grappling with this issue. I moved quickly as Chancellor and this will be my immediate priority as PM and I'd like to try and do the same thing and make sure that we protect the most vulnerable as much as we can from this significant increase in bills."
Labour accused the Government of being "missing in action" - with Mr Starmer asking Boris Johnson "where are you?" as it was announced on Friday that the energy price cap will rise to £3,549 a year.
He told reporters: "I do think the Government has to take responsibility in a situation like this.
"But on the cost of living crisis you've got a Prime Minister who insisted on staying in office, recognises there's a problem with energy prices, shrugs his shoulders and does nothing about it.
"You've got two leadership candidates who are fighting with each other about how appalling they have been in government, but neither has come up with any plan to deal with this problem. Unforgivable."
He added: "My challenge for the Government is where are you? Join us in this challenge and do something about it because at the moment being missing in action is absolutely unforgivable."
