Thousands could ‘disconnect’ from gas and electricity amid 80% price hike fears warns Caroline Flint

Thousands will be forced to disconnect themselves from gas and electricity after an expected 80 per cent increase in bills, a government adviser has warned.

At the same time, charities predict as many as 8.5million households will be plunged in to fuel poverty.

Energy regulator Ofgem will announce a change in the price cap this morning, with the figure expected to surge by around 80 per cent.

Energy regulator Ofgem will announce a change in the price cap this morning, with the figure expected to surge by around 80 per cent

People may ‘disconnect themselves,’ said Government adviser Caroline Flint

Industry analysts suggest the current typical annual bill is set to rise from £1,971 to at least £3,500 and potentially as much as £3,700 from October 1.

Government adviser Caroline Flint, chairman of the Committee on Fuel Poverty, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The fear is not so much that people will be disconnected by energy companies but that they will disconnect themselves.

‘They will not turn on their heating or they may not have cooked food because they see that as wasting energy.’

Those on pre-payment meters are most at risk because they will simply be unable to afford to buy top-ups.