There is set to be as many as 300,000 more households in fuel poverty this Christmas than was the case last year,according to a government advisory group.
The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group has called on the prime minister David Cameron to tackle what it has described as a"spiralling"problem in the country.
Energy prices have risen by seven per cent on average with E.ON the last of the energy providers to have announced the hikes earlier this month.
This has taken the average annual direct debit bill to£1,247,which is placing increasing strain on families.
A household is considered to be in fuel poverty if more than ten per cent of its income is spent on home heating.
These figures could encourage more people to look towards energy-efficient light bulbs as a way of driving down the amount of money they are spending on electricity every month.
The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group,which is part-funded by the Department of Energy,estimates that the around nine million people could meet this criteria by 2016.
It added that the government should create a cross-departmental body to ensure that a"joined-up"approach can be taken to tackling this growing issue.
Chairman of the FPAG Derek Lickorish commented:"With a cold winter,welfare reforms cutting incomes,and all at a time of austerity measures and other rising household costs,the plight of the fuel poor has never been more serious.
"A toxic cocktail of rising wholesale prices,the high cost of energy reforms and cuts in incomes for many households means fuel poverty levels are set to sky rocket without radical action."
Each of the big six energy suppliers in the UK has announced price rises starting either this month or in January,which is adding to the problems that consumers are facing.
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