Ofgem today (Friday 26 August) that the energy price cap will jump to £3,549 in October.

This means the average household will be paying close to triple what they paid last winter for heating, cooking and lighting.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "The country is galloping towards a winter emergency. Local people already struggling to make ends meet will be even more worried after today's announcement.

"The government simply cannot allow people to suffer such a devastating increase in energy bills which we know will push over 55% of West of Englanders into fuel poverty. People will die.

"The government has a choice. Carry on letting oil and gas companies make huge profits whilst West of England families suffer with bills soaring this winter. Or do something about it.

"I urge whoever the next prime minister is to look again at Labour's plan to freeze energy bills so households won't pay a penny more for their energy bills this winter, paid for by expanding the windfall tax on oil and gas producers.

"Under my leadership, the West of England Combined Authority is doing all it can to cut energy bills for people in the long term, including by making our homes and businesses more energy efficient, but at a time of crisis like this it is the duty of the Government to step up".

Research has shown that small businesses are faring even worse experiencing a 424% rise in gas costs and 349% increase in electricity since February 2021, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The energy price cap, which is the maximum amount suppliers can charge customers in England, Scotland and Wales for each unit of energy is meant to protect customers from short-term price spikes . But because electricity and gas prices are going up at the moment, the cap is set to go up, too.

It will be a "gut punch for households across the UK", says Peter Smith from National Energy Action. "This is simply unaffordable and is going to push many more people into fuel poverty - this means misery, cold homes, debt and unsafe coping tactics."

Currently there is another revision of the price cap scheduled for January 1 2023.