According to the report prepared by a coalition of fifty social, ecological and trade union organizations, the 54 percent to be imposed by energy supply companies with the approval of the state regulatory entity will affect at least two and a half million homes with children.

According to the study, a family is considered energy-poor when it has to spend 10 percent of its income to pay electricity and gas bills.

The new price cap to be imposed on providers starting April 1st means some 22 million families will have to pay an additional £693 (940 USD) each year for the service.

In total, the annual fee will rise to $2,670 during the spring and summer, but could rise further in October, when the public energy regulator reviews prices again.

Although the government announced that affected consumers will receive up to 200 pounds ($271) in loans to help them pay their bills, the Coalition Against Energy Poverty believes that the aid must include a long-term plan to improve energy efficiency in homes and invest in renewable sources of energy.

Apart from the increase in the cost of electricity and gas, the British will have to face an increase in the municipal tax on housing come April and will have to contribute 1.25 percent more to social security.

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