According to official estimates, the 54-percent increase authorized by the energy regulator (OFGEM) in February will affect 22 million households.

In total, the annual tariff will rise by some 693 pounds sterling (940 dollars), but it could increase even more in October, when the OFGEM review prices again.

The state entity justified the decision to authorize the supplier companies to raise the price of their services, which according to forecasts, a quarter of the country’s families will be plunged into ‘energy poverty’, with the increase in global gas and oil prices.

In addition to the rise in energy price, the tax increase on social security contributions and the municipal tax on housing will begin to be implemented as of this Friday.

Keir Starmer, leader of Britain’s opposition Labor Party, on Friday described the response given by the authorities to the high cost of living as “pathetic,” and reiterated that the only viable plan is to implement a single tax on the profits of the oil companies operating in the North Sea.

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