CAMPAIGNERS called for more support to protect pensioners from sky-high energy bills this winter as prices increased under Ofgem’s latest cap hike today.

The average household energy bill has increased by £149 a year after the watchdog’s introduction of a £1,717 price cap for a typical dual-fuel household in Britain.

It comes after the government removed winter fuel payments for about 10 million pensioners, leaving them with less support to heat their homes.

Charities and campaigners have called for a U-turn on the decision and delegates at last month’s Labour conference backed a Unite union motion for the cuts to be reversed.

Citizens Advice head of energy policy Andy Manning said: “With record levels of energy debt, the removal of previous support and changes to the eligibility of the winter fuel payment, people are in desperate need.

“The government must urgently introduce targeted bill support that reflects the realities of people’s energy needs.”

End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis said that bills from this month will be 65 per cent higher than in 2020-21 as we head into the fourth winter of “sky-high energy prices.”

He said: “For older people who previously received the winter fuel payment, but will no longer do so under the Chancellor’s new rules, the situation is even worse.

“For many pensioners, this winter will feel like the most expensive on record.

“What’s worse, there are more price increases on the horizon.”

Mr Francis said campaigners welcomed the government’s long-term plans to boost home energy efficiency to bring down bills and to improve energy security to stabilise prices, but added that these reforms will take time and “will be cold comfort to those struggling this winter.”

“That’s why it is so vital ministers bring in more support for vulnerable households this winter, reductions in standing charges and a social tariff,” he said.

“The energy industry has made more than £457 billion in profit since the start of the crisis, so there is plenty of money in the system to be able to ensure everyone stays warm this winter and next.”

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said restricting the winter fuel payment to those on pension credit was “reckless and wrong” and “spells disaster for pensioners on low and modest incomes.”

Today also marked United Nations International Day of Older Persons, with the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) calling it “terrible irony that a day intended to celebrate the older generation across the world will instead mark the start of a bleak winter for millions” in Britain.

NPC general secretary Jan Shortt said the biggest challenge facing older people was the loss of the winter fuel payment, calling it “a huge blow to those who will have to make critical choices about heating, eating and paying other bills.”

She said: “There is no justification for the removal of the winter fuel allowance from all bar those on pension credit.

“Fuel poverty is across society. With Ofgem allowing a margin of 11 per cent profit to energy companies already posting the highest profits since the crisis, it is going to be a bleak winter.”