Almost a quarter of the UK's population will be suffering from fuel poverty next year, according to new research.
A report published by the National Housing Federation shows 5.7 million households will be spending at least 10 per cent of their annual income on energy bills by the end of 2009.
This is an increase of 100% since 2005.
Annual electricity bills are expected to increase to more than £500 a year, while gas bills soar to around £900 by 2010.
The report, written by IPA Energy and Water Economics, says people on low incomes will be the worst hit by the price increases because of prepayment schemes.
Five million people pay for their energy this way, incurring higher tariffs, and by 2010 they are expected to be paying £65 more than those who get a quarterly bill.
Ruth Davison, NHF director of campaigns and neighbourhoods, called the findings part of a "full scale national energy crisis".
"The Government needs to grasp the nettle and take strong and radical action to protect the nation's energy customers," she said.
"Britain is virtually unique in Europe in that our energy suppliers have been privatised and deregulated.
"The promise at the time of deregulation was that prices would fall.
"This has palpably not happened. So, it is now time for ministers to regulate the market.
She also called on energy companies to be made to use their profits to pay for their "social and energy efficiency responsibilities".
The research coincides with calls from charities and consumer bodies for the Government to follow a new ten-point Fuel Poverty Charter.
The charter, supported by such groups as Friends of the Earth, calls for properly insulated homes and renewable energy systems as well as short-term crisis payments to low earners.
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