The number of young families who cannot afford their energy bills has soared in recent years and has now surpassed one million for the first time.
This means that couples with children are now one of the most likely groups in society to be in fuel poverty.
By contrast a decade ago, when the average dual fuel bill was around half what is now in real terms, families were relatively unlikely to be struggling to pay their bills.
The average dual fuel bill last year was £1,265. But official figures show that more than 15 per cent of families with children could not afford to pay theirs.
On average, for those in fuel poverty, it was £400 more than they could afford – leaving them either rationing their energy use; going without other essentials such as food, or falling into debt.
The definition of fuel poverty is having an energy bill which is above average, plus an income which - after paying the bill - falls below the household poverty line of 60 per cent of the average wage.
Caroline Flint, Labour’s energy spokeswoman who uncovered the figures tucked away in an official report published this year, said sky-high fuel bills were causing a ‘crisis’.
Elderly people, who have traditionally been the group most cash-strapped for fuel, are eligible for some help with their bills and home insulation and the number of pensioners in fuel poverty has fallen.
But the number of families with children struggling has risen sharply.
A decade ago, the average dual fuel bill was only £472. At that time, 9 per cent of couples with children were in fuel poverty – or 471,000 homes.
By 2012 the figures show 679,000 homes were in fuel poverty – a 44 per cent rise. In addition, 348,000 lone parents with children were in fuel poverty making 1.03million families altogether.
Bills rose for several years due to a surge in wholesale gas prices, and the rising toll of green taxes to fund wind farms and nuclear power stations which now add £110 a year to the average bill.
But there are concerns that now wholesale gas prices are dropping, prices are rising because the energy giants are failing to pass on cost savings they make.
Jason Wakeford, a uSwitch.com energy expert, said: ‘In this day and age it’s shocking to see so many being forced to go without heating and risk their health, simply to cope with high energy bills.
‘With the average bill now 168 per cent higher than ten years ago – it’s little wonder that energy costs top consumers’ concerns.
'Wholesale energy prices have been falling for a long time now and it’s high time for the big six suppliers to pass on these reductions to hard-pressed consumers, who will be going cold because they simply can’t afford to keep the heating on.
‘Our own research shows that over 15 million households will ration their energy use this winter to cope with sky-high energy costs.’
Miss Flint said: ‘Brita
in is facing an energy bill crisis, with a million families who can’t afford their energy bills and millions more worrying about how they’ll make ends meet this winter.
She said her party would upgrade five million homes over the next ten years to make them warmer and reduce bills, as Britain’s houses are among the worst insulated in Europe.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change said the number of older people in fuel poverty had fallen ‘considerably’ and they would set a target to help families with children next year.
Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: ‘This Government is helping families manage their bills and keep warm this winter – and it’s working. Overall fuel poverty has fallen year on year, but there’s still some way to go.
‘Our energy efficiency plans are targeting help at those who need it most, with over a million boilers, windows and insulation installed in people’s homes in under two years and half a billion pounds invested over three years under the Green Deal scheme.’
