Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis stepped back from a social media break to call on the Government to act immediately amid warnings that energy bills will rise by even more than previously thought.
Cornwall Insight's latest forecast predicts energy bills will rise by around £200 more than previously forecast between October and November - and will increase again in January and April next year.
The energy consultancy said bills will reach approximately £3,582 per year for the average household from October. It then forecasts bills at £4,266 from January 2023, and £4,427 from April 2023.
Read more: Martin Lewis' warning to direct debit energy bill payers
Mr Lewis, who is currently on a "social media and work break" took to Twitter to call on the Government to take action, as he noted the new predictions would mean an energy cap increase of 81% in October and an extra 19% in January.
Describing the Conservative Government - which is due to name a new leader on September 5 - as "zombies", Mr Lewis tweeted: "Action and planning is needed now. The zombie govt needs to wake up sooner than 5 Sept...
"The leadership debate must not ignore this portentous national cataclysm anymore."
Mr Lewis suggested the Government speaks to energy regulator Ofgem to come up with a forward plan, as it did earlier in the year before then Chancellor and current Prime Ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak unveiled support measures including a £400 discount on bills.
The Money Saving Expert founder added: "An action plan is needed TODAY. They are all in the same party, let's call on them to come together for the good of the nation rather than personal point scoring
"People's livelihoods, mental wellbeing and in some cases very lives depend on this. This is desperate."
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has accused both Conservative leadership candidates of being in a “parallel universe” as he called on the Government to “cancel the October energy price rise”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We all know that energy prices are going to go up dramatically in October, but we’ve heard nothing from either candidate of the Conservatives for prime minister. They’ve got no plan, it’s almost as if they’re living in a parallel universe.
“Liberal Democrats are now publishing our plan and what we’re saying is the Government should cancel the October energy price rise. If it does, it will avoid a social catastrophe. Millions of families and pensioners will go hungry and cold this winter unless bold measures like Liberal Democrats are proposing is put in place. They’ve got to act now.”
He added: “The poorest 10% of households pay three times as much of their income on energy as the richest 10%, so it’s going to help the poorest the most by a long way, but even people on modest and middle incomes are going to have a body blow with this rise, so it’s right that we need this bold measure.”
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