WINTER death figures to be “much higher” as Essex charity has more people reach out than ever amid energy bills crises.

Citizens Advice Essex has seen an increase of clients reaching out with energy issues by 178 per cent over the same quarter last year.

The charity that campaigns on big issues that affect people’s lives is now “overwhelmed” with clients as Ofgem announces the typical household energy bill will hit £3,549 a year from October 1.

Martin Lord, director at Citizens Advice Essex, says they now expect families to “suffer poor health”, become “mal-nourished” and “self-disconnect” as they struggle to cope with the cost-of-living.

He said: “The price cap rise is not unexpected but will be horrific for many.

“And although much of the emphasis has been about people moving into fuel poverty, spare a thought for those already in fuel poverty as their positions will become untenable now.

“For families in this position, they will have a very bleak winter, we expect them to self-disconnect, suffer poor health, for children to struggle at school, and become malnourished.

“For disabled people or older people, it will lead to many becoming sick, and not being able to shake off infections and to end up in hospital when otherwise they wouldn’t have.

“And as we know there are measurable excess deaths during Winter, many occurring because of the effect of cold, it is hard not to image these figures being very, very, much higher this winter than in previous years.

“We have noticed more people reach out this year than ever, we are oversubscribed as a service in any event, and this has made things worse.”

Across Britain, the average household which had been paying £1,400 each month in October last year, will be faced with bills of up to £3,600 per month.

Jack Monroe, Southend poverty campaigner, said people are at risk of dying with urgent and immediate help.

In a tweet, Jack wrote: “People are at risk of dying.

“Seems nobody else wants to say it, because it is an uncomfortable and shocking thing to realise, but without urgent, immediate, appropriate help, vulnerable people will die.

“That is not scaremongering, I have been gathering evidence over the last few years of deaths in the UK directly attributable to poverty and the scale of what is to come is horrifying.”

All south Essex MPs were contacted for comment on the issue and were asked what they are going to do about the issue, what pressures they will put on the government, and what they think needs to be done to tackle the problem of rising energy bills. 

Only one responded, the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, Stephen Metcalfe. 

He said: "There is no doubt the rise in the energy cap will have a significant impact on many household, not only across Basildon & Thurrock, but across the country.

"As we know, this is not a problem confined to the UK with energy and fuel cost spiralling across Europe due to the war in Ukraine and increased demand following the pandemic.

"That said, I believe who ever the new Prime Minister is will need to act fast. The Government has already put some measures in place, but we need to go further and provide some additional support and help to those with the least ability to pay these higher cost."