They said gas prices will shoot up by around 15% next winter, thanks to rising wholesale gas prices making energy supplying more expensive.

"The trend for retail energy costs therefore remains upwards," they said in a statement.

Tom Lyon, from price comparison site Uswitch, told the BBC, "Any further increases will see even more people seriously struggling to afford their bills.”

"We would urge all suppliers to hold fire for as long as possible and to ensure that if they do move it is only in response to a sustained upward trend. It is also important that they recognise the impact it will have on their customers."

January’s 5% cut in prices came after a price hike of 16% electricity and 18% in gas the previous August.

Centrica have also released their annual trading update, saying that the four months up to April this year saw a 1% rise in consumption from last year, but a 3% dip in electricity use. Earlier this year, they revealed that, during a “tough” 2011, British Gas profits fell by 30% to only £522m.