GAS and electricity bills are set to rise at least 14 times faster than wages this year, according to research.

The TUC said its analysis showed that energy bills are on course to increase by 54% when the price cap set by Ofgem changes in April, but average weekly wages will go up by 3.75%.

The union organisation estimated that record high energy prices could wipe out the entire value of pay rises this year.

The TUC says those on low incomes will be hit hardest by sky-rocketing bills, as years of weak wage growth and benefit cuts have left working families “badly exposed” to the cost of living crisis.

The TUC estimated that since 2010 energy bills have risen at twice the speed of average wages.

With the conflict in Ukraine set to hike up energy costs further, the Government was urged to come forward with new measures to support struggling families.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Years of wage stagnation and cuts to social security have left millions badly exposed to sky-high bills.

“With households across Britain pushed to the brink, the Government must do far more to help workers with crippling energy costs.

“That means imposing a windfall tax on oil and gas profits and using the money raised to give hard-pressed families energy grants, not loans.

“It means a real increase to universal credit to stop low-income workers from being pushed into poverty.

“That’s the fastest way to get support to families who need it, and it means coming up with a long-term plan to get wages rising across the economy.”

A Government spokesperson said: "We recognise the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, which is why we have set out a generous £21 billion package of support.

"This includes a £150 council tax rebate from April and a further £200 energy bill discount in October to cut energy bills quickly for the majority of households, while the energy price cap continues to insulate millions of customers from volatile global gas prices.

“We will set out an energy supply strategy which will supercharge our renewable energy and nuclear capacity to bolster our domestic supply and help drive down energy costs.”