Analysts have warned Britons could see their energy bills rise by 30% next year, and one has raised a real concern about the "security of supply" with not enough to keep people warm over the winter.
Research agency Cornwall Insight has predicted further volatile gas prices and the potential collapse of even more suppliers could push the energy price cap to about £1,660 in summer.
The forecast is approximately 30% higher than the record £1,277 price cap set for winter 2021-22, which commenced at the start of October.
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Energy expert David Cox, of London Energy Consulting, has also raised concern about the amount of gas in the UK saying that while it is unlikely there will be cuts to domestic users, shortages could still be an issue.
He told BBC Radio Wales on Thursday: "It is very worrying on two counts. It is not just the price, which is going to go up again next April when Ofgem look at the price cap on gas and electricity. We will be looking at very significant price rises, but also we have the concern of security of supply. Will we actually get the gas we need this winter? Particularly if it is a colder than average winter.
"I am very worried about whether we will get enough gas to keep the lights on, and keep us all warm."
He added that the problem was the prices that will have to be paid in a global gas market.
"In the UK, we don't have any long term gas contracts any more that guarantee gas will come to us," he said. "Gas will only come to us if we are willing to pay a price that is higher than the Japanese, or higher than the Chinese. It will only come if we are willing to pay the high prices.
"If elsewhere there are shortages of supply, outages, or we have a cold winter, I am very worried that we may not get enough gas. Our gas storage facilities were shut by the government a few years ago, so we don't have any significant gas storage any more in the UK. We are very dependent on imports of gas from around the world via liquefied natural gas coming in via Milford Haven, or pipeline gas from Norway.
"But that gas will only arrive in the UK if we are willing to pay a price higher than anyone else.
"There are no easy solutions. Governments are powerless to do much about it, the ministers might say don't worry, but the only way we can guarantee we can get gas is pay higher prices."
Mr Cox added that the advice was "primitive", saying: "The only thing you can do is basically to put on an extra jumper. Go to places in the community in the day that may be heated. Turn down the thermostat, put on some extra jumpers and hope that we don't have a cold winter.
"This winter is the crucial period to get through the market, but I believe it will adjust with more gas coming in on LNG, and from the Middle East and America. Prices will come down eventually, but you are looking at summer next year to see prices come down to what we deem reasonable."
Energy regulator Ofgem reviews the price cap once every six months, and changes it based on the cost that suppliers have to pay for their energy, cost of policies and operating costs, among other things.
In a statement to the BBC, Ofgem acknowledged it was a "worrying time for many people".
The regulator added: "The energy price cap covers around 15 million households and will ensure that consumers don't pay more than is absolutely necessary this winter.
"However if global gas prices remain high, then when we update the price cap unfortunately the level would increase.
"Any customer worried about paying their energy bill should contact their supplier to access the range of support available."
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