FACTBOX-Reaction to UK energy price cap rising 80% from October

But millions are facing bankrupting bills in the months ahead." "Today's energy price rise will be hammer blow to family budgets and tip many households into fuel poverty.

British energy bills will rise 80% to an average of 3,549 pounds ($4,188) a year from October, regulator Ofgem said on Friday, calling it a "crisis" that needed to be tackled by urgent and decisive government action. Below is a reaction to the price cap rise:

NADIM ZAHAWI, FINANCE MINISTER: "I am working flat out to develop options for further support. This will mean the incoming Prime Minister can hit the ground running and deliver support to those who need it most, as soon as possible."

RACHEL REEVES, OPPOSITION LABOUR PARTY FINANCE SPOKESPERSON: "This is incredibly worrying and will strike fear in the heart of many families. We cannot wait any longer to act. This is a national emergency. The Tories (Conservatives) must freeze energy bills now so households don't pay a penny more in winter."

FRANCES O'GRADY, TRADES UNION CONGRESS GENERAL SECRETARY "Nobody should have to worry about heating their homes this winter. But millions are facing bankrupting bills in the months ahead."

"Today's energy price rise will be a hammer blow to family budgets and tip many households into fuel poverty. Ministers must immediately cancel this catastrophic increase ... And to make sure energy remains affordable to everyone, they should bring the energy retail companies into public ownership." MARTIN LEWIS, CONSUMER RIGHTS CHAMPION:

"This is a catastrophe, plain and simple, unaffordable. "If we do not get further government intervention on top of what was announced in May then lives will be lost this winter by too many people to think about because of these unaffordable, terrible rises in energy bills."

NICOLA STURGEON, SCOTLAND'S FIRST MINISTER: "This is simply unaffordable for millions. It cannot be allowed to go ahead. This rise must be canceled, with the UK government and energy companies then agreeing on a package to fund the cost of a freeze over a longer period, coupled with fundamental reform of the energy market."

CRAIG LOWREY, SENIOR CONSULTANT AT ANALYSTS CORNWALL INSIGHT: "Today should be seen as a wake-up call to policymakers that short-term thinking and triage of the energy system is not enough. Without a real change to the energy system in this country, it is consumers, suppliers, and the economy that will all continue to suffer the consequences."