A number of new nuclear plants and wind farms will be developed in Britain to lower the likelihood of blackouts across Britain, energy minister Ed Davey has announced.

Mr Davey warned that utility bills will have to increase in order for the work to be completed, with families having to spend more on fuel bills in order to increase the revenue of the country's energy companies, making them more likely to construct power stations.

"We are extremely concerned about consumer bills. We can't turn back the tide because global gas prices are having upward pressures – we can't stop that. What we can do is try to insulate the UK economy," he explained.

Although many households will be disheartened by the prospect of higher energy fees, Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, stressed that people have the power to find cheaper bills by shopping around.

She noted that many people are sitting on "old fashioned and expensive tariffs".