As the law stands at the moment suppliers can wait for 65 working days after prices have been put up to notify their customers of the increase.
Energy regulator Ofgem is to consult on proposals that will include a plan for companies to tell people in advance of any bill increases. The government has said it will ensure the delay is no more than 10 days.
"Energy price hikes are difficult at the best of times. But it is utterly unacceptable that people might not be told for up to 65 days that they are paying more for their energy," said Joan Ruddock, Energy and Climate Change minister.
suppliers can wait for 65 working days after prices have been put up to notify their customers of the increase
The consultation will start before Easter, a spokesman said, but any decision could be vetoed by the energy suppliers.
However, the government has vowed to ensure that a change is made, by amending the Energy Bill to allow the government to set the deadline for notifying customers of price changes.
"We are pleased that the government agrees with us that the current rules are completely unfair on consumers," said Peter Vicary-Smith, of the consumers' association Which?
"It is vital that this amendment is kept in the Bill and that the government uses it to force suppliers to give advance warning of any price changes. Ofgem needs to act now and amend the licence condition so that consumers do not have to wait."
Earlier in February, British Gas announced it was cutting standard household gas prices by an average of 7% - or £55 on the average annual household bill - after a drop in wholesale prices.
