There was a fall in the number of people classified as being in fuel poverty living in England between 2009 and 2010.
The number dropped by 500,000 from four million to 3.5 million, according to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). DECC predicts the figures will remain at 3.5 million in 2011.
However, DECC predicts that this will rise back up to 3.9 million for 2012 because of the price rises imposed by the “big six” energy firms.
All of the big energy firms increased the cost of gas and electricity by ten per cent or more per fuel between August and November 2011, though each of the “big six” subsequently reduced electricity prices by between 4.5 and six per cent in the first three months of 2012.
A household is considered to be in fuel poverty of it spends ten per cent or more of its income on heating and power.
Across the UK, in 2009 there were 5.5 million households in fuel poverty in 2009, this dropped to 4.75 million in 2010.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: "Fuel poverty remains a serious national problem and the coalition is absolutely committed to tackling it.
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