Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) figures released last month seem to indicate that the number of people in fuel poverty across the country in 2011 reached 4.5 million, a 250,000 drop on 2010. However, since the economic situation has not improved since 2011, not to mention the fact that energy bills have visibly increased over the same period, it's likely that the number of people in this situation will actually increase.