The Government is seeking change the definition of the key measure of 'fuel poverty' - with the effect that far fewer households could be deemed to be struggling with gas and electricity bills in the future. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) wants to adopt proposals that would alter the definition of fuel poverty - currently regarded as occurring when a household spend 10 per cent or more of its income after tax on gas and electricity. Under plans being put out for consultation the definition would change to mean instances where fuel costs were above average, and where household income is below the average poverty line, once housing and fuel costs and been taken into account. The number of households regarded as fuel poor under the current definition began rising around 2004. In the period since, fuel bills have risen and incomes have stalled so the number of 'fuel poor' households rose from around one million in 2004 to around four million in 2010....Read more HERE

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