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The Energy Minister has said he is not "complacent" about fuel poverty and acknowledged that the Government has been "knocked off course from our target".
Malcolm Wicks told BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme: "I worry tremendously about the thought that elderly people could be cold in their homes in the 21st century.
"We've got to redouble our efforts; we're asking the companies to do more by improving their social tariffs. I'm asking them to look at their policies on pre-payment meters that concern me.
"And we've got, in government, to make sure that the money that is available - let alone any that might be available from the Chancellor in the future - actually gets to elderly people, because some elderly people are actually not getting the energy efficiency programmes, the pensions credits, and so on."
He said that the Government had invested "£20 billion since we got elected" but were now being "knocked off course" by rising energy costs.
"What happened was that for several years the number in fuel poverty was tumbling down, from four million to about one million, and that was because of rising incomes.
"The pension credit rate has increased. It's not just money, it's about making sure that the homes of the most vulnerable are among the most energy efficient - you know, with better heating systems and insulation.
"And we've helped over two million people improve their heating standards in their home."
Age Concern has called for the winter fuel allowance to be upped, but Mr Wicks said that was "a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer".
The Government is bound by law to end fuel poverty by 2016.
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