The UK Poverty Rip-Off: The Poverty Premium 2010, found that the so-called "poverty premium" has risen by more than £280 since the charity conducted initial research in 2007.
The extra cost of gas and electricity bills account for 20 per cent of the premium, with poor families often using more expensive payment methods such as pre-payment cards.
Sally Copley, head of UK policy at Save the Children, said: "There is a clear link between living in cold, damp conditions for long periods and children’s health being put at risk."
"We believe the poverty premium is totally unfair and is ripping off low-income families who are already struggling to make ends meet."
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