A row has erupted between Bord Gáis and the home heating oil suppliers with both sides accusing the other of misleading the public.
The Oil Promotion Federation of Ireland (OPFI), the group which represents the 400 home heating oil suppliers, has lodged an official complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) claiming that an advertisement from Bord Gáis is seriously misleading.
The group has also made an official complaint to RTÉ about the advertisement which it claims misleads the public by asserting that natural gas is more efficient than oil. The oil lobby clams the advertisement breaches the advertising codes and is damaging its business.
The dispute arises at a time when competition between the two fuel sectors is intense, with Bord Gáis reaching parts of the State previously not connected to the natural gas network.
In a letter to the ASAI, the chairman of the oil suppliers' group, Mr David Connolly, claims independent research has shown conclusively that oil-fired "non-condensing heating systems"" are at least 10 per cent more efficient than gas-fired boilers. "This proves that the advertisement is misleading and providing false information to members of the public," says his letter. In the letter, the group warns that, while its only action so far has been to complain to the ASAI, it is also considering "the full range of options open to it in this matter".
It claims a similarly misleading advert from Bord Gáis was aired by RTÉ and others last summer. "Following our complaints to RTÉ and others at that time, the price comparison advertisement was withdrawn.
"We would like to register our disappointment that, in less than one year, we are again forced to undertake similar action as a result of another Bord Gáis advertisement that once again proffers unsubstantiated information to the public and which misleads the public."
Bord Gáis has reacted angrily to the allegations. A spokesman said: "What consumers ultimately want to know is which fuel represents best value - reflected in terms of efficiency (of a wide range of factors of which the boiler is just one) and cost."
He said data from the Environmental Protection Institute showed that oil produced "at least 10 times more particulates of waste than natural gas".
On price he said there was an 11 per cent differential between kerosene and natural gas in favour of the latter.
"So natural gas is and has historically been cheaper - and in general the differential is considerably higher than at present," he said.
He said natural gas was recognised by the agency and others as being far more environmentally efficient, with natural gas prices remaining stable for at least 12 months, while oil prices fluctuate.
Bord Gáis said the previous advertisement was dropped because there were differences over whether the price differential between natural gas and oil was 28 per cent or 30 per cent.
The ASAI will adjudicate on the matter in the next fortnight before issuing a decision in its next bulletin.
