Trade association OFTEC Ireland has raised strong concerns and lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) about energy savings claims made by Calor Gas in its latest promotional campaign.
OFTEC also registered a complaint with ASAI about Calor Gas last year, which resulted in Calor removing a cost calculator from its website.
OFTEC, which represents the domestic oil heating and cooking industry in Ireland, says it was compelled to lodge this latest complaint following concerns that householders could be misled into making home energy decisions using incorrect information.
Calor's current brochure and website claims that Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) is currently 11.5% cheaper than oil fired heating on an annual basis for the domestic user. However, according to the latest independent data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Sutherland Tables, in January 2013, oil is actually 50% cheaper than LPG when comparing like for like boilers on an annual basis.
David Blevings of OFTEC Ireland said: 'We're extremely concerned that householders across Ireland are being marketed heavily with energy saving claims that are contrary to the independent data available in the marketplace.'
'We believe it's in the best interests of consumers and the industry that all energy companies behave responsibly and are brought to account when they do not. In this tough economic environment, householders are looking for ways to make energy savings and that's why we asked ASAI to investigate this matter. These consumers are entitled to fair and independent data when researching fuel costs.'
The complaint was made by OFTEC to the ASAI at the end of March this year.
For more information visit
www.oftec.org
