OFTEC today welcomed a decision by the Complaints Committee of the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) to uphold an earlier complaint regarding misleading energy savings claims made by Calor Gas in its consumer advertising.
Despite a ‘request for a review’ or appeal of the decision by the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) company, the ASAI stood by its earlier decision, announced in July 2013, that it did not consider that Calor had substantiated energy savings claims made in its campaigns.
ASAI demanded Calor Gas withdraw the misleading advertising with immediate effect.
The decision follows a lengthy initial investigation and secondary review by ASAI based on a complaint originally lodged by OFTEC Ireland, which represents the domestic oil heating and cooking industry, earlier this year. It related to energy savings claims regarding LPG versus oil fired heating made within Calor’s brochure and on its website.
In the ruling, the ASAI considered that the method of calculation chosen by Calor Gas was ‘likely to exploit the lack of knowledge of consumers’ and was ‘likely to be misleading’.
OFTEC is again pleased with the decision of the ASAI and the recognition of their key concern that Irish householders were being potentially misled into making home energy decisions based on incorrect information.
David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland said, “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.
“This is a small but important victory for householders across Ireland who are often marketed heavily with energy saving claims that are contrary to the independent data available.”
This is the second complaint by OFTEC to have been upheld by the ASAI against Calor Gas in Ireland. A previous complaint in 2012 led to Calor removing an incorrect cost calculator from its website.
Full details of the judgement can be downloaded here.
March 10th 2014
