Families are being forced into paying too much for gas installations because of a deal struck by Bord Gais, it has been claimed today.
The Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors of Ireland (APHCI) is now bringing an anti-competitiveness complaint against Bord Gais, for what it says are unfair pricing policies.
Bord Gais has an exclusive deal with a multinational company, Sierra, to do all of its installations.
Legally all gas boilers have to be fitted by registered installers.
Last year, around 11,000 certificates of installation were issued.
However, the APHCI said that that between 22,000 and 25,000 boilers were sold in Ireland in the same time period.
This points to the huge black economy, according to APHCI chairman Sean Giffney.