The Competition Authority has discussed with Bord Gais Eireann issues of competition in the natural gas market. While the authority says there have been no breaches of competition law by the company, it felt it necessary "to point out how the rules operate".
The two points discussed by the ais Eireann concerned the setting of tariffs and the risk of these placing other firms at a competitive disadvantage and how the gas intercon nector to Britain is operated.
On the subject of pricing, the authority points out that when Bord Gais Eireann negotiates a contract with a company for the same volume of gas, the same tariffs should apply.
The second point brought up at the meeting concerned Bord Gais Eireann's operation of the British interconnector.
"The company will have to ensure it does not set charges for users which are less favourable than those which would it would apply to itself," said a statement from the authority.
A spokesman for Bord Gais Eireann said no breaches had ever been committed by the company and said it did not know why the authority was pointing out such matters at this time.
The Competition Authority would not comment on whether any of Bord Gais Eireann's competitors had lodged a complaint against it for uncompetitive practices.
