Official rubbishes supposed €40m rebranding cost for ESB and Bord Gáis

An official at the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has described as "total rubbish" a figure of over €40m for the rebranding of ESB and Bord Gáis.

Dermot Nolan said the rebrand could cost the ESB between €5m and €7m and because Bord Gáis is a smaller operation, it would cost less.

The issue of a possible rebrand of the energy companies has caused controversy in recent months with energy chiefs having told an Oireachtas committee that the combined cost could be in the region of €48m.

That prompted Opposition outrage but Taoiseach Brian Cowen subsequently insisted the decision was in the hands of the CER.

However today Mr Nolan insisted the the Commission is not forcing the two energy suppliers into any rebrand.

It was, he said, proposing the move as one option to increase competition in a deregulated energy market in line with new European legislation.