New merger revealed SSE and NPower announce single supply firm talks

Union bosses plus local politicians fear job losses loom as a result of Perth-based SSE’s decision to merge with NPower.

The two ‘Big Six’ companies announced this week they were in “welladvanced” talks to create a new single energy supply firm to serve their existing nearly 13 million customers prompting concerns for local jobs as well as possible price rises for consumers.

Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said he immediately sought assurances from SSE that people it employs locally will be retained following the announcement and has pledged to follow developments closely as the merger process continues. SSE is thought to currently employ around 7,200 people across Scotland.

Unison regional organiser for SSE Gerry Crawley commented: “Hundreds if not thousands of jobs are at risk and we also have the risk of site closures as well.

“Unison will work tirelessly to protect every job in the course of these merger talks.”

And Mr Wishart said: “I have already spoken to senior representatives from SSE to better understand the issues around this announcement and what it could mean for jobs in Perth and potential headquartering.

“I am reassured that this will only impact on the retail side of the business and will not affect the other parts of the business in Perth.

“SSE have made it clear to me that the start of the process will not be completed

“Again, if this is to proceed I would hope that any job losses would be a result of redeployment or voluntary redundancies.

“It is important that staff are supported through this period and I intend to stay in touch with SSE management throughout the merger process.”

SSE said in a statement this week: “The discussions between SSE and [npower owner] Innogy are continuing and are well-advanced but no final decisions have been taken and no binding agreements regarding the terms of any combination have been entered into.”

Alex Neil of consumer group Which? commented: “Mergers of such big players in essential markets such as energy are rarely a good thing for consumers, especially given the low levels of competition.”