SSE/Npower merger receives final clearance after consultation

The UK’s Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has given the go-ahead for the proposed merger between SSE Retail (SSE) and Npower. The decision after it concluded investigations into how the merger would affect householders, focusing in particular on concerns around how the deal would impact standard variable tariff (SVT) prices.

Anne Lambert, Chair of the Inquiry Group, said: ‘With many energy companies out there, people switching away from expensive SVTs will still have plenty of choice when they shop around after this merger. But we know that the energy market still isn’t working well for many people who don’t switch, so we looked carefully at how the merger would affect SVT prices. Following a thorough investigation and consultation, we are confident that SSE and Npower are not close rivals for these customers and so the deal will not change how they set SVT prices.’