More than 100 retail jobs are at risk after SSE revealed plans to shut down its remaining 37 Scottish Hydro Electric shops in Scotland.
The Perth-based utility giant said it had entered into consultation with 119 employees following the decision to bring an end to its high street white goods retail operation.
The associated online shop will also close by May 15. The store network includes outlets in Dundee, Perth, Arbroath, Blairgowrie, Forfar, Brechin, Pitlochry, Crieff and Dunblane.
SSE said the shop network had been loss making for a number of years as a result of changing shopping habits.
The group will explore opportunities to redeploy staff but has pledged to make enhanced redundancy payments to workers that leave the business.
“Customers’ shopping habits have changed considerably since these shops were first opened with more and more people shopping online, especially for larger electrical items,” Stephen Forbes, SSE Director of Domestic Retail, said.
“We know some of these shops have been on local high streets for a long time so we did not take this decision lightly but footfall and sales have reduced considerably and there is, unfortunately, no realistic prospect of that long-term trend reversing.
“Our priority is to ensure our colleagues are fully supported during this time and we will work to redeploy staff within the SSE group where possible.”