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| Npower to cut 2,500 jobs - a fifth of its UK workforce | Npower to cut 2,500 jobs - a fifth of its UK workforce |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Energy firm Npower is to cut up to 2,500 jobs, more than a fifth of its UK workforce, with an announcement to staff expected this week. | Energy firm Npower is to cut up to 2,500 jobs, more than a fifth of its UK workforce, with an announcement to staff expected this week. |
| Npower, which is owned by the German energy giant RWE, employs 11,500 people in the UK and is one of the country's big six gas and electricity suppliers. | Npower, which is owned by the German energy giant RWE, employs 11,500 people in the UK and is one of the country's big six gas and electricity suppliers. |
| The BBC understands sales and marketing roles will be the worst hit. | The BBC understands sales and marketing roles will be the worst hit. |
| The company, which has not made any official comment, posted a loss of £48m for the first nine months of last year. | The company, which has not made any official comment, posted a loss of £48m for the first nine months of last year. |
| It has lost about 200,000 UK customers and received the most complaints of the six biggest energy suppliers in 2015. | It has lost about 200,000 UK customers and received the most complaints of the six biggest energy suppliers in 2015. |
| 'Devastating blow' | 'Devastating blow' |
| RWE will announce Npower's full-year results on Tuesday when it is expected to detail the planned job losses. | RWE will announce Npower's full-year results on Tuesday when it is expected to detail the planned job losses. |
| The cuts come as RWE, which generates energy as well as supplying it, has been hit by oil and gas prices falling more than a third in the last year. | The cuts come as RWE, which generates energy as well as supplying it, has been hit by oil and gas prices falling more than a third in the last year. |
| Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "These huge job losses will come as a devastating blow to the workforce." | Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "These huge job losses will come as a devastating blow to the workforce." |
| The cuts will "leave the already struggling business in an even worse state" and lead to "months of uncertainty" for staff, he went on. | The cuts will "leave the already struggling business in an even worse state" and lead to "months of uncertainty" for staff, he went on. |
| Eamon O'Hearn of the GMB union said: "Many hard-working staff have already been outsourced and so any further job losses for directly and indirectly employed staff would be another kick in the teeth for communities." | |
| The Unite union's Kevin Coyne said the reports of job losses would be "deeply unsettling" for staff. | |
| "It is an inexcusable way for the company to treat a loyal workforce which has worked hard to turn Npower's record on customer service around in the last year," he added. | |
| Energy bills | Energy bills |
| Npower's headquarters are in Swindon and most of its UK employees are in central and north east England and in Yorkshire. | Npower's headquarters are in Swindon and most of its UK employees are in central and north east England and in Yorkshire. |
| Last month, the company announced a 5.2% cut in its gas price, taking effect on 28 March - a £32 average annual reduction to customers on a standard domestic tariff. | Last month, the company announced a 5.2% cut in its gas price, taking effect on 28 March - a £32 average annual reduction to customers on a standard domestic tariff. |
| Like other energy suppliers, it is under pressure from ministers and consumer groups to lower energy bills for customers amid the rapid decline in oil and gas prices. | Like other energy suppliers, it is under pressure from ministers and consumer groups to lower energy bills for customers amid the rapid decline in oil and gas prices. |
| The news on job losses also comes days before UK competition regulators unveil plans to make the energy market more transparent for consumers. | The news on job losses also comes days before UK competition regulators unveil plans to make the energy market more transparent for consumers. |
| In December, Npower was ordered to pay a settlement of £26m - the biggest such payment ever demanded by UK energy regulators - for sending out inaccurate bills and failing to deal with complaints correctly. The money was split between charity and affected customers. | In December, Npower was ordered to pay a settlement of £26m - the biggest such payment ever demanded by UK energy regulators - for sending out inaccurate bills and failing to deal with complaints correctly. The money was split between charity and affected customers. |
| Are you an Npower employee? What is your reaction? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you an Npower employee? What is your reaction? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |