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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has released a timetable for the second phase of its investigation into the planned merger between Innogy’s Npower and the retail arm of SSE.

A provisional decision, including any required remedies, will be revealed in mid-August, according to the document.

The CMA will spend the next few months gathering and verifying information, including making site visits, issuing questionnaires and holding hearings with interested parties.

A statement of issues will be published towards the end of May and hearings for the main parties involved in the merger will be held in mid-July. Anyone wishing to make a submission ahead of the provisional decision will need to do so by late July.

Following its initial ruling, the CMA will hold response hearings, if required, in early September. The ultimate deadline for submissions is early October.

The competition watchdog will then release its final report in mid-October. It has until the 22 October to make a final decision.

The CMA referred the merger for an in-depth phase two investigation last week after its initial probe found that the union could reduce competition in the energy market and “therefore lead to higher prices for some customers.”