<P> Scottish and Southern Energy was formed in 1998 following a merger between Scottish Hydro - Electric and Southern Electric . </P> <P> In 2000, Scottish and Southern Energy acquired the SWALEC energy supply business . SWALEC operate exclusively in Wales while SSE operates in Scotland and England . In 2004 the Company acquired the Ferrybridge and Fiddlers Ferry Power Stations for £ 250million . In 2008 it went on to buy Airtricity Holdings, an Irish wind farm business . In 2009 it agreed to purchase Uskmouth power station from Welsh Power Group Limited . In April 2010 the company purchased the natural gas exploration and production assets of Hess Corporation in three areas of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf--Everest / Lomond, Easington and Bacton . </P> <P> In January 2010, Scottish and Southern Energy changed the core company branding from Scottish and Southern Energy to SSE . </P> <P> In November 2017, it was announced that SSE was looking to merge its retail subsidiary with the npower division of rival Innogy . It is planned that SSE shareholders would own 66% of the demerged entity . </P>

Are scottish power and sse the same company