The chairman of the Manx Electricity Authority says its shops had been kept open at the behest of former Chief Minister Tony Brown.
It's been announced today (Friday) the stores are to close.
The revenue generated by the five outlets had been dropping by around ?500,000 per year.
In 2009/10, they recorded a loss of ?414,000.
Chairman Eddie Lowey MLC told John Moss they had to follow Mr Brown's orders:
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