ALMOST 200 Essential Energy workers have been given certainty after the publicly-owned electricity distributor was ordered to stop its plan to slash regional jobs, including five in Wagga.
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NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean announced today that the government has ordered the organisation to seek other options for savings that do not involve job cuts.
It comes after the Electrical Trades Union campaigned against the organisation's job cuts announced in July as part of its plan to "maintain downward pressure on electricity prices".
In a statement, the union said it had been fighting the plan and offered other saving measures that do not impact jobs or result in reduced services for consumers.
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"Our members could not be happier with the announcement that these job cuts have been halted," secretary Ben Lister said.
"At a time when communities are doing it tough with drought and a slowing economy, news that one of the largest employers in regional NSW was planning to slash 182 jobs was a devastating blow.
"Energy Minister Matt Kean and Deputy Premier John Barilaro deserve genuine praise for their efforts to find a solution that could keep these regional workers employed."
Following the plan in July to cut 182 jobs, an Essential Energy document obtained by the union earlier this month shows the organisation planning to slash one-in-five regional positions by 2024, impacting 500 workers.
Mr Lister said "our fight is far from over" in relation to the five-year plan.
"As a 100 per cent publicly-owned company, Essential Energy has an obligation to act in the best interests of the communities they serve, which means considering the broader impacts of cuts to jobs and services."
The direction was ordered after a meeting yesterday between the government and Essential Energy interim chair Robyn Clubb and CEO John Cleland.
Essential Energy released a statement saying it will halt the planned job cuts and consider other options for savings while still delivering services and lower prices for customers.
"Over the 2014-19 regulatory period, Essential Energy delivered a 40 per cent reduction in network charges and has committed to the Australian Energy Regulator, and its customers, to deliver further reductions through 2019-24," the statement reads.
In response to questions about the other 500 jobs planned to be cut by 2024, the organisation referred The Daily Advertiser to their media statement today.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he was pleased with the decision after weeks of discussions with Essential Energy.
"Regional NSW is the backbone of this state and as we continue to suffer through the worst drought on record, the last thing our communities need are job losses," Mr Barilaro said.
"We worked with stakeholders, we listened to communities, we stayed firm on our position and we've now achieved a major victory for regional NSW."
Essential Energy will report regularly to the government on how it can deliver efficiencies and continue to put downward pressure on network charges as required by the Australian Energy Regulator.