ESSENTIAL Energy workers in Dubbo and nearby towns could be among the first to lose their jobs after the electricity network announced 58 full time positions across Northern NSW would be axed.
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Depots that will lose staff include Dubbo, Narromine, Wellington, Gilgandra, Warren, Coonamble, Walgett, Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan, Coonabarabran and Dunedoo.
The revelation comes after Essential Energy announced earlier in the year that it plans to axe 1,395 jobs across NSW.
Workers have been informed they will need to reapply for their jobs through a process involving "a basic psychometric assessment of cognitive capability, personality, motivations and interests, a selection criteria assessment, an interview, and, if required, a functional assessment".
The Electrical Trade Union (ETU), believes there were alternatives to the job cuts which would ensure a better outcome for employees and customers.
"Unions have put forward a range of options, including for job sharing arrangements and other efficiencies, that could drastically reduce the number of local people who will lose their jobs," ETU deputy secretary Neville Betts said.
"These huge staffing reductions will result in the loss of specialist skills and experiences from these communities resulting in chronic future skills shortages not to mention network reliability and safety concerns.
"Rather than taking a simplistic approach of cutting jobs, unions have put forward genuine alternatives that can keep people in work, keep skills in regional NSW, and deliver savings for consumers.
Essential Energy deputy chief executive officer Gary Humphreys told the Daily Liberal the company they had no option but to enforce major job losses based on the Australian Energy Regulator's (AER) allowances for 2014-19.
Mr Humphreys claims the AER's determination left them without funding for an estimated 1,395 roles, costing approximately $15 million per month.
Essential Energy is appealing elements of the determination.
"In June 2015, Essential Energy announced its proposal to deliver workforce reductions in two phases," he said.
"Phase one reductions of 700 roles will be announced in early September and are anticipated to be relatively proportionate across Essential Energy's footprint.
"Phase two reductions of 695 roles will be announced once the outcome of the appeal is known.
"We recognise this is a tough time for all Essential Energy employees and are committed to ensuring the safety of our employees, contractors and the public remains our top priority.
Mr Betts forecast much more pain on the way for Essential Energy employees.
"What the community need to know is that these 58 local jobs are just the beginning and that there will be much more pain to come," he said.