The union claims company management has axed 300 jobs already and is planning further redundancies.

Essential has labelled those claims as “dishonest” and is sticking by its cost-cutting measures, saying it will bring down electricity prices.

“High electricity prices have strained family budgets and hit small business profitability in regional NSW over the past four years, and these increases cannot continue,” chief operating officer Gary Humphreys said. 

“Our customers are now starting to see the results of these reforms.

“On 1 July 2013, for the first time in over a decade, Essential Energy’s network prices for customers actually decreased by 2.3 per cent. That’s a trend we want to continue.

“Our program of reform is being managed by a recruitment freeze, natural attrition and employee initiated voluntary redundancy. There is no forced redundancy program, and there are no targets.” 

Mr Humphries said there has not been 300 jobs lost to date and new employees are also coming on board.

He said 144 staff have taken voluntary redundancies in the past 12 months, while 59 apprentices have been recruited.

The next chapter of the argument may take place in the Fair Work Commission where the union is challenging Essential’s redundancy program.

United Services Union spokesman Scott McNamara said the company’s redundancy process was “ad hoc” and detrimental to workers and customers alike.

“This mass redundancy program is ripping employment out of regional communities,” he said.