ALMOST 3000 jobs are set to be axed from electricity networks later this year, including forced redundancies.

Regional network Essential Energy is set lose 1395 jobs, Ausgrid 1100 and Endeavour Energy 254. The cuts, confirmed in letters to the Electrical Trades Union, are to occur in two stages in September and October.

The network companies blame the Australian Energy Regulator’s decision to cut spending across the companies — a decision which is expected to put downward pressure on power bills. Part of the AER’s ruling is the subject of a legal challenge and the number of cuts could change, depending on the outcome.

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Endeavour Energy and Ausgrid are expected to be part-leased by the Baird government to help fund its infrastructure building program. Transgrid, also part of the lease, is not ­cutting jobs.

ETU secretary Steve Butler said the networks have a “hit list” of workers they want to axe.

“These companies have said that the first staff to go will be those who have previously been redeployed, along with those whose job is being discontinued at a particular location,” he said.

Energy Minister Anthony Roberts’ spokesman said: “The state government cares about these workers who are about to lose their jobs and we will do what we can to ensure they are either­ redeployed or retrained.”