NV Energy today said 95 jobs in Southern Nevada would be eliminated over the next six months, causing an unspecified number of employees to be laid off as technology makes some of their positions unnecessary.
"Every effort is being made to communicate opportunities for redeployment within the company, so it is difficult to provide a total number of employees who may actually be laid off,'' the company said in a statement Friday, adding affected workers were notified about the situation in writing this week.
"While it is never easy to tell employees that positions will be eliminated, the company has been upfront with meter service employees about eventual layoffs since early 2009,'' the company's statement said, citing "operational efficiencies and service improvements achieved through NVEnergize and its smart meter technology.''
The utility went on to say: "Employees were given advance notice in order to have adequate time to apply for open positions or seek employment elsewhere. Those employees who may eventually be laid off will qualify to receive a severance and will be given recall rights for a period of 12 months, which would allow them to return to the company should eligible positions become available."
A layoff notice dated Oct. 3 and provided anonymously to the media says, "you will be laid off at some point between Oct. 4, 2011, and May 1, 2012." NV Energy confirmed the authenticity of the notice, which is signed by Trudy Haszlauer, the utility's labor relations manager.
"As a valued part of our team, your services have been greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, due to operational circumstances, the company is reducing positions which will require us to lay off a number of employees due to lack of work,'' the notice says.
Separately, earlier this week NV Energy said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it reached agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 396 in Las Vegas on a new contract to be in effect from Sept. 1 through Jan. 31, 2013.
The contact includes general base wage increases of 1.5 percent this year and 1 percent in 2012, the filing said.
NV Energy also disclosed that the deal includes "a 1 percent lump sum of base wage ratification bonus in 2011'' and lump sum deposits to the employees’ cash-balance pension plan of 1.5 percent of base wage in both 2012 and 2013.
Jesse Newman, senior assistant business manager at IBEW Local 396, said union members were satisifed with the new contract.
"Given how the economy is, it was ratified quite overwhelmingly," Newman said, adding that NV Energy linemen currently earn $40.18 per hour.
NV Energy said 920 of its 1,750 employees in Southern Nevada are covered by the union contract.
The company didn't disclose what the wage increases and pension payments will cost, but a spokeswoman said that like all operations costs they would be included in rates.