The threat of as many as 200 people losing their jobs from ActewAGL's electricity distribution division remains if a draft ruling by the Australian Energy Regulator stands, the company has warned.
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Nervous employees have been briefed about possible job cuts this week as the company continues its sustained and outspoken opposition to the regulator's draft decision, requiring ActewAGL to cut its operating spending by 42 per cent and capital spending by 34 per cent.
This week family and friends of electricity crews said frontline workloads and safety risks to staff would reach unrealistic levels if the job cuts went ahead and that Canberra homeowners would face extended periods without power due to slow response times in instances of widespread blackouts in the ACT.
On Wednesday staff were briefed on the findings of a review into management structures in the asset management and network services divisions, and a two-week consultation period commenced for considering general manager and branch manager structures.
ActewAGL chief executive Michael Costello said the company's proposed plan would see the divisions consolidated and the current nine branch manager positions reduce to just five.
"We can confirm that no further workplace change will be proposed until after the final AER decision on April 30, 2015," Mr Costello said.
"Around mid-May we anticipate being able to commence consultation with the potentially affected employees and relevant unions on an organisational structure for all other."
The final branch structure won't be implemented until the middle of July, in line with thestaff enterprise agreement.
In November, ActewAGL said electricity supply would be at risk and executive pay reduced by 40 per cent because of the regulator's draft revenue reduction, back dated to July 2014.
Electricity customers will save an average $162 a year on their power bills from the draft decision, applying from July.
In January ActewAGL delayed a new Molonglo substation by a year and put off upgrades to the Belconnen substation because of the draft ruling.
The substation delays are the only significant concession included in the company's 700-page rebuttal to the draft regulator decision.
At the time, Mr Costello threatened court action. This week he said the draft decision was "an insult to the hard working men and women of ActewAGL".
"Our customers currently receive the most reliable and cheapest electricity service in Australia and we are extremely concerned the AER's draft decision won't allow us to operate and maintain our network to ensure we continue to deliver a highly reliable and secure electricity supply to 177,000 homes and businesses," he said.
The company has about 800 staff across its retail and distribution businesses.
The regulator said new rules meant its focus was outcomes for energy consumers and for a safe and reliable network.
This week the ACT Government rejected suggestions from an official report calling for the corporate governance of ACTEW to be split.
The plan put forward in a report by Bruce Cohen would see governance arrangements of ACTEW Water separated from ActewAGL, the joint venture responsible for gas and electricity.
ACTEW Water is set to change its name to Icon Water to improve brand recognition among customers.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Dr Cohen's recommendations for separate boards and management structures would see significantly increased administration costs passed on to taxpayers.
The government accepted more than 30 of Dr Cohen's report recommendations.
