NB Power cuts 12 managers

NB Power has eliminated 12 employees at the Crown corporation’s Fredericton headquarters in an ongoing attempt to cut its costs.

The utility confirmed on Monday night the employees were being released.

Gaetan Thomas, the president and chief executive officer of NB Power, said in a memorandum to staff the utility has made a decision to reduce the number of directors, managers and human resources personnel."

Thomas said in the internal message that the cuts were made to streamline NB Power’s organization and operate more efficiently.

"In times of unprecedented change, unprecedented decisions and actions are required," the memo said.

The NB Power president said the utility’s priorities are the delayed refurbishment of the Point Lepreau reactor, safe operation of generating stations and maintaining and restoring power to customers in winter.

The New Brunswick government has ordered all government departments and agencies to cut their costs.

NB Power hired an international consulting firm to review its internal processes and make recommendations on places to cut.

Ed Barrett, the chairman of NB Power's board of directors, said the board is following the Alward government's mandate to run the utility like a business.

"Sometimes you find yourself finding ways to do things differently, and finding ways to do things with less people," Barrett said.

"But also finding that some of the things you used to do five years ago, perhaps you don't need to do, or there's a different way to do them, or a more efficient way to do them."

Barrett said there could be more cost-cutting in the future.