RG&E asking for voluntary retirements
By Todd Grady
Democrat and Chronicle
(October 24, 2002) — Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. has moved
ahead with plans to reduce its work force following a merger
with Energy East Corp.
The utility told employees on Thursday it is offering a voluntary
early retirement program beginning Nov. 1 and would cut additional
jobs beyond that.
RG&E has about 2,000 employees.
“These are very difficult decisions to make, but they are necessary
in order to help us balance our cost structure with our need to
invest in the future,” said Paul Wilkens, RG&E’s president,
in a memo obtained by the Democrat and Chronicle.
RG&E said it would not return calls seeking comment.
In a statement issued Thursday, the company said 190 of its employees
are eligible for early retirement. The utility will determine
additional positions that need to be eliminated after seeing
how many people take advantage of the early retirement program.
RG&E also said it will close seven walk-in customer service offices as of Jan. 1.
The company also will attempt to move workers to other positions.
Any laid off workers will receive an enhanced severance package,
according to the memo.
The enhanced severance package for laid off workers consists of
two weeks base pay for each year worked, $7,500 in cash and one
year of health and life insurance coverage comparable to that
provided to retirees.
They can also continue to use RG&E’s Employee Assistance Program
for one year and are eligible for outplacement benefits for up to six months.
The company plans to notify workers affected in the first quarter of
next year on or about Feb. 28 and has set April 30, 2003,
as the deadline for laid off employees to leave.
To be eligible for early retirement, an employee must be at least
55 years old and have at least 10 years experience by March 31, 2003,
and be willing to retire on April 1, 2003.
Workers in power generation, including those who work at the
Robert E. Ginna nuclear power station, are not eligible for the program,
Wilkens said in the memo.
The RG&E cannot afford to lay off employees.
by Dave Kaspersin
Power companies are not building new electric plants.
The RG&E has not kept their transmission and distribution systems
up to date. Many areas of Rochester and the surrounding towns
are experiencing low voltage problems. Lay offs will only
make matters worse.
Click for more:
Click For More on The Proposed Rate Increase !
Click For More on Voltage Problems.
Click For More on Demand Metering.
Feds Find Power Manipulation in Calif.
400,000 to Keep Russell Station on line - - -
$75 Million to close it down - - -
Enron East/RGS/RG$E Give Ginna Station Away !