Four million people could face maintenance delays in Sydney and parts of regional NSW as electric contractor Ausgrid plans to halt work.
About 1,600 Electricity Trade Union (ETU) Ausgrid workers are planning to strike on August 1 after wage talks broke down.
Members voted to back a work stoppage, overtime ban, switchbacks and lockout ban as part of planned measures at NSW's third-largest power company.
This action does not affect emergency operations.
The pole and cable company serves around two million customers across Sydney's eastern, northern and inner-city areas, the Central Coast and the Hunter Valley.
ETU NSW/ACT executive director Alan Hicks said the strike was expected to affect more than four million people.
“Millions of Australians who rely on the east coast's largest electricity supplier should be alarmed by how Ausgrid treats the workers who supply the electricity and keep the lights on,” Mr Hicks said.
The move comes after Ausgrid rejected a proposal from the ETU to give workers an 8 per cent pay rise and boost their superannuation payments over the next three years.
Ausgrid said it would offer a 7 per cent pay rise in the first year, followed by 2.7 per cent in the second and third years, as long as the CPI does not rise further.
The company also proposed a 0.5 percent annual pension increase.
Mr Hicks said: “Ausgrid's humiliating wage offer has left workers with no choice but to take industrial action, including strike action.”
“Ausgrid could have prevented immediate maintenance delays or inconvenience to the community by offering a serious proposal to help workers cope with the rising cost of living.”
Ausgrid's group executive for people and culture, Selina Cross, said the company was disappointed that the ETU had rejected a pay offer it believed was fair and reasonable.
“We respect the ETU's rights but are disappointed that this action has been taken,” Ms Cross said.
“Our proposal is fair and reasonable to our citizens and affordable to the communities we serve.
“This is a recognition of the cost of living pressure and a reward for the hard work of our people.
“It also ensures that Ausgrid remains a great place to work, with safety as its top priority.”
Ausgrid said it would hold weekly, good faith discussions with all parties to reach an agreement.
But Mr Hicks said the cost-of-living crisis was having a significant impact on members.
“Ausgrid workers' real wages have fallen and the cost of living crisis has eroded the value of the last pay rise,” he said.
“Their experience remains under-recognised and under-compensated despite their vital role in providing a safe and reliable electricity network to millions of NSW homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and infrastructure.
“ETU member states have not yet received a proposal to address the rising cost of living.
“They will have no choice but to continue exercising their legal right to strike until they receive an offer that does not lead to a return to wages.”
The NSW Government owns a 49.6 per cent stake in Ausgrid.
