Unions say forced redundancies at Ausgrid and Essential Energy have been put aside by a Fair Work Commission ruling.

The Commission has ruled that the big regional NSW energy providers cannot make any staff member redundant while their current enterprise agreement is in place.

Essential Energy was looking to axe hundreds of jobs in NSW as the first step in a new restructure, but the FWC’s interim ruling means employees that company called ‘unfunded’ can now continue working for the next two months.

United Services Union spokesperson Scott McNamara said the company should use the next few weeks to find alternative cost-cutting measures to the harsh forced redundancies.

“If the organisation really wants to make some changes to any such industrial instrument they need to work with the unions collectively rather than try to ram their policy down people's throats,” Mr McNamara told reporters.

The company claims to be financially unsustainable, and only a new agreement while help right the ship.

Mr McNamara said despite the small win, the fight against forced redundancies would continue.

“It would seem to be just another battle that the unions have had to win for our members and what we'd say is we're hopeful that the organisation does not continue going down the litigation path and start working with the unions to try and find solutions.”