TransAlta layoffs: 239 more jobs cut, most in Calgary

TransAltaannounced Tuesday it is cutting 239 positions, most of them at the company's corporate head office in Calgary.

The move is expected to save the power generating company $25 million.

Chief financial officer DonaldTremblaydescribedthe job cuts as part of a corporatedecision to "streamline operations, decentralize decision-making and reduce management to meet TransAlta's goal of beingthe lowest-cost producer inAlberta so that we can be profitable in any market condition."

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Earlier this year,TransAlta laid off 247 people from itscoal and mining operations in Canada.

"Ongoing economic and regulatory uncertainty has made it necessary for TransAlta to reduce its workforce to control costs and manage the impact of Alberta's economy on demand for electricity," Tremblay said in a statement.

The company will also "focus on providing the most competitive pricing for our customers," headded.

Price-fixing decision

The announcement comesalmosta weekafterthe Alberta Utilities Commission ruledit didn't have the authority to force TransAltato pay consumers back for inflated electricity bills, despitefinding the company guilty of price-fixing earlier in the year.

The regulator ruled inJuly that TransAlta had manipulated prices and engaged in insider training by shutting down six coal-fired generators during periods of peak electricity demand.

Altogether,TransAltahas shed486 jobs so far in2015, and they are far from the only company. TransCanada and Cenovus both announced recently cuts are coming in the next few weeks.

PHX Energy Services announced earlier this monthit's releasing half of its workforce.Penn West let go of400 full-time employees and contractors most of them working at company headquarters in Calgary.

ConocoPhillipsCanadaalso reduced its workforce by about 15 per cent, or400 employeesand 100 contractors.

Nexenannounced layoffsearlier this year, as didTalisman Energy.

Tervita a company that specializes in environmental waste management also cut its corporate headcount by 15 per cent because of the "prolonged downturn in the energy markets."