NSW electricity workers strike called off

A strike by energy provider workers in NSW will not go ahead after the Fair Work Commission ruled to terminate the action.

Essential Energy workers were preparing to walk off the job for 80 hours over a long-running workplace agreement dispute, but the protected action was terminated on Monday evening in a move that has triggered a 21-day bargaining period.

Large parts of NSW could have been affected if the strike from Monday night to Friday morning went ahead.

The Electrical Trades Union has welcomed the decision because if the workers and company don't reach an agreement during the bargaining period, an independent umpire will step in.

Essential Energy had been seeking a suspension of the protected action, rather than the termination, the ETU said in a statement on Monday night.

"Essential Energy management was trying to avoid this at all cost as they now potentially lose control over the outcome of the agreement," the union said.