BANGOR – Gains in efficiency and losses in Bangor Hydro-Electric Co.’s large customer base contributed to the layoff of 19 employees Thursday from various support functions at the utility.

A reduction in customer work requests as well as improvements in facility construction and maintenance work also played a part in the layoffs, according to LuAnn Williams, communications officer at Bangor Hydro.

The cuts affected personnel in the company’s planning and engineering, information technologies and customer service departments in the Bangor office and regional offices, including Lincoln and Lamoine, Williams said. No field personnel were included in the cuts, she said.

The layoffs represent 6 percent of the company’s former workforce. Bangor Hydro now employs 293 people, Williams said. The company cut 112 of its 425 employees last year in an attempt to slash $6.4 million from its budget.

The company has been in a period of transition since the recent restructuring of the energy industry, Williams said.

“This has been a real difficult time for all our employees, both those leaving the company and those staying,” Williams said. “The level of professionalism that everyone has displayed during the transition is commendable.”

The affected employees will receive enhanced severance packages, which will include severance pay, medical benefits, education benefits, employment counseling and access to other employee assistance programs, Williams said.

The reduction in the workforce is not expected to cause any interruption in services, Williams said.

“As we look to the future, Bangor Hydro is committed to ensuring that our business operates safely and efficiently while providing reliable, quality service to our customers,” Williams said.

Since a merger in October 2001, Bangor Hydro has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera Inc. of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The company serves 110,000 customers in eastern, central and coastal Maine.