Nova Scotia Power has laid off 40 non-unionized workers at various locations across the province. (CBC)

Nova Scotia Power has laid off 40 non-unionized workers at various locations across the province.

The company said the layoffs include contract workers and managers.

"This is in an effort to reduce our costs. We know customers are facing increased rates, we know that's difficult for our customers," said Jennifer Parker, a spokeswoman for Nova Scotia Power.

"We're always looking for ways that we can cut costs internally and avoid increasing rates and so this is part of that work. We need to become more efficient, we know that."

Parker said the savings from the 40 job cuts are worth millions of dollars.

She said there would not be any impact to customer service and unionized linemen are not affected.

The laid off workers have been offered severance packages.

The reductions come on the heels of a 10 per cent rate hike that took effect last month, as residential customers were hit with a 6.1 per cent base increase and an additional three per cent fuel adjustment.