Hundreds of energy supply workers in southern England walked out for 24 hours yesterday over pay.

The nearly 500 engineers install and maintain EDF electricity meters in London and the firm’s South Eastern, South West and Eastern regions.

French state-owned energy generator EDF runs many of Britain’s nuclear power stations and made a huge £893 million profit from British customers last year.

But it says it can afford only a below inflation pay increase for workers.

The Unite union says the dispute revolves around three issues: a below-inflation two per cent rise for 2013-14, EDF’s failure to carry out a pay comparison between the South East and London regions and their refusal to honour a 2012 pay agreement in the Eastern region on the grounds that the company “cannot afford” to pay.

The workers staged two strikes in May and Unite said support for the action is strengthening.

Strikers include workers who deal with business owners and private customers who are allegedly fiddling and stealing electricity.

Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “Today’s strike is very solid and sends out a clear message to management that they need to get around the table for urgent and constructive talks, otherwise more industrial action will go ahead.”

Talks held through conciliation service Acas have broken down.

Yesterday’s strike will be followed by selective industrial action and a work-to-rule which begins today.

A dozen meter readers at EDF’s Camden depot in central London walked out today and will stay out until June 27.

Twenty more from Bexleyheath will strike from June 23 to 27.

Mr Kasab added: “Workers are taking action because EDF is refusing to honour an agreement it freely signed and to make matters even worse the company is offering a pay deal for 2013 which does not even keep up with the ever-rising cost of living.

“The strike is even better supported than the two days in May, which shows the depth of anger at the company’s behaviour.”