Utility Meter Assistant Job Opening

CLASS SUMMARY:
Incumbents assist the Utilities Department in meeting operational goals and objectives including time sensitive deadlines. Incumbents are responsible for performing specialized duties to ensure accurate meter operations that lead to accurate billing of Town of Queen Creek utilities customers. Incumbents create and close work orders, perform meter inventory, manage hydrant meters; assist with system upgrades and testing; plan and prioritize work to meet deadlines; and assist the Utility Meter Specialist with Utility processes and projects. The Utility Meter Assistant will serve as a back up to the Specialist when necessary.


Examples of Duties: TYPICAL CLASS ESSENTIAL DUTIES: (These duties are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.)

1. Prepares, processes, reviews, corrects, and closes work orders for residential and commercial accounts. Creates follow-up and additional repair work orders as needed. Ensures that daily work order functions are completed accurately and in a timely manner;

2. Works directly with Utilities field staff on a daily basis to add/edit work orders;

3. Manages the hydrant meter process to include creating and/or closing work orders that field personnel complete such as set, pull, move, and maintenance to hydrant meters; overseeing the distribution/collection of all hydrant meters; and managing the locations of all meters;

4. Assists the Utility Meter Specialist with the utility billing reading import process and ensures that timely reads are obtained and are accurate for customer billing;

5. Reviews reports to identify errors, unusual account activity, recommends necessary adjustments, handles special investigations on meter discrepancies, identifies and corrects meter reading errors that affect billing, and monitors high profile accounts;

6. Prepares and reviews various reports such as water leaks, damaged meters, water usage with no assigned water account, inaccurate/missing account data, water use on locked accounts, obstructed and unable to locate meters; performs research using sources that include on-line databases, other state and local organizations, Town and county databases, communication with other departments, and external customer contact;

7. Reviews reports daily to identify billing issues caused by meter operations and submits necessary changes to Customer Service;

8. Assists with maintaining data integrity in the utility billing account software as it relates to field operations; including meter type, size and number of dials to be read, meter location, meter and register number, correct read type, bill code, as well as associating assigned meters with proper addresses in order for accounts to bill correctly;

9. Advises Utilities superintendent, supervisors and managers of error patterns/trends, including incorrect service order or assignment type, address affiliation to a meter and resolution which all effect production and customer satisfaction;

10. Identifies low and no flow meters and generates service orders for field checks, re-reads, and possible replacements;

11. Provides feedback and assists with system testing;

12. Receives new meter stock, verifies and enters ID's and size, map and sequence meters when set and manage inventory;

13. Produces written documents, using clearly organized thoughts, proper sentence structure, punctuation, and grammar in order to effectively express ideas to others;

14. Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Typical Qualifications: Training and Experience (positions in this class typically require):
Associate's Degree and two years of progressively responsible customer service experience in a utility provider environment involving account maintenance, utility billing, meter reading or associated procedures, and/or basic mechanics of water and meter operations; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Supplemental Information: Licensing Requirements (positions in this class typically require):
Some positions may require:

• Arizona Driver's License

Knowledge (position requirements at entry):
Knowledge of:

• Town's subdivisions & streets;
• Understanding of computer account system applications;
• Use of standard office equipment including the computer and programs relevant to the performance of applicable duties and responsibilities including utility billing software;
• Department/division's policies and procedures;
• Water and sewer rates;
• Crystal Reports and Excel;
• Customer billing software programs (i.e. InHance, FlexNet, Advanced Utility Systems, etc.);
• Meter reading, usage, recording techniques and procedures;
• Understanding of meter routes and the procedures for working them;
• Meter reading schedules, billing, and their coordination and timing;
• Customer service techniques, policies and procedures;
• Mechanical component of meters and their functionality;
• Mathematical calculations including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division;
• Microsoft Office products and other relevant computer technologies;

Skills (position requirements at entry):
Skill in:

• Reporting abilities including but not limited to statistical reporting/spreadsheet preparation.
• Write legibly, comprehend, and make inferences from written material and verbal and/or written instructions.
• Read and interpret street and aerial maps to locate routes and water meters.
• Make mathematical calculations and draw logical conclusions.
• Proficiently perform computerized data entry of information.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Town staff including ability to listen, communicate and work effectively with a diverse group of people.
• Communication both verbal and written, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction