The City of Palo Alto's Utilities department is looking for a part-time Meter Reader to join their team. A part-time Meter Reader reads between 500 and 1,200 water, gas, and electric utilities meters daily over a predetermined route, ensures the accuracy of readings entered into a handheld data entry terminal, interacts with customers to gain access to their premises and answers questions as required. In addition, they assist Customer Service Representatives with routine clerical tasks as time permits. Lastly, a part-time Meter Reader performs minor water meter maintenance tasks and reports abnormal, suspicious meter conditions or usage patterns to their Supervisor or Lead Meter Reader.
Ideal Candidate
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.$ads={1}
Excellent customer service.- Highly motivated and works well independently.
- Ability to walk for an extended period of time.
- Enjoys the outdoors.
Essential Duties
Essential Duties
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Drives a City owned vehicle to and from various locations along the day's route.- Walks along a predetermined route of varying lengths (typically eight to 10 miles per day, with occasional routes of up to 12 miles) reading water, gas, and electric meters, both analog and digital.
- Resets electric Demand Meters as required.
- Enters meter readings, access information, trouble codes, and other data into handheld computers designed specifically for meter reading tasks.
- Performs occasional minor water meter maintenance tasks (e.g., meter glass replacement and cleaning).
- Reports hazardous circumstances (e.g., dangerous meter locations, vicious or dangerous animals, abnormal utilities especially natural gas consumption patterns, gas odors, exposed electrical wiring, open or broken water or curb gas meter boxes, etc.) to Supervisor so that condition can be remedied.
- Reports nonstandard meter conditions (e.g., apparently inoperative meters, meters which appear to have been tampered with, etc.) to Supervisor so that condition can be remedied and accurate billing rendered to the responsible party.
- Answers customers' questions regarding billing or other utilities related subjects to the best of his or her ability and refers customers to proper office to obtain answers when questions require information beyond scope of the Meter Reader's knowledge. Relays such questions to Supervisor when appropriate.
- Maintains a high level of politeness and professionalism when interacting with customers.
- Provide backup support on a time permitting basis to Customer Service Representatives in the Customer Service Center.
- Other duties as assigned.
MORE THAN ONE POSITION CAN BE FILLED BY THIS RECRUITMENT.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following- knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:
- Completion of a high school academic, vocational, or business program and Possession of a valid
- California Driver's License
- Sufficient physical stamina to walk long distances at a moderately rapid pace in all weather
- conditions, to lift moderately heavy objects for short periods, and to bend, stoop, and kneel
- frequently throughout the day.
- Vision correctable to 20/30 in both eyes.
- Ability to interact with dogs without fear or hesitation.
- Ability to maintain a professional and business-like appearance while performing duties.
Special Conditions
Because Meter Readers work outside the office, they must possess a high degree of independence and motivation. Physical stamina is a necessary asset because Meter Readers may walk between 8 and 12 miles daily, depending upon the route being read. Meter Readers must be able to carry the hand-held computer, a rod for opening meter covers, a flashlight, and other equipment; they must also be able to bend, stoop, and kneel frequently and regularly to lift meter covers that may weigh between 3 and 25 pounds. Strong eyesight is also a requirement since meters may often have to be read from a distance. The ability to confront dogs without fear or hesitation is important when entering the private backyards of residents. The capability to learn rudimentary data entry tasks is another necessary requirement as readings are entered into hand-held computers. To get to the day's route and to various locations along it, Meter Readers must drive City vehicles; as a result, possession of a clear California Driver's License is a requirement. Because their duties take them onto citizens' property and occasionally into their premises, it is absolutely Special Conditions: essential that a Meter Reader has unimpeachable honesty, a high level of regard for customers' privacy, and a significant degree of politeness. Oral communication skills are important as well, since Meter Readers often receive questions about utility bills, rates, meter reading accuracy, and other subjects from the customers whose meters they read.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to learn departmental procedures and programs.
- Ability to maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include walking or standing for extended periods and operating assigned meter reading equipment.
- Ability to read and record numbers.
- Ability to operate a special-purpose computer terminal.
- Ability to communicate with others and to assimilate and understand information, in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.
- Ability to make sound decisions in a manner consistent with the essential job functions.
- Ability to learn and memorize a number of codes.
- Ability to work without direct supervision for long periods.
- Ability to remain calm and directed under stress.
- Ability to perform arithmetic calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of decimals and fractions.
- General knowledge of utility operations is preferred.
- A sincere commitment to customer service is required
Travel from site to site in residential or commercial environments; prolonged work outdoors in inclement weather conditions; frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, and stretching; frequent light lifting (up to several hundred times daily), occasional moderate lifting, and infrequent heavy lifting on a daily basis; occasional work in cramped, dark or dirty environments on a daily basis; frequent daily contact with dogs.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
City of Palo Alto offers the following benefits to those in a SEIU Hourly position:
Medical Stipend
$3.34 effective the pay period including July 1, 2018.
$3.41 effective the pay period including July 1, 2019.
$3.48 effective the pay period including July 1, 2020.
$3.41 effective the pay period including July 1, 2019.
$3.48 effective the pay period including July 1, 2020.
Sick Leave
Earn .03 hour of sick leave for each hour worked.
Retirement
City of Palo Alto PST (Part-time, Seasonal & Temporary Employees) Retirement Plan
Please note: The City does not participate in CA State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security.
Please note: The City does not participate in CA State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Social Security.
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