Electric Utility Meter Service Investigator

Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent plus six (6) years of experience in utility meter services four (4) of which were related to investigation, theft, or interruption of service.
• Fifteen (15) semester credit hours of college related to the job may substitute for six (6) months of the required experience.
• Education may substitute for experience up to two (2) years.

Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid Texas Class C Drivers’ License.

Notes to Applicants
Under general direction, responsible for identifying hazardous conditions related to AE utility standards and investigating tampering or issues associated with meter reads that are suspect to the utility operations team.

Other Duties, Functions and Responsibilities include:
Investigates analyzes and corrects diversion incidents for commercial and residential customers including three-phase meter customers and participates in investigations conducted by legal authorities.
Develops, interprets and enforces departmental policies and procedures, building codes, design criteria, specifications, ordinances and recognized safety standards.
May testify as an expert witness in courtroom proceedings.
Will provide evidence and report trends or additional data to legal authorities in order to support a tampering case.
Examines meter and wiring connecting a meter to outside power lines and building circuits for evidence of tampering; removes unauthorized wires for devices illegally installed to bypass current passed/around the meter or to obstruct normal meter function; makes repairs such as loose wire connections or insulators.
Removes meters showing evidence of tampering and informs customer of discontinuance of service, compiles inspection reports and notifies other personnel of needed major repairs.
Trains personnel in technical aspects of detection of current diversion.
Calculates unmetered consumption for billing, tracks trend data and submits recommendations to management for review and or approval.
Provides assistance with development and implementation of public information presentations regarding safety and legal aspects of theft of services.

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Please be sure to detail on the application all current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held. Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.
• Resumes will not be accepted and statements such as “see resume” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
• Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after 7 days from the date of the initial advertisement. Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.

Assessments:

• Your skill level in some of the competency areas for this job may be assessed through skills testing.

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED , undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
• If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
• This position requires a criminal background investigation.

Work Schedule:

• Work hours may include after hours, holidays, and weekends.
• Shifts may change according to departmental needs.
• Employee may be required to work additional hours outside of regular work schedule.

Essential:

This has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a City-designated emergency, Essential Employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees and ensure the continuity of essential operations. In such an emergency, Essential Employees may be called back in, may be required to modify their schedule, may be assigned to a City-designated work site, or may be retained on site to assist with operations and recovery.
Pay Range
$28.85 - $36.06

Hours
Monday-Friday;
6:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., this position requires participation in an on-call rotation.
Work hours may include after hours, holidays, and weekends .

• Shifts may change according to departmental needs.
• Employee may be required to work additional hours outside of regular work schedule.

Job Close Date 07/15/2024 Type of Posting External Department Austin Energy Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Technical Location 1520 Rutherford Ln. Austin, TX. 78754 Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience:

• Experience investigating the tampering of water and electric meters.
• Knowledge of the laws, theories, rules and standards pertaining to electrical construction and maintenance.
• Experience using tools and equipment to install and repair electric meters.
• Experience with mediating, negotiating, and conflict resolution.
• Experience with the proper collection and storage of physical evidence (chain of custody).
• Experience using personal computers, operating systems, and cameras.
• Experience using Customer Care & Billing or other Utility Billing System.
• Experience using Mobile Workforce Management or other work order systems.
• Knowledge of methods, procedures, tools, and equipment in testing electrical and electronic metering devices.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.


Conducts examination of automated and non-automated water and electric meters to determine the unauthorized tampering of services to commercial and residential facilities. Investigates, analyzes, and corrects tampering, including review of three phase and current transformer installations. Documents utility tampering investigations through photographic evidence, chain of custody processes, and processing of tangible evidence. Participates in investigations conducted by legal authorities, including surveillance operations. Prepares and provides evidence, reports, trends or additional data to legal authorities, customers and appropriate personnel. Testifies as an expert witness in court room proceedings, civil cases, or utility regulation administrative hearings. Examines meter and wire connections to outside power lines and building circuits and removes unauthorized wires or illegally installed devices or meters. Makes minor repairs to loose wire connections or insulators. Analyzes meter performance. Serves as quick response team for hazardous tampering situations and needed repairs. Provides technical assistance to utility liaisons. Removes tampered meters and informs customer and utility personnel of discontinuance of service. Develops, interprets and enforces departmental policies and procedures, building codes, specifications ordinances and recognized safety standards. Provides assistance with development and implementation of public information presentations of safety and legal aspects of unauthorized usage of services.

Responsibilities - Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:

• May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of applicable processes, standards, and specifications of electrical and water meters.
• Knowledge of applicable laws and legal procedures applicable to illegal use of utility metered service.
• Knowledge of electric utility operations, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of technical aspects of electric utility distribution and secondary voltage systems.
• Knowledge of federal, state, local laws, and ordinances governing investigations of utility meters.
• Knowledge of city practices, policies, and procedures.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to ascend utility poles to remove tampered service components in hazardous conditions.
• Ability to train others.

Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* This position requires graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent plus four (4) years of experience in utility meter services two (w) of which were related to removing, installing, and physical disconnection at the meter. Fifteen (15) semester credit hours of college related to the job may substitute for six (6) months of the required experience. Education may substitute for experience up to two (2) years. Do meet these requirements?

• Yes
• No

* Please describe how you meet the minimum qualifications for this position.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please describe your experience investigating and documenting the tampering of electric and water meters.
(Open Ended Question)
* Do you have knowledge of the laws, theories, rules and standards pertaining to electrical construction and maintenance?

• Yes
• No

* Describe your experience using tools and equipment to install and repair electric meters.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience with mediating, negotiating, and conflict resolution.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience with the proper collection and storage of physical evidence (chain of custody).
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience using personal computers, operating systems, and cameras.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience using Customer Care & Billing or other Utility Billing System.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please describe your experience with Mobile Workforce Management or a Work Order Management software?
(Open Ended Question)
* This position requires a valid Texas Class C Driver License. Do you have a valid Texas Class C Driver license or, if selected for this position, do you the ability to acquire a valid Texas Class C Driver license by your hire date?

• Yes
• No

* The City of Austin Driver Eligibility Standards require that External New Hires meet the City’s Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months. Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

* This position is classified as an "essential" position. The candidate must be able to work during emergencies or bad weather if they are scheduled to work and, in some cases, when they are not scheduled. Shifts may change according to departmental needs. Are you able to meet these schedule requirements?

• Yes
• No

* This position requires a criminal background check. By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.

• I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Check.

Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Optional Documents

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