Metering Technician

City of Palo Alto, CA•Palo Alto, CA

72d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Palo Alto operates a full suite of municipal utility services, including electric, natural gas, wastewater collection, water, and fiber optics. Our organization is located in the heart of Silicon Valley and has a history of leading innovation on a local scale for positive global outcomes. Founded on the principles of delivering quality public services at an affordable rate for community members, the City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) is award-winning for reliability, safety, environmental sustainability, workforce development, and infrastructure system improvements. Join an inspiring team for a rewarding career! The Electric Meter Technician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, testing, and troubleshooting of electric meters in both residential and commercial settings. This role plays a critical part in ensuring accurate metering for billing and system monitoring, while supporting the utility's goals for safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Technicians will perform a wide range of fieldwork, including new service installations, meter upgrades, removals, and exchanges. They will also respond to customer inquiries, identify tampering or irregular consumption patterns, and support the deployment and maintenance of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, safety-conscious, and able to work independently in various field conditions. They should have experience with electric meter types, basic electrical troubleshooting, and interpreting utility standards and service orders.

Requirements

2+ years working for an electric utility
Extensive electric metering experience
Power Quality background
Strong computer skills
Confident and competent working in the field
Ability to deal effectively and courteously with customers
Ability to learn new software programs
Ability to work well with others
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade
Completion of an accredited apprentice program

Nice To Haves

Journeyman electrician desirable

Responsibilities

Install, replace, remove, and test electric meters (single-phase and poly-phase)
Perform field diagnostics and repairs to ensure meter accuracy and functionality
Support AMI deployment and troubleshooting activities
Verify and document meter readings and usage discrepancies
Investigate high-bill complaints, tampering, or unauthorized use
Work safely around energized equipment (600 volts or less) and follow established safety protocols
Use handheld or mobile devices to process work orders and record data
Communicate effectively with customers and utility personnel