Utilities Field Service Representative

City of Palo Alto, CA•Palo Alto, CA

41d

About The Position

The City of Palo Alto is seeking a reliable, motivated, and customer-focused professional to join our Utilities team as a Field Service Representative. The Department Palo Alto is the only city in California that offers a full array of utility services to its citizens and businesses. Because of this, the City has a unique opportunity to partner with the Palo Alto community to enjoy the benefits and achievements of reliable, home-grown, and environmentally focused utilities. Palo Alto has a tradition of over 100 years of successful public utility operations. It is a tradition that continues to provide the Palo Alto community with safe and reliable utility service, local decision-making over policies, utility ratemaking, environmental programs, and customized services. Learn more about our Utilities Department. Career Opportunity As the city's first responders for water, natural gas, and electric services, our Field Service Representatives play a critical role in maintaining essential utility services. This position offers a great work-life balance with attractive schedules, allowing our staff to thrive both professionally and personally. Our team culture is positive, motivating, innovative, and adaptive. The Field Service group, consisting of six dedicated employees, embraces camaraderie and teamwork, and takes pride in their contribution to public safety and community outreach. No two days are the same, as our Field Service Representatives provide services that are not only essential but, in many cases, lifesaving for our residents. This is a unique opportunity to make a direct, positive impact while working in a dynamic and supportive environment. The Position Under the direction of the Electric Utilities Supervisor, the Utility Field Service Representative, responds to customer requests for emergency and non-emergency services involving water, gas, or electric utilities, and takes appropriate corrective action; provides appliance operating information to customers, handles field service orders for the Utilities Customer Service Center, and reads meters as required.

Requirements

High school graduation, GED or equivalent; and,
One (1) year experience in customer service work, or two (2) years as a meter installer, with a gas utility, or one year experience servicing gas and electric appliances and heating equipment.
Persons hired for this position will be required to attend and successfully complete, within twelve months of employment, a gas service training course administered by PG&E. All expenses associated with this training course will be paid by the City of Palo Alto.
FSR's must pass and maintain qualifying status of D.O.T mandated O.Q certifications, related to essential job functions.

Nice To Haves

PG&E GSR Certified (preferred)
Ability to work in all types of weather
Ability to drive safely in all weather and road conditions
Ability to work extended hours, nights, weekends, and holidays
Reside within 60 minutes of the City of Palo Alto
Emergency Response experience
Face to face customer service experience
One (1) year experience in customer service work, or two (2) years as a meter installer, with a gas utility, or one year experience servicing gas and electric appliances and heating equipment.
One (1) year experience in utility field service-related work.

Responsibilities

Utilizes gas detection equipment and leak investigation techniques to investigate and isolate natural gas leaks within residential or commercial buildings. Takes corrective action to mitigate hazards resulting from gas leaks, or improper gas appliance operation.
Utilizes gas detection equipment and leak investigation techniques to investigate and if necessary isolate leaks from the CPAU gas distribution system.
Repair leaks at gas meters.
Responds with PAFD for emergency utility support, as needed under the direction of the PAFD Incident Commander.
Turns on and off electric, water, and gas service in accordance with issued work orders, and makes adjustments as necessary to insure safe and efficient operation of customer owned gas appliances.
Investigates complaints and provides emergency service regarding operational problems with utility service and/or equipment and refers problems to the appropriate City division.
Analyzes customer appliance problems and makes necessary adjustments within the area of established responsibility and/or recommends outside service assistance.
Lights pilots for customer owned gas appliances and confirms the safe operation of the appliance.
Performs field investigation of high bill complaints and provides routine field services for the Utilities Customer Service Center.
Responsible for the completion and input of daily field service orders, data entry, i.e. gas leak investigation reports and creation of referrals to other departments.
Ability to build diaphragm style gas meter sets up to 1000cfh.