Customer Service Representative - 1st

City Utilities Job Opportunity

Connect to a career at City Utilities! CU has been connecting our community to the services they need for every day life since 1945. From electricity to power our lives, clean water to be healthy, natural gas to stay warm, internet to keep businesses connected, to transit services to get them where they need to go.

1st 6 Months - $20.28/hour

Next 12 Months - $23.21/hour

Thereafter - $24.89/hour

Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Purpose Of Position:

Under the direction of the Supervisor-Customer Services, receives and processes requests for utility service and answers customers' inquiries for utility account information.

Essential Job Functions:

• Receives and processes requests and answers questions concerning connects, disconnects, or transfers of electric, gas, and water utility services.
• Processes requests for new customers, calculates customer deposits, and prepares appropriate orders. Checks credit information. Prepares duplicate bills.
• Assists walk-in customers with payment arrangements or with other credit problems.
• Processes bill payments, ARO payments, and performs other cash processing functions.
• Gathers information and answers various forms of communication, prepares breakdowns for customer inquiries and disputes. Researches and takes appropriate action on returned mail.
• Works past-due accounts and takes appropriate action as determined by policies and procedures.
• Pursues final bill collections by customer contacts including letters and researching return mail.
• Researches unpaid bills, restores or transfers meter deposits and/or credits to active or final accounts, performs clerical tasks associated with various seasonal energy assistance programs, and other projects assigned.
• Handles billing programs and energy assistance.
• Performs all necessary duties during emergencies or outages and staffs emergency control centers as directed by Supervisor.
• Receives and tactfully answers customer inquiries on items such as utility policies and procedures, high bill complaints, credit arrangements, energy assistance, billing problems, insufficient funds payments, payment options, landlord agreements, and other programs.
• Provides quality service to customers that are responsive to their needs. Strives to meet or exceed key performance indicator goals that improve a customers' experience and enhances the mission of the utility.
• Provides backup relief as deemed necessary by Supervisor.
• May train or relieve other employees.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned by management.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

High school graduate or equivalent required. Some college or technical vocational training is preferred. One or more years' business or customer service-related experience required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal verbal and written communication skills, including strong knowledge of grammar and punctuation.
• Superior customer service skills.
• Working knowledge of computer keyboard.
• Ability to:

• Manage multiple conversation topics over the phone and face-to-face with articulate thoughts and remain calm under pressure.
• Tailor communication to different audiences.
• Work independently, multi-task and control information to ensure confidentiality.
• Work courteously with customers and coworkers.
• Work in a team environment.
• Communicate and interpret policies and procedures and share information in a clear and concise manner.
• Effectively utilize a range of digital tools and platforms, including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite, enterprise software, artificial intelligence-enhanced applications, and self-service systems. Must possess a willingness and capacity to learn and adapt to emerging technologies, including mobile devices, cloud-based systems, and data-driven platforms relevant to utility operations.
• Maintain adherence to all company policies.

Physical Requirements:

Typically, sedentary work. Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word and receive detailed information through oral communication. Substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers, and close visual…