METER SERVICE TECHNICIAN I, II

Meter Service Technician

Employer: City of Gastonia

Salary: $46,529.60 - $78,145.60 Annually

Location: City Hall (181 South Street), Gastonia, NC

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 01735

Department: Finance

Division: Financial Services/Meter Services

Opening Date: 05/19/2026

Closing Date: 7/31/2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)

FLSA: Non-Exempt

General Definition of Work

Meter Service Technician I Performs semiskilled work locating and reading electric and water utility service meters on an assigned route; connecting and disconnecting service; does related work as required. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Meter Services Supervisor. Meter Service Technician II Performs intermediate semiskilled work locating and reading electric and water utility service meters on an assigned route; connecting and disconnecting service; does related work as required. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Meter Services Supervisor.

Essential Functions/Duties

Meter Service Technician I

• Reading utility service meters with the aid of an electronic meter reading device; locating utility service meters; (85%)
• Connecting, disconnecting and reconnecting both electric and water utility service meters for residential, commercial and industrial consumers; (15%)

Meter Service Technician II

• Reading utility service meters with the aid of an electronic meter reading device; locating utility service meters; (85%)
• Connecting, disconnecting and reconnecting both electric and water utility service meters for residential, commercial and industrial consumers; (15%)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Meter Service Technician I Some knowledge of the principles and techniques of electric and water metering devices; ability to walk for continuous periods under varying climatic conditions. Ability to understand and follow simple oral and written directions; ability to maintain effective working relationships and communications with customers, co-workers, City officials and the general public. Meter Service Technician II General knowledge of the principles of operation of electric and water metering devices; a thorough knowledge of the hazards that may be encountered during the reading, connection and disconnection of such metering devices; ability to walk for continuous periods under varying climatic conditions; Ability to read all meter routes, demand meters, pit meters and also process service orders for cut-on, cut-off and re-reads and rotate after-hours on call responsibilities. Ability to understand and follow simple oral and written directions; ability to maintain effective working relationships and communications with customers, co-workers, City officials and the general public.

Education/Experience/Physical Demands/Special Requirements/Additional Information

Meter Service Technician I Graduation from high school or equivalent combination of education and experience. Meter Service Technician II Graduation from high school or equivalent and moderate experience in reading utility meters, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or couching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal spoken word levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts.
• Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

• Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision:
• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform one or more of the following: preparing and analyzing data and figures; computer terminal;
• The worker is required to have visual acuity to perform one or more of the following:

• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.
• The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to hazards: Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.

Meter Service Technician I Special Requirements/Additional Information: Completion of required National Incident Management System (NIMS) (IS-700) within twelve months of hire.

Meter Service Technician II Special Requirements/Additional Information: Complete NIMS IS 700 training within 12 months of hire. Three (3) years as Meter Service Technician I or equivalent experience. Three (3) consecutive years with a Performance Evaluation Overall Rating of at least Meets Expectations and no categories with a rating of Needs Improvement. Must possess a valid appropriate driver's license with acceptable driving history. Drug screening and criminal background check required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The City of Gastonia is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/H

Benefits

High Deductible Health Plan with HSA Dental Vision Life Supplemental Insurance Plans Pension (Local Government Employees' Retirement System) 401(k) 457 Short-term/Long-term Disability Dependent Care Plan Employee Assistance Program On-Site Health Clinic Employee Educational Assistance Program Sick Leave (12 days per year) Initial Employment Vacation: Starting at 12 days per year Holidays (11 days per year) Personal Day (1 day per year) A comprehensive list of benefits can be found online at City of Gastonia Employee Benefits Handbook