Public Utilities Customer Service Investigator

Public Utilities Customer Service Investigator

The Public Utilities Commissions of Ohio (PUCO) affects nearly every household in Ohio. The PUCO regulates providers of all types of utility services which includes electric and natural gas companies, local and long-distance telephone, water and wastewater, and rail and trucking companies. More recently, the PUCO gained responsibility for facilitating competitive utility choices for Ohio consumers. To carry out our responsibilities, the PUCO employs a professional staff that includes engineers, economists, attorneys, and safety inspectors. Continually monitoring the activities of utility and transportation companies, the PUCO works to ensure safe and reliable services for all Ohioans. Our mission is to assure all residential and business consumers access to adequate, safe and reliable utility services at fair prices, while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices.

Job Description

Public Utilities Customer Service Investigator Service Monitoring & Enforcement Department (SMED) Consumer Services Division (CSD) Hourly Rate: $25.77

About The Service Monitoring & Enforcement Department (SMED): The Service Monitoring and Enforcement Department's (SMED) mission is to enforce consumer safeguards, to resolve consumer complaints and to ensure Ohio utility consumers receive safe and reliable services. SMED is organized into three divisions. Consumer Services Division (CSD) CSD includes the PUCO Call Center. Staff in this division educates consumers on their rights and responsibilities for safe and reliable service and mediates simple complaints between consumers and various utility companies. Staff will also mediate more complex disputes by collecting the facts from both parties and applying PUCO policies, rules, and regulations to resolve the dispute, including those received via the chairman, commissioners, and/or legislative liaison. CSD staff audits regulated utility and household goods companies to ensure these companies are following PUCO rules and regulations governing consumer safeguards.

What You Will Do: In this position as a Public Utilities Customer Service Investigator, you will:

• Respond to incoming hotline calls and online chats from Ohio utility customers, providing accurate information, guidance, and relevant resources for approximately 4-hours each day.
• Research, investigate, analyze data, statistics, and documentation related to customer service complaints for an additional 4-hours daily.
• Conduct interviews with customers and utility representatives to gather details and clarify issues related to service concerns
• Determine areas of non-compliance and prepare written correspondence and reports documenting specific recommendations corrective actions
• Educate customers and utility company representatives on the PUCO interpretation of rules, regulations, and consumer rights ** This is a customer service position that does not involve law enforcement investigations

Our organization currently follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office as needed and based on operational need. This is subject to change with limited notice. A teleworking agreement must be approved by management

Preferred Qualifications: Inbound call center experience Utility experience Experience interpreting the Ohio Revised and/or Ohio Administrative Code Strong time management skills

Salary Information: Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary is set at the lowest rate of the salary range. In most cases, successful employees will increase a step in the salary range within six months, with subsequent step increases occurring every year. In addition, the State of Ohio offers cost of living adjustments, longevity supplements after five years of public service, and wellness incentives.

Why Work for the State of Ohio At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes: Medical Coverage Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more) Public Retirement Systems ( such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS ) & Optional Deferred Compensation ( Ohio Deferred Compensation ) *Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications 18 mos. trg. or 18 mos. exp. in customer service investigation; valid driver's license. -Or 2 yrs. trg. or 2 yrs. exp. as investigator where experience does not correspond with cases/complaints/allegations to be assigned; valid driver's license. -Or equivalent of the Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above. Job Skills: Customer Service