utility worker

career counselor

assistant

storekeeper

customer service representative

HUNTSVILLE UTILITIES

A typical day on the job consists of me answering phones and being what the company needs me to be for the company and the customer base.  Whether I am marketing a new campaign to the public or brainstorming a new idea that will help the department, and company overall, I remain fluid for the sake of the growth and respect of Huntsville Utilities.  We work with respect and integrity in mind so that our dealings with each other and the customers are always positive.  

The people I work with have become an extended family whom I enjoy both professionally and personally.  It makes coming to work a joy because I know that I'm going to get the most out of those I work with.  We keep each other on our toes and even have friendly competitions amongst one another (management included) to keep our work environment uplifting and energetic.  We work hard for our community and we make sure they know we're always available to  assist them the best we can.  After all, we are a not-for-profit owned by the city of Huntsville which means we value our customers and each day of service is dedicated to the well-being of their utility needs.  

Working for Huntsville Utilities has been educationally rewarding.  I have had the opportunity to learn more about utilities than I ever thought I would.  I have greatly enjoyed acquiring the knowledge I now possess and I have a better perspective of how utilities operate, at least in Huntsville, AL.  Working for Huntsville Utilities has provided me a strong foundation of knowledge that will greatly assist in understanding the utility operations in other cities/states.

A typical day of work at Huntsville Utilities consisted of first outlining the work orders for the day, gathering the required tools necessary to complete the job, and then emplementing said work orders in a timely fashion.
     I learned how to install conduit for fiber optic cable during a 11 degree December day.  I will not forget it.  I also learned to have one computer with multiple network cards to access two different LANs.  
     Management was excellent to work with for several reasons.  First, communication and diversity was promoted due to the many different customers we were required to interact with.  Management listened to employees and were open for suggestions regarding implementation of networking and workstation procedures.
     Co-workers were educated and had a larger than life attitude.  This is expected when dealing with people who risk life and limb to keep the city with various utilities.
     The hardest part of the job was the move from one location to another.  During my employment, the utilities made a move from a temporary location to their permanent residents while repairs and upgrades were made.  
     The most enjoyable part of the job was autonomy and limited management input.  Management was very secure in the staff ability that daily management was not necessary.  Each day a "mission" was identified, tools were provided, and work was complete.

My supervisor was a great role model. He expressed an interest in the total development of summer workers. Shadowing him in various settings inspired me to apply myself more as a college student. He gave us challenging tasks and stressed the importance of doing our best at any task. My co-workers worked as a team and we always encouraged and supported each other.

The process of dealing with utility-related situations was intriguing. It was interesting to see how many people have problems paying their utility bills and being able to offer alternatives for lowering the bill.
I am more sensitive to the time it takes for power outages to be restored now that I have experienced the time and effort required for workers to attend to a large number of requests.

Overall, I gained useful experiences during the three summers I worked at Huntsville Utilities. I do maintain that the salary was too low for college students trying to earn money to help pay college expenses.

Get to the garage at 6:00 A.M. and then get ice water for the coolers, get equipment ready, get any parts that are needed for the day from the warehouse then set out on the jobs for the day. I learned a lot from this job. Especially about how the whole infrastructure of the city works and how transformers and power get to the big buildings throughout the city. My co workers were great, they would help to teach me things about the day to day job because it was all new to me at the time and help me when I did not understand what was going on. The hardest part of the job was having to be out in the heat all day and carry heavy objects. The most enjoyable part was working with my crew and seeing the jobs completed and power given to the buildings around us.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The money and the insurance. Some of the personnel were good. Higher ups not in sync with those they were over.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Trying to learn things you are not trained for. But being held responsible. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Office setting with a lot of intricate sections of duties. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Stressful  knowing you are accountable for things you have not been taught.

Good experience. Managed communications and SCADA systems upgrades; successfully.
The best part of working with public utilities was the opportunity to serve the city during large emergencies due to extreme weather. For example, we successfully restored remote (telemetered) communications services after 2011 tornados in Alabama.

Assisted in maintenance of transmission line and substation facilities. Ability to quickly learn inventory management software. Managed inventory of parts and supplies to insure availability. Maintained parts storage area. Communicate with recipients to inform them of receipts.

Most enjoyable part of the job is being to set our own pace but while still adhering to deadlines. It's a fast paced schedule and involves dealing with home builders to achieve inspection objectives. Dealing with the builders personally makes for a streamline experience for our department and their respective companies.

The employees are messy, management is messy, they have cliques and play favorites when it comes to promotions. I would suggest if you're considering working there, stay far, far, far away from the main branch. Try your best to get to another location. The only people who love it there are upper management and people who DON'T WORK DOWNTOWN. 

Really Kool laid Back at times People there are ready friendly And respectful Work is Work breaks are great all around good place for employment Love the early morning and still have the whole day to yourself I work in the Warehouse so when it was cold it was cold and when it was hot is was hot but over all great

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Utility worker 7 salaries reported	$21.81 per hour
Career counselor 2 salaries reported	$26.75 per hour
Assistant 1 salary reported	$27.66 per hour
Storekeeper 4 salaries reported	$23.55 per hour
Customer service representative 1 salary reported	$13.00 per hour

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