utility line locator

meter reader

utility worker

installer

warehouse associate

Olameter

Olameter promotes from within. I absolutely love my job. I have been with the company for 5 years, and have been supported by my management to achieve my goals. My management not only want me to and helps me succeed as an employee but truly cares about me as a person. My only complaint is that the family insurance is expensive. Other than that, this is the best place I have ever worked. I feel like I am not only appreciated as a hard working employee but as an individual. I know a lot of the work is hard, but in my opinion it is worth it. This can be a job to just pay your bills but can turn into a career. Though meter Reading is being phased out by AMI, Olameter is doing everything they can to move the meter readers into other positions in order to keep as many good employees as possible. Most of the complaints I have seen are from readers that have been terminated because the utility we are working for no longer have the work for us to keep the employees. Line locating is becoming a larger portion of what Olameter is currently working towards having more contracts. I know that they have offered to not only train current employees on how to locate but have also offered to relocate the good employees to the areas where the Line locating contracts are in order to keep them. The second issue is that people do not realize that the work isn't easy. It isn't a fast food place, and it isn't a sit down job. It is manual labor that requires skill and determination. If you are thinking about accepting a position at Olameter I suggest making sure it is something that you want to do and know what you are signing up for. It is a very rewarding job if it is the job for you. I know that some have issues with their management, but that is not a reflection on the company as a whole. If more employees reported their issues with management through the anonymous reporting system it work help Olameter not only make the work experience better for their coworkers, but give Olameter a better chance at success as a whole. 

18 cents a meter.
Read 800 homes on average EVERYDAY. Day in, day out. and you will make $144/day. Take home = slightly over $100/day
You might say that there are good routes that pay well. There are, and only the 5 year+ experienced readers get those. So, they make a livable income.
If you are newer than 5 years, you get handed the the worst routes no one wants, instead of making the load equal. So newer readers like myself TRY to read 800 homes every day in hopes to make a petty $500/week(IF THAT) and burn yourself in the meantime.
Readers never make more, actually, new sub-contractors like Olameter come in and bid the lowest so the plentiful rich enough utility companies take them. Therefore, there are only ever pay decreases as the higher up management gains more by squeezing readers dry. SO, cost of living goes up, meter readers pay, goes down. 
Also, no holidays, or time off in your first year, which is baffling as readers need to rest. Very inconsiderate. After a year you get 2 weeks holiday which you have paid for through deductions every paycheck. 
Olameter is very generous when is comes to covering cost for shoes though. Since readers need very good footwear, and wear through shoes in months. They graciously give each employee a 15 dollar voucher for shoes per year. I know what you're thinking...WOW! But it gets better. Those are only for shoes that are "Tarantula Grip" anti-slip for the winter months...that actually make NO difference, and are exponentially uncomfortable.
Management does not explain what constitutes the different pay rates for the distance of reads. Usually, they are a cheaper rate than what they should be and readers get in trouble for changing them appropriately. So taking advantage of readers is a very acceptable practice for Olameter. Considering what the meter reading fee is on your bill, the utility companys must be laughing all the way to the bank and how much they make off us, including Olameter.

The hiring process couldn’t be more simple , if you’re unemployed right now this is a job that you can establish skills in utility meter deployment , we take even the most inexperienced person and turn them into a utility installer. If you’re a reliable hardworking person you are encouraged to apply , during training you’ll be hourly , after training you will make the best of the route you are given to get as many meters into the sockets as safety as possible. You can make a really nice paycheck but it depends how comfortable you are wearing all your installer equipment as soon as you step out of your cargo vehicle ( you’ll be checked on by a supervisor or a member of Xcel Energy to see that you are following the protocols , don’t be shocked when you see that Olameter staff isn’t following the same safety protocols expected of you, just do your job) you can get duplexes , apartments but most of the time you’ll end up with residential areas because Olameter / Tribus has their own long term out of state employees working the multi dwelling units and they are also piece work paid. It’s only fair because these folks have already worked for the company and when their project ends their job ends, until the next one. This is a permanent job if you can travel ! Just do the work and you’ll be rewarded . 1,000 sign on bonus for retention after 90 days , bonus monthly for coming to work not missing and days, overtime pay is time in a half of your installs , appts ! If you don’t like overtime you will not make it here , you’ll have good days and bad days but it’s all on you .

I really liked this job because I am an outdoor person. This is my experience:
1. You have flexibility with time and you can work at your own pace but you will be paid for your productivity. If you do it with motivation, it will be good for you.

2. I recommend having a backpack with water and being prepared to walk all day. In a way it's a fun job, you put your music on and you do your job with a lot of freedom.

3. There are good routes and there are routes that are a bit challenging. I think it's the fact that you have to deal with dogs but they provide you with pepper spray. Specially in the south areas.

4. The staff is awesome, always available to help and guide you. Because you are not under constant direct supervision communication is the key.

5. Dont worry! At first you will get lost looking for some meters, and a second time on the route it will be easier. In your hand held you will always have instructions on where to find them and where to go. Some meters box are blue painted so you can identify easily.

6. They pay very well and have good benefits. Usually I made between 600 to 1k houses a day but that was because I was a fast pacer and they paid me $ 1,700 approx every 11 days. Thats $3,400 aprox monthly.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Decent hourly pay, okay benefits as long as you join during a sign up period otherwise you are gonna be waiting up to 6-8 months

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The ignorance of the upper management, The Favoritism, minimal to no recognition for doing a good job as even the employee of the month is just kinda cycled around because it's too much effort to find out who actually did a good job.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
You are worker bee and at the will and whim of upper management. They will offer no real explanation or reason behind what they do or why they are doing it. Currently have had overtime cut out of the company which was almost half my paycheck, am currently selling my private possessions to pay bills with the only answer about when and if we will get overtime back is " Don't know, hopefully soon."

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Either extremely busy or extremely boring, or on usually Mondays I need a headache pill for the nonsense they send me

Pros
Unlimited overtime as long as you meet production standards
Ability to advance quickly due to significant employee turnover
You'll never run out of tickets
Some of the managers are cool
If you are lucky you will get a decent vehicle 

Cons
Unbelievable micro-management from out-of-town management, that toxically trickles all the way down to every person in Denver creating discord 
Inaccurate pay
HR is not in Denver
No vacation time until after 1 year
ZERO work-life balance
Training is insufficient 
Constant berating from out-of-town personal 
Health insurance is costly 
Always being accused of cheating or lying 












Paid for 8 hours per roite even if you finish faster. Onve you get really fast you can pick up multiple routes and make more that 8 hours pay per day, however the company benefits more than you from this. They are always short handed and behinf on their routes, yet only pay 5 hours for your 2nd route each day. So by working harder you get paid less. You have the option of finishing a route in 5 hours in a relaxed way and getting 8 hrs pay, or hustling all day in the weather to work for 8-10 hours and vet paid for I believe 13 hours. Do this every day and the paycheck is great, but i feel their should be more incentive for keeping a light jog in thr sun or snow for 10 hours.

Working as a meter tech was great at first. you had the freedom to work by yourself and at your own pace since we went from piece work to by the hour as long as you got all your priority work done you were in the clear. but soon they started implementing too many regulations afterwards and threatening to terminate you for even the tiniest slip up. Safety took their jobs way too seriously. you get hit with hard brake alerts even when your foot wasn't even on the brake and putting you on insane work hours where you only have enough time to eat dinner maybe grab a shower but then immediately have to go to sleep afterwards for a decent nights rest. good luck having any sort of personal life with your family if you work here.

Upper Management is terrible, they have absolutely no industry experience and promotions are based off of who they like not by experience or job performance. You will be expected to work 6-7 days a week and a minimum of 9 hours or more a day. Health care is so expensive all of your overtime will be deducted and go towards that. Dispatchers are afraid of contractors and call you while you’re in the field and basically haras you to make a contractor happy thus, making you fall even ferther Behind on your already giant work load and add extra stress. But if you do not have a personal life and you want to make a lot of money quickly and insurance isn’t an issue this place has the potential to make you a pretty good amount of money in a short period of time.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Some co-workers were very nice - although unappreciated by management.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Management seems to take pride in denigrating their employees during large meetings. Leading to a lack of confidence and morale in the employees.

I've always worked in places that complimented publicly and corrected privately - what I witnessed was truly unbelievable. Managers lie to cover their own mistakes and blame the subordinates.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Mostly terrible.

The extremely stingy and expensive benefits and zero PTO the first year should be a clue of how much managers value their employees.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Utility line locator 56 salaries reported	$22.81 per hour
Meter reader 3 salaries reported	$19.37 per hour
Utility worker 4 salaries reported	$19.91 per hour
Installer 11 salaries reported	$23.11 per hour
Warehouse associate 1 salary reported	$18.00 per hour

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