Customer Service Support Specialist I

Ogallala, NE, US, 69153-4606

Customer Service Support Specialist I

Salary Range - $19.81 or $21.82 per hour

Location - Ogallala Operations Center Ogallala, NE

Employment Type: Full Time

Posting Date: December 11, 2024

Closing Date: January 2, 2025

Are you hard-working and eager to make a meaningful impact in the ever-emerging energy industry? Come join us!

By joining the Nebraska Public Power District team, you’re becoming part of a close-knit community that embodies the values and traditions of the state. More than generating and delivering power, we empower our employees to thrive both personally and professionally. With safety at the helm, we have created a supportive and inclusive work environment that fosters innovation and growth. Here, you’re not just an employee; you're a valued member of a family that respects and supports each other.

Our power grid has been consistently ranked one of the most reliable and resilient, but our reputation for excellence extends beyond our customer service to our employee satisfaction. Many of our team members have built lifelong careers here, advancing through the ranks thanks to our robust training programs and opportunities for professional development. With us, you’ll find a place where your efforts are recognized and rewarded, where you’re making a deep impact on the communities around you, and where you can truly power a career that you can be proud of.

Get to know us morehere (https://www.nppd.com/about-us/our-values)

Position Summary

The incumbent assumes primary accountability for customer relationships and satisfaction, along with detailed administrative processes required to create service notifications and orders necessary to dispatch customer service work and the interface and coordination of the work management, financial, or logistical information (SAP) and customer contact/billing systems - Customer Information System (CIS).

The incumbent provides resolution to customer inquiries, requests, and complaints based on knowledge of the organization, including necessary contractor interfaces. The incumbent will support the business units' responsibilities of maintaining excellent public relations and associated District operations.

In each geographic location, Support Specialists may be cross-trained to back up other business units within a geographic region, such as Customer Service.

Education, Training and Experience

High school diploma/GED plus two years of experience in customer service or operational support is required. Excellent keyboarding skills (minimum of 35 words per minute) and the ability to present oneself in a professional manner is required.

Customer Service Support Specialist Progression Program:

Level I-Entry level position where, after a minimum of 6 months on the job, Specialist is able to complete Enhanced Training Modules (as outlined in the Customer Service Support Specialist Progression Program), and complete and successfully pass a written exam at a minimum of 12 months (as outlined in the Customer Service Support Specialist Program).

Level II-At a minimum of 18 months on the job, the Specialist is eligible to complete an oral exam (as outlined in the Customer Service Support Specialist Program). Upon successfully passing the exam, the Specialist earns the Level II title and compensation.

Senior-Position dictated by business need. Specialist will have successfully achieved Level II status.

Prior Related Experience:

Experience working with customers through operational support, retail business, sales, or a utility-specific company is required. Experience in Windows-based software applications is required.

Distribution Support Specialist Progression Program:

Level I-At a minimum of six months as a Customer Service Support Specialist II or a Customer Contact Specialist II, Specialist is eligible to obtain Distribution Support Specialist Level I status upon successful completion of on-the-job training modules and consistent demonstration of applying learned concepts and transactions (as outlined in the Distribution Support Specialist Progression Program).

Level II-At a minimum of one year at Level I, Specialist is eligible to take exam (as outlined in the Distribution Support Specialist Progression Program). Upon successfully passing the exam, Level II status will be obtained. Specialists at this level are eligible to receive additional training for duties as dictated by business need/geographic location (as outlined in the Distribution Support Specialist Program).

Prior Related Experience:

Experience working with customers through operational support, retail business, sales, or a utility-specific company is required. Experience in Windows-based software applications is required.

Licenses and/or Certifications

Not Applicable

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Customer Service Support Specialist

Interface with internal and external customers professionally and provide a high degree of customer satisfaction through knowledge-based solutions using established policies and procedures to ensure the best interest of the customer and NPPD are met.

Establish and maintain customer accounts and records, including but not limited to, determining security deposits, completing payment processes and daily financial reporting, and correct billing rate.

Investigate abnormal meter readings and determine necessary action to ensure proper billing, including estimating consumption. This includes utilizing SAP (CIS) in addition to the MDM (Meter Data Management) system to determine former consumption to aid in estimation.

Responsible for the collections process from customer delinquency through reconnection of the meter or final billing. This includes account review (ensuring payments were applied correctly, checking for payments or payment arrangements, etc.), placing deposits/additional deposits on accounts, assigning/completing disconnection of the meter for non-payment, monitoring accounts for payment, and ensuring a final bill is issued if no payment/response is received from the customer.

Act as remote agent of the Centralized Customer Contact Center by logging into the call queue daily, allowing for customer interaction and helping to maintain sufficient staffing. This includes weekend/holiday coverage in addition to regular working hours when necessary for outages and other high call volume events.

Contact large Commercial and Industrial (C&I) customers regarding past due balances and create arrangements to pay, if necessary.

Work technical reports which include, but are not limited to, Load Factor Exceptions (utilization of electric energy during a given period to the maximum energy which would have been utilized during that period had power been left on), Zero Consumption (investigating why meters are not registering consumption), and Rate Comparisons (completed rate comparisons for accounts to determine the best rate. This is done by looking at kilowatt-hour and kilowatt consumption and working with the Customer Services Leader to determine if the customer is on the right rate, would benefit from a different rate, or must be changed to another rate based on NPPD’s rate schedules).

Accountable for other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

Customer Focus

Employees & Teamwork/Diversity & Inclusion

Integrity/Excellence

Public Service/Environmental Stewardship

Safety

Salary Information - Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary with opportunities for growth. In addition to the base salary range listed below, NPPD employees may also be eligible for our Annual Incentive Program (AIP) that may supplement total compensation at a level above and beyond the stated salary range. Successful applicants will be provided more information regarding the incentive program at the time of an interview.

Customer Service Support Specialist I

Pay Grade - 6/7

Hourly Rate: $19.81 or $21.82

Travel Required: Up to 25% (With no or minimal overnight stays, less than 3 per month, typically within state of Nebraska) Travel required may fluctuate by business need. This is an estimate and will be discussed further with candidates that receive an interview.

Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary and an excellent benefits package including medical and dental insurance, 401K retirement plan, paid holidays, paid vacation, paid medical, training opportunities and more.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact Human Resources at Nebraska Public Power District.

Nebraska Public Power District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer who values the contributions of its diverse work force. We are only legally able to hire persons who are 1) a United States citizen or national, 2) a lawful permanent resident of the United States, or 3) an alien legally authorized to work in the United States.

Benefits

Customers around the state know what to expect from NPPD — quality, reliability and performance excellence. Our values also extend to the way we take care of our employees and their families. We remain on the leading edge by providing competitive benefits that respond to the diverse lifestyles of our people in an ever-changing world.

Salary

Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary with opportunities for growth. In addition to the base salary listed in posting, NPPD employees may also be eligible for our Annual Incentive Program (AIP) that may supplement total compensation at a level above and beyond the stated salary range.

Retirement Savings

NPPD employees may participate in two retirement plan options – a 401(k) plan and a 457(b) plan. Both plans allow for pre-tax or Roth contributions. After the first six months of employment, the 401(k) plan includes a generous matching contribution from NPPD. The five-year vesting period begins on an employee’s hire date. Our retired employees are eligible for retiree healthcare benefits as well as a life benefit paid out to designated beneficiaries upon their passing.

Health & Wellness

At NPPD, we care about the health and wellness of our employees. We offer new teammates two competitive hospital / medical plan options to fit their lifestyle and family needs. We also make an annual contribution to employee Health Savings Accounts, which can be used to offset out-of-pocket expenses. Employees and their spouse are invited to participate in a variety of wellness initiatives offered throughout the year as a way to enhance their wellness, reduce health risks and promote healthy lifestyles.

Other Benefits

Employees earn vacation on a schedule commensurate with their years of service. We also offer paid holidays as well as personal and family medical leave, including birth mother recovery leave and parental child bonding leave. All full-time employees receive a life insurance policy equivalent to two times the participant's annual salary at no cost to the employee. NPPD also offers dental and vision insurance as well as personal accident, accidental death and dismemberment, critical illness, hospital indemnity, long-term care, pre-paid legal/identity theft, and short-and long-term disability insurance plans. Additional benefits include college tuition reimbursement, relocation assistance and complimentary access to an Employee Assistance Program.