What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dispatcher position at Rio Grande Electric Cooperative, Inc.?
Job Purpose
To provide effective and efficient dispatching services which allow for a current and accurate flow of information among all organizational units and with organizations outside the Cooperative.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Monitor and validate accuracy of entries into Outage Management System (OMS)
- File and maintain paperwork associated with OMS entries
- Document system outages to provide detailed information as to the cause of the outage, the equipment involved and the members affected
- Receive telephone calls, member concerns, complaints, maintenance items, emergencies, outages
- Route incoming phone calls to the appropriate personnel or take and deliver messages to the appropriate person to provide a current and accurate flow of information
- Assist in making member contacts for planned outages to provide members adequate time to make arrangements and to maintain good public relations
- Dispatch line crews during outages in coordination with the Area Operations Manager (AOM) to direct crews to outage locations
- Accept credit card payments (via telephone) for restoration of services that have been disconnected for non-payment within the authority given by Consumer Accounting or CSR or AOM in charge of the disconnect
- Inform relief personnel of crew and system status and other pertinent information before leaving duty to familiarize relief personnel of current operating conditions and pending activities
- Maintain and communicate to other employees, the Critical Customer list to make them aware of potential problems
- Remain knowledgeable about emergency procedures and maintain current emergency phone number listings and communicate this information to other employees to provide quick efficient emergency assistance when needed
- Travel to area offices as needed
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Learn and comply with Cooperative’s safety rules and procedures
- Maintain confidential information
Qualifications
- Ability to hear pertinent conversations and radio traffic in an active environment
- Ability to proficiently receive and direct communications with the use of telephone and satellite radio
- Ability to communicate with employees and the public and work with people to solve problems
- Team player with a high degree of integrity, good personal habits, regular work attendance, courteous and friendly, able to work well with diverse groups of people, and gain and maintain respect of others, both inside and outside the Cooperative
- Ability to project a favorable image for the Cooperative
- Possess good typing/keyboarding skills accurately and proficiently
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
- Ability to learn various software packages
- Ability to handle upset members in friendly and courteous manner
- Detail-oriented, self-motivated and able to organize work efficiently
- Possess a valid Texas drivers’ license
- Insurable with the Cooperative's auto insurance carrier
- Possess excellent oral and written communication skills in the English language
- Possess excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to maintain a harmonious working relationship with all Cooperative employees
- Must be or become certified in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Working Conditions
- Work station and communication console with multiple distractions
- Office environment
- To ensure all employees are provided with drug free and alcohol free working conditions, pre- employment, post-accident, reasonable cause and random drug and alcohol tests are conducted on all employees
- *Part-time employees: work weekends, holidays and as needed on weekdays
- Subject to irregular hours
- Subject to travel
Physical Requirements
- Required to pass a physical examination when employed
- Must have sufficient health to perform the essential functions, duties and responsibilities of the job
- Sitting for extended periods of time
- Requires lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying of weights
- Traveling
Direct Reports
- n/a
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Rio Grande Electric Cooperative, Inc. (RGEC) was organized in 1945 to enhance the quality of life for rural residents by providing electric service where none existed. Today, at over 35,000 square miles, RGEC has the largest service territory of any electric cooperative in the contiguous United States, serving 18 counties in Texas, and two counties in New Mexico. While it still serves rural areas, many metropolitan areas have expanded into RGEC’s territory, which now includes hospitals, schools, and urban housing developments. The Cooperative was also selected by the military to be the electrical maintenance provider for Fort Bliss, El Paso, and Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio.
RGEC currently employs a compliment of 169 people to serve 7,229 members with 14,531 meters. It maintains offices in Alpine, Brackettville, Carrizo Springs, Dell City, El Paso, and Fort Stockton, with the Brackettville office serving as corporate headquarters. The Co-op maintains 10,044 miles of energized line of which 126 miles are transmission line, 202 miles are underground line, and 9,716 are overhead energized line. RGEC maintains the electrical distribution systems for Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, and Laughlin Air Force Base, Del Rio, Texas.
Mission
RGEC is committed to providing safe and reliable energy services through the efficient use of resources, highly skilled employees, and technology.
Motto
Empowering communities, enhancing lives.
Values & Vision
RGEC proudly serves members based on a foundation of integrity and excellence, while striving for the betterment of communities and quality of life for those in the region it is privileged to serve.
Seven Cooperative Principles
Voluntary and Open Membership | Democratic Member Control | Members’ Economic Participation
Autonomy and Independence | Education, Training and Information | Cooperation Among Cooperatives | Concern for Community
Rio Grande Electric Cooperative, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
