Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Utility Intern

🎯 Role Definition

The Utility Intern supports day-to-day field and operations activities across municipal or private utility systems (water, wastewater, electric, gas). This role combines hands-on maintenance, operational support, documentation, safety compliance, meter and system inspections, and customer service under the supervision of experienced technicians and operators. The Utility Intern gains practical experience in utility infrastructure, learns to operate basic field equipment and tools, and contributes to preventative maintenance and emergency response efforts while following established safety and regulatory protocols.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

High school vocational programs (electricity, plumbing, welding)
Technical school coursework in utility technology or environmental sciences
Academic internships (civil/environmental engineering, utility management)

Advancement To:

Utility Technician / Field Technician
Junior Operator (Water/Wastewater/Electric)
Meter Technician / Meter Reader Specialist
Utility Maintenance Worker

Lateral Moves:

GIS Technician (utility asset mapping)
Safety Coordinator (entry-level)
Customer Service Representative (utility billing and customer inquiries)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Assist field crews in performing routine preventive maintenance on water mains, valves, hydrants, meters, transformers, switches, and gas lines, documenting work in the CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System).
Perform meter reading, meter installation assistance, and basic meter troubleshooting, ensuring accurate data capture and reporting for billing and consumption analysis.
Conduct visual inspections of utility infrastructure—including manholes, pump stations, substations, and service connections—to identify defects, corrosion, leaks, or safety hazards and report findings to supervising technicians.
Support emergency response activities for outages, leaks, or service disruptions by mobilizing to scenes, setting up traffic control, assisting with isolation and repair under direct supervision, and documenting incident actions.
Assist with confined space entry operations by preparing equipment, monitoring air quality (with portable gas monitors), and adhering to permit-required confined space procedures under direct supervision.
Help collect water, wastewater, and process samples following chain-of-custody protocols and laboratory submission guidelines; perform basic field tests such as pH, chlorine residual, turbidity, and specific conductance.
Operate and maintain hand and power tools, basic heavy equipment (e.g., compact excavator, backhoe) or ride-on machinery when certified and under supervision, following equipment safety checklists and lockout/tagout procedures.
Support valve exercising programs and hydrant maintenance, including lubrication, flow testing, and recording flow and pressure data to maintain system reliability and meet regulatory requirements.
Assist electricians and line crews with grounding, pulling cable, basic conduit work, and replacement of small electrical components while following PPE and electrical safety practices.
Learn and operate SCADA interfaces for monitoring basic system alarms, status, and trends; escalate abnormal conditions to licensed operators or supervisors.
Perform vegetation management and right-of-way clearance around utility corridors and facilities, ensuring access for crews and minimizing vegetation-related outages.
Complete and maintain accurate daily logs, work orders, inspection reports, and as-built sketches in both paper and digital formats to support asset management and regulatory reporting.
Support leak detection programs by participating in acoustic leak surveys, pressure testing, and tracer gas/sonar-assisted inspections and documenting findings for repair prioritization.
Assist with trenching, shoring, and excavation site setup, ensuring compliance with OSHA excavation standards, sloping/benching requirements, and competent person inspections.
Participate in scheduled shutdowns and service turn-ons/turn-offs under supervision, coordinating with dispatch and customers to minimize service interruptions and ensure safe procedures.
Conduct basic GIS data collection and asset tagging in the field using mobile devices, uploading accurate location and condition information for infrastructure mapping and work order integration.
Assist in inventory control, staging parts and materials, tracking stock levels for pumps, valves, fittings, and safety equipment, and submitting reorder requests to maintain spare part availability.
Support cross-functional crews on meter upgrades, smart meter installs, and AMI/AMR equipment deployments by preparing sites, documenting installations, and supporting troubleshooting efforts.
Participate in safety meetings, complete required training (e.g., OSHA 10, confined space, HAZWOPER basics), and demonstrate consistent use of PPE and safe work practices in all field tasks.
Assist with basic painting, corrosion control, and cathodic protection inspection activities to extend asset life and comply with maintenance schedules.
Support water/wastewater treatment plant operations with tasks such as sludge handling assistance, clarifier maintenance, and filter backwash monitoring under licensed operator oversight.
Help prepare pre-construction site layouts, flagging, and traffic control plans for upcoming utility work, coordinating with public works and permitting authorities as required.
Participate in customer service interactions on-site to explain work, provide notifications of outages or access needs, and escalate billing or service issues to appropriate departments.
Contribute to small capital project support by assisting survey crews, helping read blueprints and utility plans, and setting up temporary construction controls under guidance.

Secondary Functions

Maintain and update digital records in GIS and asset management systems to improve data accuracy for planning and emergency response.
Support ad-hoc data requests related to meter reads, outage reports, and maintenance histories; assist in compiling simple analytics and trend summaries for supervisors.
Contribute to the organization’s safety culture by suggesting practical improvements, participating in near-miss reporting, and helping to maintain a clean, organized worksite.
Assist with community outreach activities such as utility education events, customer meter demonstrations, and on-site inspections requested by residents or businesses.
Help the procurement team by verifying materials received on job sites, documenting serial numbers and warranty information, and reporting discrepancies.
Participate in project close-out activities including as-built documentation, punch-list completion, and returning unneeded materials to inventory.
Collaborate with environmental compliance staff to support sampling schedules, spill response drills, and documentation needed for regulatory inspections.
Provide general administrative support such as filing service orders, scanning documents, and updating contact lists for field supervisors and dispatch.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Meter reading and basic meter installation/commissioning (AMI/AMR exposure preferred).
Hands-on experience with hand and power tools commonly used in utility maintenance (drills, saws, wrenches, pressure gauges).
Basic understanding of water and wastewater treatment process components and field testing (pH, chlorine residual, turbidity).
Familiarity with SCADA systems and ability to recognize basic alarms and telemetry data points.
Competency with CMMS and work order systems for logging maintenance tasks and generating reports.
GIS data collection and mobile mapping tools for asset tagging and location updates (e.g., ArcGIS Collector, Field Maps).
Experience with safety equipment and procedures: confined space, lockout/tagout, PPE, and respiratory monitoring.
Ability to operate small construction equipment safely when certified (compact excavator, skid steer) and follow excavation/trenching safety.
Basic electrical skills: circuit identification, conduit pulling assistance, grounding practices, and safe work around live equipment.
Knowledge of regulatory requirements for water/wastewater/gas utilities, including sampling protocols and chain-of-custody documentation.
Familiarity with traffic control and flagging operations for safe worksite management (state/local flagger certification a plus).
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and mobile data entry for reporting and simple analysis.

Soft Skills

Strong safety mindset with attention to detail and consistent adherence to procedures and PPE requirements.
Clear verbal and written communication for effective field reporting and customer interactions.
Problem-solving orientation and the ability to escalate technical issues appropriately.
Team player attitude willing to assist multi-disciplinary crews and share knowledge.
Time management and reliability to complete assigned field tasks on schedule.
Adaptability to changing field conditions, weather, and emergency callouts.
Initiative to learn new tools, systems, and regulatory processes quickly.
Professionalism when interacting with customers, vendors, and community stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required. Vocational coursework or completed certifications in relevant trades preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or coursework in Utility Technology, Civil/Environmental Engineering Technology, Electrical Technology, or related technical field.
Completion of utility-specific training programs (water/wastewater operator basics, electrical safety, confined space training).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Technology
Mechanical/Industrial Maintenance
Civil or Environmental Technology
Water and Wastewater Technology
Instrumentation and Controls
Construction Trades / Utility Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0 to 2 years of relevant field experience; internships, co-ops, or vocational training accepted.

Preferred:

Prior hands-on internship or part-time work with municipal utilities, contractors, or utility service providers; experience using CMMS, basic SCADA exposure, and demonstrated commitment to safety protocols.