BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
 

NOTICE OF VACANCY
 

POSTING: 38-2026
 

OPENING DATE: JUNE 16, 2026
 

CLOSING DATE: JULY 10, 2026
 

TITLE: CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE TRAINEE, PUBLIC UTILITIES
 

WORKWEEK: 35 HOURS (35)
 

EXISTING VACANCIES: 2
 

SALARY: $51,479.83 - $53,807.27
 

DIVISION/OFFICE: DIVISION OF CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
 

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Under the close supervision of a Customer Representative 1, Public Utilities or other supervisory official in a state department or agency, as a trainee and productive worker, investigates utility customer complaints and/or administrative hearings and/or litigation of service, rates, or procedures of facilities; does other related work as required.
 

WORK RESPONSIBILITIES
As a trainee and productive worker, receives training in the performance of office and field investigations of a routine nature involving matters affecting utility regulation. 

Receives training in the application of Board of Public Utilities Rules and Regulations and customer assistance techniques. 

As instructed, confer with representatives of utility companies on matters related to the resolution of customer complaints. 

Prepare accurate daily statistical reports of customer complaints. 

As instructed, schedule formal and informal conferences with consumers and utility representatives for resolution. Learns to and assists in the preparation of correspondence. 

Responds to customer inquiries and resolves complaints via correspondence, telephone, and email in a timely and compassionate manner. Receives training in retrieving BPU overnight messages. 

Maintains accurate, up-to-date, and organized records and files. 

Will be trained in procedures involving financial assistance and community outreach events. Will attend events and training conferences as needed. 

Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
 

REQUIREMENTS
 

NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. 

Thirty (30) semester-hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
 

Four (4) years of professional experience as a customer representative in the investigation and inspection of electric, gas, water, sewer, or telephone service, and the adjustment of related customer complaints, or the maintenance of customer equipment, or some combination thereof.
 

OR
 

Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
RESUME NOTE: Eligibility determinations will be based upon information presented in resume and proof of degree submitted. Applicants who possess foreign degrees (degrees earned outside of the U.S.) are required to provide an evaluation indicating the U.S. equivalency.
 

GENERAL INFORMATION
 

BENEFITS: The State of New Jersey offers a variety of employee benefits statewide, including:
• Health and Dental Benefit Plans
• Prescription Drug Plan
• Vision Care Reimbursement
• Deferred Compensation
• 12 Vacation Days, 15 Sick Days, 3 Administrative Leave Days
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Telework available for some positions after 120 days of employment* (Pursuant to the BPU’s policy, procedures, and/or guidelines)
• Flexible and Health Savings Accounts
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness
• Paid Leave for Military Training
 

HOURS OF WORK: The hours of work for this position are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All No Limit (NL) titles will be required to perform work beyond the stated hours of work as needed, in compliance with applicable collective bargaining agreements and laws.
 

STATE AS A MODEL EMPLOYER (SAME) APPLICANTS If you are applying under the NJ “SAME” program, your supporting documents (Schedule A or B letter), must be submitted along with your resume by the closing date indicated above. 

The “SAME” program allows candidates, who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process. 

For more information about the “SAME” program and the Fast Track Hiring program, please click here if you have any questions, please email, or call the contact as indicated on the job vacancy announcement.
 

TELEWORK: This position may be eligible to participate in the Department's Telework Program after 120 days of employment, which offers eligible employees the opportunity to work remotely up to two (2) days per week, if approved by management per operational needs, subject to all requirements of the Department’s Telework Program. 

For questions regarding Telework eligibility, please ask during the interview process if selected for an interview.
 

WORK AUTHORIZATION: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification forms upon hire. 

Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States according to the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services Regulations. 

The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorships for citizenships or Visas to the United States.
 

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: The “New Jersey First Act,” N.J.S.A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70) effective September 1, 2011, contains new residency requirements for public officers and employees, unless exempted under the law. 

Current, new, or prospective employees should be aware of the following: Effective September 1, 2011, all employees of State and local government must reside in the State of New Jersey, unless exempted under the law. 

If you already work for the State or local government as of September 1, 2011, and you do not live in New Jersey, you are not required to move to New Jersey. 

However, if you begin your office, position or employment on September 1, 2011, or later, you must reside in New Jersey. 

If you do not reside in New Jersey, you have one year after the date you take your office, position, or employment to relocate your residence to New Jersey. 

If you do not do so, you are subject to removal from your office, position, or employment. For more information, visit: https://www.nj.gov/labor/research-info/njfirst.shtml
 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Submissions must be received in time to the email address listed below to be considered. Failure to submit all required documents may result in an ineligibility determination. 

Interviews will be granted based on the resume.
 

If you are qualified, please submit the documents listed below by 4:00 pm on the closing date of this vacancy:
• Cover letter/letter of interest indicating the posting number
• A current resume
• Proof of degree (a copy of your final official/unofficial transcripts and/or foreign degree evaluation)
• Writing Sample
• A complete State of NJ Employment Application and Personal Relationships Disclosure Form https://www.nj.gov/bpu/about/employment/
 

All documents must be submitted via email at humanresources@bpu.nj.gov 

(Subject line must include the specific job posting number).
 

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQUIREMENTS
 

NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. 

Thirty (30) semester-hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
 

Four (4) years of professional experience as a customer representative in the investigation and inspection of electric, gas, water, sewer, or telephone service, and the adjustment of related customer complaints, or the maintenance of customer equipment, or some combination thereof.
 

OR
 

Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
RESUME NOTE: Eligibility determinations will be based upon information presented in resume and proof of degree submitted. Applicants who possess foreign degrees (degrees earned outside of the U.S.) are required to provide an evaluation indicating the U.S. equivalency.
 

About NJ Board of Public Utilities

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities ("NJBPU" or “Board”) is the state agency with authority to oversee the regulated utilities, which provide critical services such as natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications, and cable television. The law requires the Board to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey.The Board addresses issues of consumer protection, energy reform, deregulation of energy, and telecommunications services and the restructuring of utility rates to encourage energy conservation and competitive pricing in the industry.The Board is also responsible for monitoring utility service and responding to consumer complaints.The Board is considered a quasi-judicial body, meaning that it functions similar to a court or judge. Anyone may file a petition (or a request for action) asking the Board to consider a matter within its jurisdiction. Most often petitions are filed by the utilities, ratepayers, or interested parties, but sometimes the Board will initiate a matter on its own.Once a petition is filed, the Board decides if it will retain the matter (which will become a case) or send the petition to the Of...fice of Administrative Law (OAL). If the case is sent to the OAL, a judge will make an initial decision that the Board will ultimately accept, reject, or change. Regardless of whether the case is sent to the OAL or retained by the Board, the case goes through a legal process that may involve public hearings, briefs, discovery, and testimony. The parties involved include the petitioner, the Board’s staff, and often the Division of Rate Counsel (the state entity charged with representing the ratepayers and consumers of New Jersey). Others may ask to be involved as an intervener or a participant, but those parties must meet certain standards provided in the regulations (N.J.A.C. 1:1-16.3) to be granted that status.Members of the public are invited to voice their opinions at public hearings. Public hearings are listed on NJBPU's website and notices of these hearings appear in newspapers. All evidence, arguments, and comments provided at the public hearings are made part of the record to ensure that the OAL judge and/or the Board is making an informed and impartial decision based upon the facts as presented by both sides. It is important that the public provide its input at the public hearings to ensure these comments are included in the record of the case.The Board then decides the case at one of its public agenda meetings, and will issue an order setting forth the reason for its decision. The Board’s decision may be appealed to the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court.

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