Top 12 Utility Technician Skills to Put on Your Resume
The utility world moves fast. Gear changes, grids get smarter, expectations climb. To stand out as a utility technician, you need a toolkit that blends hands-on know-how with digital fluency and a stubborn commitment to safety. Below are twelve skills that lift your resume and, more importantly, help you thrive in the field—out on the line, in the plant, and everywhere the network reaches.
Utility Technician Skills
- SCADA Systems
- GIS Mapping
- Electrical Troubleshooting
- PLC Programming
- Water Treatment
- Wastewater Management
- Solar Installation
- Wind Turbines
- HVAC Systems
- Pipeline Maintenance
- Meter Reading
- Safety Protocols
1. SCADA Systems
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems give technicians a real-time window into critical processes and assets—measuring, controlling, alarming, and logging across power, water, and gas networks.
Why It's Important
It’s the heartbeat of modern utilities. SCADA keeps operations visible and controllable, improves reliability, shrinks response times, and helps teams work safely under pressure.
How to Improve SCADA Systems Skills
Elevate security, resilience, and clarity. A few targeted moves:
Harden security: Network segmentation, least-privilege access, multi-factor authentication, strict patching, and secure protocols (for example, DNP3 Secure, TLS). Align with recognized control-system security practices.
Build redundancy: Failover servers, dual communications paths, UPS and standby power, hot-standby PLCs where it matters.
Modernize telemetry: Standardize protocols, add condition sensors, and stream high-value data for predictive maintenance.
Instrument wisely: Clean tag naming, clear alarming (with priorities and deadbands), and dashboards tied to actionable KPIs.
Train and drill: Role-based SCADA training, routine incident tabletop exercises, and documented runbooks.
Use analytics: Historian trends, anomaly detection, and automated alerts to spot small problems before they become outages.
Control change: Test environments, approvals, rollback plans, and version control for configurations.
How to Display SCADA Systems Skills on Your Resume
2. GIS Mapping
GIS for utilities means living maps of your network—pipes, lines, meters, valves, devices—connected to work history, condition, and risk. It’s where field truth meets system planning.
Why It's Important
Accurate location data speeds repairs, sharpens planning, reduces losses, and strengthens emergency response. The map isn’t just a picture. It’s the system model.
How to Improve GIS Mapping Skills
Precision in, insight out. Focus on:
Data accuracy: GNSS with high precision, field verification, and topology rules to keep networks valid.
Mobile-first updates: Use modern field apps for real-time edits, attachments, and offline capture (for example, Field Maps–style workflows).
Authoritative layers: A single source of truth with versioned editing, data standards, and QA/QC checks.
Integration: Tie GIS to SCADA, AMI, and your CMMS/asset management system for richer context.
Advanced analysis: Network tracing, outage simulations, risk scoring, and LiDAR/imagery for planning and verification.
How to Display GIS Mapping Skills on Your Resume
3. Electrical Troubleshooting
Methodical diagnosis of faults in electrical equipment and systems—finding the why behind a trip, a flicker, a heat spot—then fixing it safely and permanently.
Why It's Important
It keeps power flowing, cuts downtime, and protects people and assets. Faster fault isolation means fewer outages and safer work.
How to Improve Electrical Troubleshooting Skills
Go deep on fundamentals and disciplined process:
Master the basics: Ohm’s law, power relationships, grounding and bonding, reading single-line diagrams and schematics.
Use a repeatable approach: Verify, isolate, test, confirm. Lockout/tagout. Test before touch. Document steps.
Tools proficiency: DMM, clamp meter, insulation resistance tester, oscilloscope, thermal camera—know what “normal” looks like.
Simulate and practice: Use trainer panels and software to rehearse scenarios before touching live systems.
Safety first: Arc flash planning, shock boundaries, and PPE selection in line with current electrical safety standards.
Root cause, not just repair: Capture findings, log trends, and feed fixes back into maintenance plans.
How to Display Electrical Troubleshooting Skills on Your Resume
4. PLC Programming
Writing and maintaining control logic that runs plants and processes—ladder, function block, structured text—plus the calm discipline to change it safely.
Why It's Important
Automation boosts reliability, repeatability, and safety. Good code makes complex systems predictable.
How to Improve PLC Programming Skills
Structure beats spaghetti. Aim for clarity and testability:
Know the standards: IEC 61131-3 languages, tag-based design, consistent naming, and modular blocks.
Reusable components: User-defined types, add-on instructions, and libraries for common patterns.
Simulate early: Use vendor simulators or test benches before commissioning. Build I/O stubs and fault cases.
Defensive programming: Interlocks, sanity checks, watchdogs, and safe states on fault.
Version control: Track changes, review diffs, and keep a changelog tied to work orders.
Secure the runtime: Role-based access, signed firmware, and disabled unused services.
Think end-to-end: Clean HMI tags, clear alarms, and documentation that a night-shift tech can follow.
How to Display PLC Programming Skills on Your Resume
5. Water Treatment
Processes that remove contaminants and condition water so it’s safe for drinking, industrial use, or safe discharge. Chemistry, biology, and mechanics all in one loop.
Why It's Important
Safe water protects public health and the environment. Reliability isn’t optional; it’s the mission.
How to Improve Water Treatment Skills
Tune the process, then keep it tuned:
Optimize dosing: Jar tests, online analyzers, and feedback control to hit targets without overfeed.
Calibrate relentlessly: pH, turbidity, chlorine residual, conductivity—sensors only help when trusted.
Maintain the backbone: Pumps, blowers, mixers, valves—predictive maintenance cuts surprises.
Adopt advanced steps: Membranes, UV, and advanced oxidation where contaminants demand it; monitor fouling closely.
Manage energy: VFDs, off-peak operations, and efficient aeration save cost and carbon.
QA/QC for compliance: Tight sampling plans, chain of custody, and clear SOPs to meet regulations.
How to Display Water Treatment Skills on Your Resume
6. Wastewater Management
Collecting, treating, and safely returning or reusing wastewater. Protecting waterways while keeping plants stable through storms, surges, and surprises.
Why It's Important
It prevents pollution, shields public health, and supports water reuse. Strong operations mean compliance without drama.
How to Improve Wastewater Management Skills
Process control is king:
Dial in biology: Oxygen control, sludge age, and nutrient removal (BNR/ENR) tuned to incoming loads.
Cut I&I: Smoke tests, CCTV, and targeted repairs to reduce inflow and infiltration at the source.
Real-time monitoring: Online NH4/NO3/PO4 and MLSS sensors to stabilize treatment and anticipate upsets.
Odor and corrosion control: Manage sulfides, protect concrete and metals, and keep neighbors happy.
Asset management: Risk-based maintenance with a CMMS, clear criticality ranks, and stocked spares.
Water reuse: Non-potable reuse for irrigation and cooling; track quality with strict verification.
How to Display Wastewater Management Skills on Your Resume
7. Solar Installation
Designing, mounting, wiring, and commissioning photovoltaic systems that turn sunlight into dependable electricity.
Why It's Important
Solar is now a core part of modern grids. It reduces fuel risk, lowers emissions, and adds flexible generation close to load.
How to Improve Solar Installation Skills
Precision makes power:
Assess the site: Shade studies, azimuth/tilt, structural capacity, wind/snow loads—no guesswork.
Design to code: Follow current NEC requirements for PV and interconnections, including rapid shutdown and labeling.
Mounting done right: Proper flashing, rail alignment, torque specs, and corrosion-resistant hardware.
Smart wiring: Correct conductor sizing, OCPD selection, cable management, and clear labeling end-to-end.
Commission thoroughly: IV-curve testing, insulation checks, and firmware updates; capture as-builts.
Monitor and maintain: Use inverter/plant monitoring to spot faults early and schedule cleaning or service.
Work safe: Fall protection, DC arc-fault awareness, and live-dead-live verification.
How to Display Solar Installation Skills on Your Resume
8. Wind Turbines
Tall machines that harvest wind’s kinetic energy, turning it into clean electricity through the dance of blades, gearboxes, and generators.
Why It's Important
Wind adds large-scale renewable power to the mix. Utilities rely on technicians to keep turbines safe, steady, and productive.
How to Improve Wind Turbines Skills
Small optimizations, big gains:
Blade and pitch performance: Inspect for erosion, balance blades, and calibrate pitch for maximum capture.
Gearbox and drivetrain health: Vibration analysis, oil sampling, and strict torque practices reduce failures.
Power electronics: Maintain converters and controllers for grid stability and improved efficiency.
Predictive maintenance: Use SCADA data, condition monitoring, and analytics to plan repairs before breakdowns.
Lightning and grounding: Test protection systems and bonding to protect nacelles and blades.
Site optimization: Tuning yaw control, wake management, and curtailment strategies where needed.
How to Display Wind Turbines Skills on Your Resume
9. HVAC Systems
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems that control comfort and air quality. In facilities and plants, they also protect equipment and processes.
Why It's Important
Comfort, health, and efficiency depend on HVAC that’s sized right, maintained well, and tuned to the building.
How to Improve HVAC Systems Skills
Chase efficiency and reliability in tandem:
Start with a load calc: Size systems based on real loads, not rules of thumb.
Airflow matters: Measure static pressure, balance airflow, and hit design CFM at the coil.
Upgrade filtration: Use appropriate MERV ratings (often 13+) and maintain schedules; consider HEPA where required.
Seal and insulate: Tight ducts and proper insulation reduce losses and noise.
Smarter controls: Programmable or smart thermostats, scheduling, economizers, and demand control ventilation.
Refrigerant stewardship: Proper charging, leak checks, and movement toward lower-GWP options where feasible.
Preventive maintenance: Coils, belts, drains, and sensors—clean, calibrate, and log.
How to Display HVAC Systems Skills on Your Resume
10. Pipeline Maintenance
Inspection, cleaning, repair, and protection of pipeline systems to keep product moving safely and efficiently.
Why It's Important
Leaks and failures are costly and dangerous. Proactive maintenance protects people, the environment, and the bottom line.
How to Improve Pipeline Maintenance Skills
Be systematic and data-driven:
Inspect from the inside: Run inline inspection tools (smart pigs), confirm with pressure tests when appropriate.
Fight corrosion: Coatings, cathodic protection, and regular potential surveys aligned with AMPP standards.
Detect leaks fast: Acoustic monitoring, fiber-optic sensing, mass balance models, and rapid response protocols.
Manage the right-of-way: Patrols, vegetation control, and third-party disturbance prevention.
Map and manage assets: Keep a current GIS and CMMS with condition, risk, and work history.
Plan for emergencies: Clear escalation, stocked repair kits, and drills with local responders.
How to Display Pipeline Maintenance Skills on Your Resume
11. Meter Reading
Collecting usage data from electric, gas, or water meters for billing, analytics, and system health. Increasingly automated, but accuracy still rules.
Why It's Important
Accurate reads drive fair bills and early detection of leaks, theft, or equipment faults. Trust is built on clean data.
How to Improve Meter Reading Skills
Blend tech with good process:
Adopt AMI/AMR: Use advanced metering for remote reads, outage flags, and tamper alerts—then validate with spot checks.
Handle exceptions: Investigate zero or negative consumption, sudden spikes, or repeated estimates quickly.
Use field tools: Mobile apps with barcode/QR capture, GPS stamping, and photo evidence reduce errors.
VEE rules: Validation, estimation, and editing workflows that are transparent and auditable.
Train and audit: Refresh techniques, calibrate handhelds, and sample audit routes regularly.
Customer awareness: Teach customers how to read meters and use portals to cross-check usage.
How to Display Meter Reading Skills on Your Resume
12. Safety Protocols
Standard procedures that keep utility work—electrical, water, gas, telecom—safe. From PPE to permits to emergency response, it’s culture plus discipline.
Why It's Important
Because everyone goes home. And because safe work is reliable work.
How to Improve Safety Protocols Skills
Make safety active, not decorative:
Job planning: Pre-task briefings and job hazard analyses that actually guide the work.
Lockout/tagout: Clear procedures, tested isolations, and live-dead-live verification.
Confined spaces: Permits, gas testing, ventilation, attendants, and rescue plans ready.
Heights and trenches: Fall protection, anchor checks, shoring and shielding, and competent-person oversight.
Electrical safety: Arc flash studies, boundaries, PPE selection, and insulated tools.
Inspect equipment: Routine checks of ladders, harnesses, gloves, detectors—retire damaged gear immediately.
Report and learn: Near-miss reporting, no-blame reviews, and updates to procedures based on what you learn.
How to Display Safety Protocols Skills on Your Resume
