Customer Advocate EE

Rhode Island Energy; Johnston (RI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhode Island Energy is seeking a Customer Advocate to work with income-eligible customers, guiding them through enrollment in assistance programs and coordinating with social services. You will be the voice for customers within RI Energy, helping shape programs designed to support affordability and reliability.

The role focuses on outreach, one-on-one customer support, and collaboration with external partners to improve customer outcomes and access to energy assistance offerings.

Qualifications

• Experience advocating for customers, especially income-eligible clients.
• Proven success delivering service in a customer-centric environment.
• Ability to explain complex programs in clear terms.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools and standard software.

Responsibilities

• Assist customers with billing, payments, and payment agreements.
• Support LIHEAP and other energy-assistance programs enrollment.
• Build relationships with internal/external stakeholders for social care opportunities.
• Engage external agencies and organizations to refer low-income customers.
• Prioritize referrals from multiple channels according to policy.
• Develop tailored responses for customers with special needs.

Skills

Customer advocacy experience

Customer service experience

Clear communication

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

High School diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

CSS

Customer account management

Energy management

Information systems management

Document management

Financial structures

Job description

Company Summary Statement

Rhode Island Energy provides essential energy services to over 770,000 customers across Rhode Island through the delivery of electricity or natural gas. Our team is dedicated to helping Rhode Island customers and communities thrive while supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future. Rhode Island Energy is part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient, and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. PPL is a positive force in the cities and towns where we do business, providing support for programs and organizations that empower the success of future generations by helping to build and maintain strong, diverse communities today.

Overview

As a Customer Advocate, you'll work directly with RI Energy's most vulnerable customers and the various external support agencies and advocacy groups that support them. Your mission will be to improve the lives of these customers through driving awareness of, enrollment in, and engagement around the various tools RI Energy has in place to help income-eligible customers manage the affordability and volatility of their monthly energy spend. You will also serve as the voice of these customers internally within RI Energy, representing their interests, perspectives and needs as the organization continues to develop its strategies and approaches to better serving income-eligible customers and the programs and offers we put in place to do so.

Responsibilities

• Work with customers one on one for billing, payments, negotiating payment agreements, Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP), outage preparation, protections certification, energy efficiency support.
• Develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders to obtain and share information on social care opportunities and developments, as well as provide technical advice and build bases of influence.
• Identify and act on new external channels through which to engage income-eligible customers and drive awareness of and participation in relevant Company programs.
• Develop relationships with relevant external agencies and organizations, establishing your role as these external groups’ ‘go to’ resource for all things RI Energy, and empowering them to better engage and refer their low-income constituents on our behalf.
• Manage and prioritize referrals from email, vendors, call center, field and other internal communications in line with policies.
• Develop and manage the approach to special cases (e.g. customers with special needs) ensuring a tailored and effective response in line with expectations.
• Manage the day-to-day relationship with relevant internal parties and external agencies and bodies to understand requirements, deliver appropriate, customized solutions and advice, and build cross-functional working in line with RI Energy policies and processes.
• Through collecting and analyzing input from your customer interactions and community engagement, serve as the ‘voice’ of our income-eligible customers in helping to inform and influence the design of RI Energy programs and offerings targeted towards the income-eligible community.
• Serve as the public face of RI Energy in various community outreach settings likely to be attended by income-eligible customers, including periodic Energy Expositions ("Expos").
• Ensure processes, practices and procedures are followed are in line with RI Energy policies and compliant with legislation and regulations.
• Develop, distribute and prepare training material, brochures and supporting documentation to relevant customers and internal colleagues.
• Build upon technical/professional skills within customer advocacy to continually grow your personal contribution to the business.
• Develop and utilize peer group network to absorb and apply technical/professional best practice within the customer and social care arena.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

Required Experience & Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• 1+ years of related customer advocacy experience.
• Demonstrated success in a customer service environment, preferably in a role supporting low-income or income-eligible customers.
• Knowledge of, experience with, or the demonstrated ability to quickly learn customer information systems, including:
  • CSS
  • Customer account management
  • Financial structures
  • Energy management
  • Information systems management
  • Document management
• Knowledge of, experience with, or the ability to quickly learn social service and assistance programs available to income-eligible communities.
• Demonstrated ability to clearly communicate complex programs and services to diverse customer populations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access.
• Understanding of fundamental low-income assistance program concepts is desirable.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Knowledge of Rhode Island Energy’s business operations, policies, and practices.
• Knowledge of relevant industry practices and legislation.