SKAT Meterman Test (Southern Company) - Free Practice and Study Guide

The SKAT Meterman Test (officially the SKAT Meter test) is a multiple-choice pre-employment test used by Georgia Power, a Southern Company subsidiary, to screen applicants for Meterman positions. Southern Company publishes a study guide for it. 

The test measures the basic knowledge and skills that Meterman positions require. Southern Company's study guide explains that Georgia Power's job experts identified the content as critical for new hires, and that the questions emphasize understanding each subject along with the ability to apply it. The test has 3 sections. Electrical Knowledge covers basic electrical theory and measurement (symbols and formulas, series and parallel direct current circuits, wiring diagrams, one-line diagrams, transformers, troubleshooting, and alternating current) and metering formulas and electrical concepts (power in AC circuits, true power, apparent power, reactive power, and power factor). Hand Tools and Power Tools covers identifying basic hand tools and their applications. Rule Reading covers reading standard measurements and making measurement calculations.

The test is multiple choice, and some questions refer to figures such as diagrams, schematics, drawings, and charts. It lasts approximately 2 hours. Some questions require calculations, and calculators are permitted and provided, along with a formula sheet. Southern Company doesn't publish the number of questions or a passing score.

The questions come in several types: definitions of terms, how two concepts or measurements relate, interpreting a job situation to find what is happening or what is wrong, calculating amounts, measurements, or electrical values, how-to questions about job tasks, and applying concepts on the job. Because the questions emphasize understanding the subjects along with the ability to apply them, working through problems matters more than memorizing facts.

The real SKAT Meter test lasts approximately 2 hours and covers three sections in one sitting: electrical knowledge (including metering), hand tools and power tools, and rule reading. The questions below sample each of the 3 sections. Work through them the way you would on test day: read each question and any diagram or scale carefully, since questions range from simple definitions to job situations and calculations. Calculators are permitted and provided on the real test, along with a formula sheet, so focus on knowing which formula applies and on reading measurements correctly.

Try the question below, which asks how the resistance of a resistor changes when its length changes. Electrical Knowledge questions can test basic electrical theory and how it applies to components.

Try the question below, which shows a tool and asks what it is used for. Hand Tools and Power Tools questions ask you to identify basic tools and know their applications.

Try the question below, which asks you to read two marks on a pressure scale and find the difference between them. Rule Reading questions ask you to read standard measurements and make measurement calculations.

The questions above are a sample of what to expect, but the real SKAT Meter test runs approximately 2 hours across 3 sections, so knowing the fundamentals section by section matters. Our PrepPack includes 11 practice tests with 183 questions and 1 study guide on electrical concepts, tools, and measurement reading, with answer explanations, so you can build up each topic before test day.

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We've created a comprehensive SKAT Meterman PrepPack designed to help you succeed. It includes 11 practice tests with 183 questions and 1 study guide on electrical concepts, tools, and measurement reading, with multiple-choice questions, diagrams, and answer explanations, like the real test. Your scores and practice history show which topics need more work, so you can focus on your weaker areas and feel confident and ready on test day.

Why preparation matters: The SKAT Meter test lasts approximately 2 hours and covers electrical knowledge (including metering), hand tools and power tools, and rule reading, and Southern Company doesn't publish a passing score or the number of questions. Calculators and a formula sheet are provided, so the challenge is knowing the concepts, which formula applies, and how to read measurements correctly. Our practice tests build that knowledge topic by topic, with answer explanations that show how each problem is solved, so the questions on test day feel familiar.

Southern Company's study guide names Georgia Power's Meterman positions as the jobs that use the SKAT Meter test. Georgia Power's postings call the role Apprentice Meter Tech, name the test the Apprentice Meter Tech Skills and Knowledge Test (AM SKAT), and also require the Construction and Skilled Trades (CAST) test to be considered for an interview. It is a union-covered training position in Georgia Power's Metering Department.

Apprentice Meter Techs install, test, and maintain the meters that give hospitals, government agencies, schools, businesses, and individuals reliable electric service and accurate billing. Their work includes installing and maintaining single-phase and three-phase self-contained meters, installing transformer-rated metering systems (sizing instrument transformers, determining multipliers, and programming solid-state meters), field testing mechanical and electronic meters, maintaining pulse metering systems, and installing and programming multifunction meters. The job requires frequent work outdoors in inclement weather and coordination with other Georgia Power departments, customers, electrical contractors, and electrical inspectors.

The training program lasts 2 years and has 4 modules, each combining classroom training with on-the-job training and an evaluation you must pass. When you complete it, you are promoted to Meter Tech A as vacancies open, and that vacancy can be anywhere in Georgia, so candidates must be flexible about work locations. Recent postings list locations such as Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Jonesboro, Smyrna, Macon, Valdosta, Savannah, and Columbus, and they offer no relocation assistance.

Georgia Power's postings prefer a 2-year technical degree in electronics, electrical, or telecommunications, military training, or at least 4 years of related meter experience, and they require detailed knowledge of electrical theory and mechanical principles and strong math calculation skills. Candidates must be able to lift and drag equipment weighing 60 pounds or more, be available for storm duty, overtime, and out-of-town work, and hold a valid driver's license with the ability to obtain a commercial driver's license (CMV) for vehicles over 10,000 pounds.

Starting pay is set by the wage schedule in the agreement between Georgia Power and IBEW Local 84 and is not negotiable, and union membership is optional. A recent posting listed $7,120 per month ($41.07 per hour, about $85,400 a year) for all hires, regardless of prior experience or skills.

Southern Company's benefits summary lists the following, and notes that for employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement, certain benefits may not apply or may differ under the agreement:

• Health coverage includes 3 medical plan options with preventive care paid at 100%, 3 dental plan options, and spending accounts such as a Health Savings Account.
• Retirement includes a pension plan and a 401(k) to which Southern Company contributes 5.1% when you contribute 6%.
• Time off includes 80 to 200 hours of vacation per year depending on years of service, up to 12 company-paid holidays, and up to 80 hours of personal or sick time.
• Income protection includes company-paid life insurance equal to your base pay, up to $150,000.
• Career growth includes tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 per year and access to internal job postings.
• Performance pay may be available to eligible employees through the Performance Pay Program, a cash bonus tied to company and individual goals.