Meet Scott Hoover, the lucky meter reader.

Hoover, 39, was one of 807 people who showed up at the Tacoma Dome in February to take a test to become a water and electric meter reader.

Some 1,400 people applied for the job with Tacoma Public Utilities – more than utility officials can recall applying for previous openings. In 2007, the last time TPU tested for the position, 500 were invited to take the test and 300 showed up.

Hoover had a bit of a leg up on the competition: He went through the 2007 testing, and had been a temporary meter reader for 10 months.

Even so, the University Place man was a little concerned when he arrived at the Dome and saw the line of people.

“I thought the competition was going to be fierce,” said Hoover, a soft-spoken husband and father of two teens and an adult step-daughter.

Utility officials reviewed the test scores and invited 27 people to interview.

When they offered him the job, Hoover said his mouth dropped open in disbelief.

He started working as a full-time meter reader April 4.

“I love the job,” Hoover said. “It’s great to be out there to interact with the public, and see hidden spots.”

A day in the life of a meter reader can mean walking anywhere between five and 14 miles through parts of town one might never see otherwise.

Meter readers look at both electric and water meters, and record data into a hand-held device.

It also means interacting with dogs. Hoover carries dog treats and pepper spray, though he says he hasn’t had to use the latter.

“I’ve given out quite a few biscuits,” he said.

The hourly pay range for the job is $17.76 to $23.56, which partly explains the huge interest. It also comes with city benefits, something that Hoover said appealed to him. His previous job as a contractor did not include benefits.

In addition to Hoover, TPU hired five temporary meter readers for the summer, said Mike Sorum, customer services supervisor.

Roberta Peters, a human resources analyst for TPU, said it was difficult to hire just one full-time worker.

Some of the reader comments on news stories about the huge turnout at the Dome were critical of TPU officials for the cattle-call hiring process.

“If anyone thinks we did this for fun or we didn’t have compassion for people, they’re wrong,” she said.

The 2007 test list expired in November, requiring the new test. Sorum said the latest test list will be good for two years.

“We should be able to find some good people for some time,” he said.

Hoover is happy they found him when they did.

“It’s a big load off my mind to be able to provide for my family,” he said. “I tried not to get my hopes up, but I hoped. I knew there were a lot of qualified people for the job.”

Jason Hagey: 253-597-8542

jason.hagey@thenewstribune.com