Tropical Depression #9 Upgraded to Tropical Storm Hermine

As of Wednesday afternoon, Tropical Depression #9 is upgraded. Tropical Storm Hermine’s (pronounced Her-MEAN) maximum sustained winds are 40 mph and its location is 400 miles south of Apalachicola and is moving very slowly north at 2 mph. Hermine is expected to increase in speed when turning northeast toward Florida’s west coast. The latest models,predict that Hermine could make landfall somewhere between Apalachicola and Cross City on Thursday as a weak Category 1 hurricane.

In significant storms, SECO Energy engages resources to ensure power is restored quickly and safely. SECO’s Operations crews have already been supplemented with tree trimming crews and contractors. Additional reinforcements are on standby.

SECO’s emergency restoration plan determines the system’s restoration priority of each affected feeder. Essential services such as shelters, hospitals, fire/law enforcement facilities, schools, and government agencies are the highest priority. Line repairs that will restore power to large groups of members are next, and then individual electric services in less populated areas. It’s important to understand that bucket truck maneuvers and electric line work cannot withstand winds in excess of 35 mph. Thus, SECO crews and contractors cannot begin restoration until winds subside.

Vice President of Corporate Communications & Energy Services Kathryn Gloria stated, “SECO is concerned about our members’ wellbeing. It’s critical to prepare for those rare moments when you must take cover in the dark and wait it out. As this slow-moving storm edges closer to Florida, members prepare to hunker down when the storm makes landfall on Thursday.”

Use these practical suggestions:

If using a landline, have a non-electric phone for emergencies.
Invest in and charge a battery-operated cell phone charger.
Buy a battery-powered radio and a supply of fresh batteries.
Keep flashlights and extra batteries handy.
Dig out your first aid kit and refill prescription medications.
Stock a three-day supply of bottled water.
Fill bathtubs with water to flush toilets.
Purchase canned or packaged nonperishable food.
Buy an old-fashioned crank can opener.
Review your homeowners and flood insurance.

If power is lost, turn off/unplug appliances to protect them when power is restored, to prevent electrical fires and to lessen the chances of a circuit overload when service is restored. Leave the porch light switch on so that you and the repair crews patrolling can confirm that power is restored.

If it appears that neighbors have power but you do not, check your panel for tripped breakers, as this is common. If the breakers aren’t tripped, report the outage using your smartphone or tablet through the SECO Storm Center – or call us.

If you operate a generator, run it outside in a well-ventilated area, as carbon monoxide emissions from a generator are a silent killer that you can’t see, smell or taste. Do not connect the generator directly to your main electrical panel. If installed incorrectly, generator power could flow into SECO’s electric system, causing injury or death to neighbors or crews who may be under the impression that power lines are not energized.

For more information on preparing, refer to SECO’s Emergency Checklist under the Reliability tab.

Storm Preparation & Generator Safety

Portable Generators:

During storm and hurricane season, a portable generator can come in handy if your power is interrupted, but portable generators must always be used with safety in mind. Read and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions contained in the generator operations manual.

According to the National Safety Council, www.nsc.org, generators should NEVER be used in an enclosed space – always run the generator outdoors away from windows, vents and doors. Portable generator engines emit carbon monoxide (CO) that if inhaled can be fatal to humans and pets. CO is a colorless, odorless, invisible killer. Do not attempt to use a generator when it is wet, as this poses a risk for electrocution and death.

Permanent Generators:

Are you thinking of installing a generator at your home or business for use during power interruptions? If so, heed these tips before purchasing and installing:

Installing a generator is not an average do-it-yourself project.
A qualified electrical contractor must perform the installation of the emergency generator, as well as the disconnect and transfer switchgear.
Do not attempt to connect the generator directly to your electric panel.
Always properly disconnect from SECO’s service before starting your generator.
Before use, read and follow the safety instructions contained in the generator operations manual.

Improperly installing or using a generator can lead to property damage, injuries or even death. Visit our section on generator safety to learn more.

SECO Ready for TD#9 Landfall

As of Tuesday morning, Tropical Depression #9 (TD#9) is located about 240 miles west of Key West and 200 miles west-northwest of Cuba. The National Hurricane Center is predicting TD#9 will strengthen into a tropical storm today.

TD#9 has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, and is moving west-northwest at 7 mph. The storm is expected to turn northeastward on Wednesday with a slight speed increase. Models are forecasting that TD#9 will make landfall as a tropical storm, or a weak Category 1 hurricane on Thursday afternoon or evening near the Florida Big Bend between Apalachicola and Cross City. The system will track east-northeastward, emerging off the northeast Florida coast early Friday morning.

The forecast above is based on the NHC projections for the state. Showers and thunderstorms will continue to impact SECO’s service area this week – with the greatest coverage of rain on Thursday as it travels through central and northern Florida. SECO members should see an increase in wind gusts from today through Thursday. Sustained tropical-storm-force winds may impact parts of the service territory Thursday night, especially from Inverness to Ocala northward in a 3 to 6-hour period (with higher winds if landfall is a weak Category 1 hurricane). There is a slim chance for tornadoes by Wednesday and Thursday.

SECO is Storm Ready – the cooperative has staged additional Operations and contractor personnel who are ready to respond to member concerns or service interruptions in the field quickly and safely. Our locally-based customer service staff is ready and available to respond to member inquiries in person, by phone or online. Members should ensure their smartphones/tablets are charged and report outages online through Storm Center. SECO has provided an emergency checklist for members.

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being its members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting your area. For members who rely on back-up generators during storm season, remember to read and follow all manufacturer’s safety warnings. Learn more about generator safety here.

SECO News, September 2016

Conduct a Home Energy Assessment Online

Your happiness with SECO Energy is dependent on low rates, high reliability and help managing your energy use to keep your bills low. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, we’re one of those rare companies that actually want you to use less of our product. So to help you identify energy-wasters in your home, SECO has developed an online Home Energy Assessment. By answering a short series of questions in four quick steps, you’ll input simple answers that allows SECO to send you an email – within minutes – that provides low-cost and no-cost energy-saving tools and tips to cut down on your usage – thus lowering your electric bill.

The Home Energy Assessment is easy. There’s no math to do and all you need to start is your electric bill to input your account number. Take the Home Energy Assessment today and start saving money and energy. The email you receive comes in checklist format, giving you a step-by-step path to lowering your bill.

Find the Home Energy Assessment here. If you’re not so tech savvy and rely more on pencil and paper, just give us a call and we’ll mail the assessment to you. If you’re looking for a way to save big money, visit our Facebook page for the latest trivia contest. Not only could you win a $300 bill credit, you’ll have access to real-time outage and restoration information, the latest energy-efficiency gadget news, community outreach projects and more..

Storm Ready

We are mid-way through the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season. Hopefully, Floridians will dodge the hurricane and tropical storm bullet again this year, but the month of September is often the most active of the season, so we shall see. Even though Tropical Storm Colin (the earliest third named storm in the Atlantic in recorded history) is the only tropical event that made landfall so far this year, SECO remains vigilant and Storm Ready.

SECO’s Operations employees stand ready to respond to outages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. SECO’s local customer service team is available to answer member phone calls (and emails) and assist members in one of our five convenient office locations. Members can interact with our Communications team live on social media for outage information, weather affecting our area and cooperative updates. Also, visit our Storm Preparedness to review our Emergency Preparation Checklist with your family so you can stay safe and Storm Ready!

Bill Enhancement

When you open your bill, the new graph will make it easy to track usage on a monthly basis and know if you used more or less energy the same month the previous year.

Members can also track energy usage through SmartHub, SECO’s online account management tool. Access SmartHub on your computer, tablet or smartphone to view or pay a current bill, review a previous bill, compare yearly or monthly energy use, update your mailing address or phone numbers and view SECO’s social media feeds. Visit My Account and register for SmartHub today.

Safety Corner: Top 10 Kids’ Safety Tips

Electricity is everywhere. It lights our homes, charges our phones, runs our appliances and powers our quality of life. But electricity can be dangerous. Explain to your kids how electricity works and warn them why it’s important to follow these safety tips.

Never put fingers, toys or other objects in an electrical outlet
Keep metal objects out of toasters
Never use anything with a cord or plug around water
Never pull a plug from an outlet by its cord
Stay away from substations and power lines
Never fly kites or climb trees near power lines
Never place your drinks on top of electronics
Stay away from broken or fallen power lines
Never touch big, green metal transformer boxes
Obey warning signs on power poles, substations and transformer boxes

Facebook Trivia Winners

Congratulations SECO Energy member Craig McDade of Belleview who correctly answered our three surge trivia questions on Facebook. Craig was randomly selected as our winner of the $300 bill credit. Eric Schwab from Leesburg is the winner of the Kindle Fire and Eleanor Newton, also from Leesburg, is the winner of a $25 restaurant gift card. Congratulations Craig, Eric and Eleanor!

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” us on Twitter for future chances to win. Not tech savvy? Look for the last six digits of your account number in this month’s SECO News for a chance to win a $25 restaurant gift card. Call or email us if your number appears. Good luck!

Expressions

I would just like to say thank you for the opportunity you gave me in receiving your scholarship, and for seeing something in me. With this I will have a greater chance in succeeding in everything I want to do in college, and for that I am extremely thankful. I would also like to thank all of SECO for the celebration we had with all of the winners as it was a very enjoyable time for my mom and I.

Once again thank you for everything.
Raul Bayas
Ocala, FL

I wish to express my utmost gratitude to you for choosing me as a recipient of the 2016 SECO Scholarship. By providing such an award you are furthering my academic success in the future by allowing me to focus whole-heartedly on my studies. I cannot adequately express my thanks for not only what you have done for me, but many students before and after me who would be far less likely to succeed if it weren’t for people like you.

Thank you,
Cayley Buckner
Ocala, FL

Read the full September 2016 SECO News here.

Tropical Depression #9 Tracking to Florida

National Hurricane Center has upgraded Invest 99 to Tropical Depression #9 (TD#9). As of Monday morning, the storm is currently located 25 to 35 miles northwest of Havana, Cuba and 100 miles southwest of Key West, Florida. Tropical Depression #9 is expected to track west to west-northwest and into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico through Monday.

This system is expected to strengthen and organize into a tropical storm as it moves into the warmer waters of the Gulf on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, this system is forecasted to turn northeastward and then eastward – landfall is projected in the Florida Panhandle by most models.

The forecast above is based on the NHC projections for the state. SECO’s service area specifically, will likely experience heavy rainfall, sustained winds upward of 40 mph and periods of stronger gusts, especially on Thursday and Friday. Members can expect tree-caused outages due to the wind and rain.

SECO is Storm Ready. Our locally-based customer service staff is ready and available to respond to member inquiries in person, by phone or online. SECO’s Operations leadership directs the SECO cavalry 24 hours a day, seven days a week – each truck is equipped to respond to member concerns or service interruptions in the field quickly and safely. Additional Operations personnel are staged to respond quickly this week. Members should ensure their smartphones/tablets are charged and report outages online through Storm Center.

SECO has provided an emergency checklist for members on the Storm Preparation section of our website.

INVEST UPGRADED TO TROPICAL DEPRESSION TRACKING FOR FLORIDA

At 5 p.m. on Sunday, National Hurricane Center upgraded Invest 99 to Tropical Depression #9 (TD#9). The storm is currently located in the Florida Straits between Cuba and the Keys. Wind speed is 35 mph and the storm is moving west at 9 mph. The NHC is projecting movement to the west and then a turn to the north or northeast over the next few days. The models are projecting that the storm will eventually move north and either make a hard turn into Florida or move into the Florida Panhandle. Please see the hyperlinks or the attached graphic as a reference.

The forecast above is based on the NHC projections for the state. For SECO’s service area specifically, the cooperative is estimating that a turn to the north and east may begin Tuesday, with a Thursday evening landfall in the Panhandle – but that is an estimate. Regardless of exact landfall location, SECO’s service area will likely experience 35 to 40 mph wind gusts on Thursday and Friday. Heavy rain will be possible all week and especially on Thursday and Friday. Members can expect tree-caused outages due to the wind and rain.

SECO is Storm Ready. Our locally-based customer service staff is ready and available to respond to member inquiries in person, by phone or online. SECO’s System Operations directs the SECO cavalry 24 hours a day, seven days a week – each truck is equipped to respond to member concerns or service interruptions in the field quickly and safely. Additional operations personnel are staged to respond quickly. Members should ensure their smartphones/tablets are charged and report outages online through Storm Center.

SECO has provided an emergency checklist for members here.

SUNDAY UPDATE-INVEST MODELS SHOW FL SWING

SUNDAY WEATHER UPDATE – the models have changed

This morning’s forecast and models of the system we’ve been watching show that the projected track has changed. The models are split now – some showing the system turning NW after entering the Gulf and moving across Central and Northern Florida. The NHC forecast states that gusty winds and heavy rainfall will hit South Florida and The Keys later today. The NHC warns that the central and northern Florida and the eastern Gulf areas should monitor the disturbance. A NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system this afternoon. We will send out another update after that.

SECO is Storm Ready. Our locally-based customer service staff is ready and available to respond to member inquiries in person, by phone or online. SECO’s System Operations directs the SECO cavalry 24 hours a day, seven days a week – each truck is equipped to respond to member concerns or service interruptions in the field quickly and safely. Members should ensure their smartphones/tablets are charged and report outages online through Storm Center.

SECO is urging members to always be prepared. View our emergency checklist. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being its members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting your area.

For members who rely on back-up generators during storm season, remember to read and follow all manufacturer’s safety warnings.Learn more about generator safety here.

SECO Monitoring Atlantic Storms

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the most active period in the Atlantic Hurricane season begins in mid-August and ends in mid-October. SECO Energy continues to monitor tropical depression Invest 99 and the possibility it could make landfall in Florida early next week.

As of late Thursday afternoon, tropical wave Invest 99 is an unorganized, broad area of low pressure moving westward at 15 to 20 mph through the southeastern Bahamas. Winds associated with the system have decreased to below tropical storm strength.

Spaghetti models are predicting possible landfall in southern Florida or continue into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. If conditions are favorable, the depression could strengthen and become Hurricane Hermine as early as Friday. At that point, the storm could pick up steam and make landfall again somewhere on Florida’s west coast. This system could bring heavy rain and winds to SECO’s service area early next week.

Even though it is too early to predict when and how Central Florida will be affected, SECO is urging members to make preparations in advance. SECO has provided an emergency checklist for members on our website.

Kathryn Gloria, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Energy Services stated, “It has been 11 years since Hurricane Wilma made landfall in Florida, and members may feel confident that Florida will continue to be lucky and larger storms will pass us by. Emergency supplies sell out quickly when storm watches and warnings go into effect, gather your supplies beforehand. I urge all SECO members to prepare for the possibility of increased storm activity during this peak time.”

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” us on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.

For members who rely on back-up generators during storm season, remember to read and follow all manufacturer’s safety warnings. Visit our website to learn more about generator safety.

Hackers, scammers and thieves – at your door

In today’s fast-paced world of hackers, scammers and thieves, SECO Energy members must be vigilant to protect themselves, their property and their financial information. If someone calls you or comes to your door and requests access or payment, protect yourself. Hang up on the caller and above all, don’t allow an unidentified person access to your home. Call 911 if someone suspicious comes to your door without identification and a vehicle with company signage.

All SECO vehicles display prominent signage. Our fleet vehicles have refreshed branding with larger logos so you can better recognize us when we are working in your area. Our contractors display their company logos with a SECO Energy contractor signage as well. Keep in mind that SECO contractors include meter readers, surge protection installers, tree trimming crews and construction/maintenance contractors, so there are a variety of legitimate reasons for SECO to be in your area. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have a question or concern. If you feel you are in danger, immediately call 911.

Energy Efficiency Sparks for Sorrento Elementary

While summer school was still in session, SECO Energy Services Specialist Dustin Merritt introduced energy efficiency basics to students in Sorrento. As an energy efficiency expert, Dustin covered the simple ways kids can help their parents save energy at the home.

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO Energy is committed to educating the youngest members within the communities it serves about energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. SECO’s “Kids and Energy” presentation teaches elementary-age students about renewable types of energy such as solar, wind, water and biomass power. Students also learn ways they can be energy efficient at home. They test their new found knowledge with an interactive quiz at the end of the presentation and take home energy efficiency activity books, pencils and other small prizes.

Students as young as elementary age can increase energy efficiency in their homes by reminding parents to change older light bulbs to either the CFL or LED types and look for ENERGY STAR labels on light bulbs, electronics and appliances. Young children can be reminded to turn off lights in unused rooms, take shorter showers and keep doors and windows closed while the HVAC is running.

Dustin enjoys working with young students and stated, “The students I work with love this interactive presentation. Each child has their own personal “clicker” that allows them to answer the questions in the quiz. Kids this age are eager to learn and open to new ideas, this is the right age to begin teaching kids about saving energy and renewable energy. They want to be good stewards for the future. This generation will do more to be responsible with their energy consumption, to create less waste and invent new ways to become energy efficient.”

Are you interested in learning more about energy efficiency, renewable energy or electrical safety? SECO Energy offers a variety of speakers and presentations for groups of any age and size. Contact SECO to schedule a speaker and presentation. “Like” SECO Energy’s Facebook page and “follow” us on Twitter for cooperative updates and the latest news releases.

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Archive

Use these practical suggestions:

Portable Generators:

Permanent Generators:

Conduct a Home Energy Assessment Online

Storm Ready

Bill Enhancement

Safety Corner: Top 10 Kids’ Safety Tips

Facebook Trivia Winners

Expressions

Read the full September 2016 SECO News here.

NEED HELP? CALL (352) 793 -3801

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NEED HELP? CALL (352) 793 -3801

Search our website

CONNECT WITH US