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Month: October 2020

SECO Energy Employees Praised for Hurricane Sally Restoration Assistance

In mid-September when Hurricane Sally left thousands of Florida Panhandle residents without power, SECO Energy answered Escambia River Electric Cooperative’s (EREC) call for assistance. On September 17, thirteen SECO employees departed in a caravan of trucks bound for EREC’s service area to aid in power restoration.

 

After five days of repairing damage and restoring members’ service, SECO Energy employees were released and safely returned home. The damage was extensive with 95 percent of EREC members out of service once Hurricane Sally exited the area. Crews from EREC, SECO and nearby cooperatives repaired transmission lines, substations and individual residential and commercial services.

 

EREC’s CEO Ryan Campbell reached out personally to SECO Energy CEO Jim Duncan to express his gratitude for the dedicated, highly trained professionals who volunteered to travel to the Panhandle to assist with hurricane restoration. CEO Campbell states, “Our call for help was answered with manpower that rose to the challenge and succeeded through teamwork and perseverance. There is no better example of cooperation among cooperatives. Again, we send our heartfelt gratitude to you and your outstanding crews for their assistance during this challenging time.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan appreciates the gratitude from EREC and the hard work of the employees who traveled to the Panhandle. Duncan stated, “SECO Energy is proud and honored to answer the call for help from a fellow cooperative. Our employees are the best in the business and we’re thankful for their selfless volunteer spirit and their safe return home.”

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Sunshine State Stats September 2020

The hot summer temperatures continued through most of September 2020 with 17 days of the month reaching over 90 degrees. The average high was 90 degrees and the average low was 74. The highest recorded temperature of the month was 95 while the lowest recorded was 62 degrees. The average temperature was 82 degrees, a little bit lower than the average temperature of 83.4 degrees in September 2019.

 

September 2020 Sunshine State Stats temps

 

A late-September cold snap teased Central Floridians that fall-like temperatures are on the way. The last day of the month, the high temperature was a lovely 79 degrees with a low of 62 degrees. Rainfall was higher at 5.53 inches compared to only 2.1 inches last September.

 

The tropics were especially active with ten named storms churning in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico during September. Thus far in Central Florida, we are largely unaffected by tropical storms or hurricanes this season. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is still an active one. Keep your hurricane supplies stocked and ready in case a late-season storm heads our way.

 

October forecast:

 

The October forecast shows slightly cooler weather for Central Florida with highs in the low to mid 80s. Early morning and evening temperatures will be in the mid-70s to low-60s. It looks like we may have a rainy October that will usher in a cooler November.

 

Before winter temperatures arrive, consider scheduling an HVAC tune-up. Regular maintenance helps your unit run more efficiently and can diagnose small problems before they become bigger problems.

 

To check historical usage, log into SmartHub to view past bills and consumption charts. If your usage is high, SECO offers several energy-efficiency tools to help you identify energy wasters. Take the Home Energy Assessment to receive a detailed email tailored to your home’s features and lifestyle. The energy-saving advice will provide low-cost ways to decrease your usage – and your electric bill.

 

To easily calculate how much energy your appliances, lighting, electronic devices, and other energy-using items in your home consume, use the Energy Estimator.

SECO Energy Member Service Centers Reopening October 5

SECO Energy is reopening its five Member Service Centers to walk-in traffic on Monday, October 5. To promote the health and wellbeing of SECO members, employees and contractors, SECO encourages visitors who enter a Service Center to wear a face mask.

 

For members who want to continue limiting face-to-face interactions, all SECO Member Service Centers are equipped with an outside automated kiosk that is available for bill payment 24/7. Drive-thru service is available as well. The drive-thrus in Eustis, Inverness, Ocala and Sumterville will operate 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The drive-thru and lobby in Groveland is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Lobby Hours in Eustis, Inverness, Ocala and Sumterville are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

The cooperative offers members 12 ways to pay bills, and most avoid face-to-face contact. Members can pay online, by phone, by mail, enroll in bank draft and more. SECO’s online account platform called SmartHub is the place to start for convenient self-serve options. Log in or create an account profile today. View past bills, usage history, request a payment arrangement and more.

 

The cooperative will continue to limit member and employee contact in the field. SECO field personnel are practicing the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended social distancing standard of maintaining a six-foot barrier with members, contractors and vendors. Employees and members are asked to use email, phone and web conferencing communication in lieu of in-person meetings whenever possible and to practice social distancing when in-person meetings are unavoidable.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “On Friday, September 25, Governor DeSantis announced that Re-opening Florida would enter into Phase 3 of the plan. This Phase allows most businesses to begin operating under pre-COVID-19 parameters with social distancing measures in place. While SECO looks forward to welcoming members back into our Member Service Centers, we will continue our adherence to CDC-recommended social distancing guidelines. We ask members, employees, contractors and vendors to wear a face mask while on SECO property or during face-to-face interactions when social distancing is not possible.”

 

Duncan continued, “While we are happy that Florida is re-opening and we are entering the end of the COVID-19 shutdown, some of our cooperative’s members are still struggling. Members who donate monthly to SECO’s Pennies from Heaven program have helped us provide funding for member bill payment assistance and local food banks during this pandemic. I am grateful for our Pennies from Heaven members’ generosity and support.”

 

SECO’s Pennies from Heaven program contributes funds every quarter to local United Way organizations and social service agencies. Members who have been economically affected by the COVID-19 shutdown and are unable to pay their electric bills are urged to seek bill payment assistance. Call or text 2-1-1 or visit their website at www.211.org. To find a social service agency, use SECO’s online interactive map. Members can simply input their address and search for an agency in their county of residence.

 

SECO members who enroll in the Pennies from Heaven program agree to round up their monthly bills to the next dollar. The extra change funds the Pennies from Heaven program. The donated pennies can be used to fund local, worthy causes and to provide bill payment assistance to fellow members. The funds are used locally within SECO’s service area. SECO employees also support the Pennies from Heaven program through internal fundraising efforts and personal donations.

 

If you’d prefer to write a check, please send it to SECO Energy, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585.

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Lowers Members’ Bills October 1

SECO Energy is once again lowering the cost of electric service. The not-for-profit electric cooperative will apply a higher member-favorable Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) to members’ bills beginning October 1, 2020. The PCA calculation appears on monthly statements as a line item titled “Hot Bucks.”

 

Since January 1, 2020, SECO’s rate for the first 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) consumed has been $116.90. The reduction on October 1 will lower the amount by $4.50 per 1,000 kWh to $112.40 or approximately 4%. Between January 1, 2014, and October 1, 2020, the price for $1,000 kWh of electricity has decreased by $15.35 or 12%.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Providing affordable electric service is a high priority for a not-for-profit electric cooperative like SECO Energy. Going back to January 2014, the rate for 1,000 kWh was $127.75. We applied several member-favorable PCA adjustments since early 2014 to correspond with fuel cost decreases.”

 

SECO’s PCA factor fluctuates based on the amount the cooperative pays for power purchased from its wholesale power provider Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. SECO works closely with Seminole to ensure the lowest rates possible for members. When the wholesale cost of purchased power decreases, SECO passes those savings along to members.

 

Duncan added, “Since 2014, there were times when fuel costs rose and SECO adjusted the PCA to reflect the increase. For the most part, the PCA adjustments SECO has made have consistently lowered members’ bills.”

 

SECO also encourages members to use electricity efficiently and reduce their energy consumption. Visit our Energy Efficiency page to complete the Home Energy Assessment for an online energy audit. Try the Energy Estimator to calculate the energy use and costs associated for everyday electronics, appliances, lighting and more.

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases, cooperative updates and for weather information and updates affecting SECO’s service area.

Florida Fauna & Flora – Eastern Coral Snake

 

Florida Fauna & Flora – Eastern Coral Snake

 

The extremely venomous eastern coral snake is found throughout Florida. Coral snakes should not be confused with the non-venomous scarlet king and scarlet snakes. These three snakes look similar but knowing the difference could save your life.

 

Eastern coral snakes have wide black and red bands separated by slender bands of yellow on their bodies. Remember the old saying, “If red touches yellow, kill a fellow.” Coral snakes grow to less than three feet in length. Its nose is black, and the head is narrow and unlike a pit viper’s triangular-shaped head. Coral snakes have short, fixed
fangs and a small mouth.

 

This snake spends much of its time in rotting logs, brush piles and decaying vegetation. It feeds on lizards, frogs, other snakes and small animals. Coral snakes are related to other deadly snakes including cobras, mambas and sea snakes. This snake does not strike – it chews into flesh to bite and release venom.

 

Coral snake bites to humans are rare – most bites happen when they’re stepped on or picked up. Nowadays with the availability of antivenin, coral snake bites are rarely fatal, but if bitten, seek medical treatment at once.

 

Read the full October 2020 SECO News online.