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Day: January 10, 2022

December 2021 Sunshine State Stats

December 2021 weather brought lots of sunshine, little rain and no snow for Christmas in Central Florida. The average temperature for the month was 70 degrees, which was 4 degrees warmer than the average temp in November 2021, and a whopping 12 degrees warmer than the average temp in December 2020. The average high temperature was 80 degrees while the average low was 59.

 

 

The highest daily recorded temperature in December was 85 degrees and the lowest was 45 – both the highest and lowest recorded temps were the same as November 2021. Rainfall decreased this month to 1.86 inches and is below December’s average of 3.19 inches.

 

In December 2021, 18 days of the month the daily hig temperature reached 80 degrees or over. Evenings and mornings were cool with lows that averaged in the 50s and 60s with some extremes into the 40s.

 

Members may notice their energy usage for December 2021 increase from November 2021 if the warmer daily temps and cooler night and mornings had you running both cooling and heating during the month. Daily temperature fluctuations, along with Florida’s humidity mean HVACs will run for longer periods of time and more frequently to keep temperatures stable inside the home. Wide daily temperature fluctuations also increase HVAC usage. In December 2021, the largest daily temperature fluctuation was 29 degrees.

 

January forecast:

 

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts winter in Florida will be colder than usual. Prepare for cold or freezing temperatures in January and into early February. Precipitation will also be above average.

 

With temperatures running colder than average, your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) unit may run longer and more frequently this year than in previous years. Now is the time to schedule an HVAC service call with a licensed technician. Read December 2021 SECO News to learn more about scheduling a winter HVAC service.

 

For January 2021, The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts the temperature will average 55 degrees for the month, which is 5 degrees below average. Precipitation is forecast to be 2.5 inches for the month, which is average. 3 inches above average. Look for the month to start off warm with daily highs in the low 80s. A cold front in the second week of January brings temperatures down. Lows will dip into the 50s and 40s.

 

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 Offers Scholarships for Energy Industry Students

SECO Energy is offering a total of $36,000 in scholarships for students interested in pursuing a career in the energy industry. At a recent Board of Trustees’ meeting, SECO’s Board approved the 2022 SECO Scholarship Program for up to 12 recipients to receive a $3,000 scholarship each. Scholarship winners may also be eligible for ongoing financial support from SECO Energy throughout their studies.

 

The scholarship program is open to high school seniors who are graduating in May/June 2022. Applicants must live in a home served by SECO Energy and plan to pursue a career in the energy industry. Awardees must also be enrolled full-time by the end of 2022 in a vocational/technical school or accredited college/university located in Florida. Qualifying certifications or degrees are in technology, engineering, math or business.

 

SECO Energy is hiring and wants to connect with students who are potential employees through its Scholarship Program. According to the 2021 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), Florida currently employs 113,766 traditional energy workers statewide. The number of traditional energy jobs in Florida has declined by 9% from 2020. Much of the decline can be attributed to the high number of energy industry workers who have reached retirement age. SECO Energy must recruit a steady stream of applicants to fill both replacement and new positions in a growing industry.

 

CEO Curtis Wynn encourages students to pursue a career in the energy industry. Wynn stated, “SECO’s Scholarship Program is a recruiting tool that helps us attract local students entering the energy field. The energy industry and SECO Energy are hiring bright, career-minded individuals for positions that offer competitive wages. We hope to engage with students who want hands-on experience through paid-internship opportunities, our apprenticeship program or as a new employee on one of our dynamic teams.”

 

Wynn continued, “As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO Energy prioritizes community support, environmental stewardship, corporate citizenship and sustainability. SECO provides employees with a pension plan which is a hard-to-find benefit and a robust 401k match. We offer a high-quality, low-cost medical plan, along with dental and vision coverage. With a generous paid-time-off program, student loan reimbursement and employment referral program, SECO is an essential employer that offers internal advancement opportunities in growing fields like electric vehicle charging and solar energy.”

 

Scholarship applications are available online beginning January 3, 2022. Paper applications are available at SECO’s five Member Service Centers located in Eustis, Groveland, Inverness, Ocala and Sumterville. Completed applications must be received by SECO Energy no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022.

 

Ready to apply for employment today? Visit Careers at SECOEnergy.com to view open positions and set notifications for new postings. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.