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Month: February 2022

SECO Energy Scores 91 in 2021 American Customer Satisfaction Index

SECO Energy has scored an impressive 91 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) for 2021. SECO’s 91 score was measured as part of the not-for-profit electric cooperative’s member satisfaction survey and calculated by ACSI. SECO has scored a 91 in the ACSI for two years in a row.

 

The American Customer Satisfaction Index provides a one-of-a-kind, cross-industry measurement of customer satisfaction in the United States. Each year, the ACSI uses data from interviews with roughly 300,000 customers as inputs to an econometric model for analyzing customer satisfaction with more than 400 companies in 46 industries and 10 economic sectors. ACSI data has proven to be strongly related to several essential micro and macroeconomic performance indicators.

 

At the end of 2021, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) conducted the membership survey on SECO Energy’s behalf, including the ACSI metrics. The NRECA contacted a member sampling by email to ask about their unique experience with the cooperative. Members rated SECO with an impressive ACSI score of 91, maintaining its high score for two years.

 

SECO Energy’s ACSI score is impressive when compared to average ACSI scores in the Energy Utilities Sector. The average ACSI score for energy utilities as an industry ties its 2020 score at 72. Nationally, cooperative utilities averaged 73 in 2021 – the same as 2020. Investor-owned utilities averaged 72 while municipal utilities averaged 71.

 

CEO Curtis Wynn is proud of SECO’s continued high customer satisfaction scores. Wynn stated, “We are honored to learn that SECO Energy members surveyed by the ACSI rated SECO with a customer satisfaction score of 91. Our score of 91 shows that SECO is both a state and national frontrunner when compared to investor-owned and municipal utilities as well as our cooperative peers. On behalf of our 400+ employees who strive to provide exceptional customer satisfaction every day, we thank the members who rated us highly.”

 

SECO Energy has received national attention and three J.D. Power trophies for its exceptional customer satisfaction rankings. In the 2015 J.D. Power study, SECO Energy was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Midsize Utilities in the South.” And in 2016 and 2017, SECO was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Cooperatives.”

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

SECO Energy District 3 Members Re-elect Gerald Anderson as Trustee

SECO Energy members who reside in District 3 re-elected Gerald Anderson as the District 3 Trustee on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. The meeting was held in the District on Tuesday, February 8, at the Savannah Center in Sumter County for the purpose of electing a Trustee to represent District 3 on SECO’s Board of Trustees.

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO’s service area is geographically divided into nine Districts. One Trustee is elected from each of the nine Districts to represent their fellow members on SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large.

 

Along with Gerald Anderson, Hamilton McLean of The Villages submitted a letter of intent to run for Trustee. SECO’s Bylaws currently require that the cooperative hold District Meetings. Subsequently, Florida Statute requires SECO to hold in-person elections; therefore, the cooperative continues to hold District Meetings as a means of electing Trustees. A drive-thru voting option was available for members for added convenience, to encourage participation, to practice social distancing and to reduce the size of the indoor meeting.

 

A SECO member since 2013, Trustee Anderson was first elected to SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees in 2019. Mr. Anderson currently serves as Board of Trustees Vice President and has completed the educational requirements from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to earn the Director Gold Credential – the highest Trustee accreditation from the NRECA.

 

Trustee Anderson is eager to continue his Board service. Mr. Anderson stated, “I want first to thank all of the District 3 members who attended the District Meeting and cast a vote. Serving on SECO’s Board of Trustees and as Vice President is an honor, and I am looking forward to continuing to serve SECO Energy’s membership as a Trustee. Thank you to all District 3 members who placed their trust in me as their District representative.”

 

Board president Richard Dennison stated, “Congratulations, Mr. Anderson, on your re-election as District 3 Trustee. On behalf of my fellow Board officers and peers, we are excited to continue working with you to ensure SECO Energy’s future success. In addition, I want to thank Mr. McLean for his willingness to serve and also thank the members who attended the District 3 Meeting and participated in the cooperative business model’s governance practices.”

 

Curtis Wynn CEO stated, “Mr. Anderson, thank you for your willingness to continue your SECO Energy Board service as District 3 Trustee, and congratulations on your successful re-election as well. I am grateful to all who participated in our not-for-profit cooperative’s democratic process. I look forward to working with you and the rest of the SECO Energy Board of Trustees.”

 

SECO Energy will post a video of the meeting later this week along with the Q&A session for member viewing.

 

To view a brief bio of SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees and a District boundaries map, visit our Board of Trustees website section. “Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

January 2022 Sunshine State Stats

January 2022 ushered in the coldest temperatures of the winter season for Central Florida. The average temperature for the month was 58 degrees, which was 12 degrees colder than last month’s average. The average high was 68 degrees while the average low was 48 degrees.

 

January 2022 Sunshine State Stats temps

 

The highest daily recorded temperature in January was 85 degrees and the lowest was 32 – the highest daily temperature was 85 in December 2021 as well, while the lowest recorded temperature was warmer at 45. January is starting with a rainfall deficit. This month rainfall measured only 1.29 inches while the average January rainfall is 3.32 inches.

 

January temperatures swung from very high to very low. Three days in the month reached over 80 degrees for the high daily temperature, while six days the low temperature dropped into the 30s.

 

With the fluctuating and extremely cold temperatures, members will likely notice their January energy usage increase from December 2021. The last weekend of January, portions of SECO’s service area experienced temps in the low 20s. To ensure electric grid stability and help conserve energy, SECO asked members to lower their thermostats to 65 degrees – 3 degrees lower than the ENERGY STAR recommended energy-efficiency heat setting. Over 8,000 members responded with photos of their thermostats to show compliance and curtailed household tasks like laundry and running the dishwasher to conserve.

 

February forecast:

 

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a colder-than-average winter in Florida. Prepare for cold or freezing temperatures into early February. Precipitation will also be above average. For February 2021, expect rain early in the month. Daily highs will stretch into the 70s with lows in the 40s.

 

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. If you didn’t schedule an HVAC tune up, now is the time before temperatures warm up for spring and summer. Read December 2021 SECO News to learn more about scheduling an HVAC service.

 

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 Members Win Prizes for Saving Energy During Cold Weather Weekend

SECO Energy prepared for colder-than-average temperatures last weekend by asking members to turn down their thermostats and save energy to preserve electric grid stability. The incentive drawing was released on Friday evening on social media, SECOEnergy.com and distributed to local media outlets. More than 50,000 members read the communications about the thermostat incentive drawing and submitted nearly 10,000 photos of their thermostats with the settings turned down to 65 degrees or less.

 

SECO’s service area experienced early morning temperatures that plunged into the low 20s in some portions of the Central Florida SECO service area and the low 30s in other parts. SECO and its wholesale power provider, Seminole Electric, Inc. (SECI), proactively took action to ensure grid stability and system reliability.

 

SECO Energy asked members to assist the cooperative with ensuring grid stability during this past weekend’s cold temperatures by lowering their thermostats to 65 degrees from Friday evening to Sunday evening. Lowering the thermostat for the duration of the event helped members save money and energy, while helping SECO and SECI preserve grid stability. ENERGY STAR recommends a setting of 68 degrees in the winter, so the three-degree adjustment was minimal. Members also helped conserve energy by lowering their water heater temperature below 120 degrees and curtailing household tasks like doing laundry and running the dishwasher.

 

The coldest temperatures blanketed the area on Sunday morning. Ocala was 22 degrees, Leesburg was 32 degrees, Clermont was 39 degrees and Inverness 27. At 8 a.m., SECO had an instantaneous load of 929MW (megawatts) and SECI’s load was 3,998MW. SECO experienced only four outages systemwide that affected 160 members. There were reports of flickering in the Marion Oaks area in Ocala but overall, the SECO Energy and Seminole electric systems held up extraordinarily well. Historically, the SECO system has experienced similar extremely cold temperatures but with higher kWh usage. It’s clear that SECO members stepped up and conserved when asked.

 

Over 8,200 members sent in photos of their thermostat set at 65 degrees in an effort to conserve energy during the cold weather event. Members who sent a photo of their thermostat set at 65 degrees during the weekend event via email, text or social media were entered to win great prizes.

 

Random drawing prize winners are:

 

• Three $500 SECO Energy bill credits: Rory Davis, Wildwood; Charles Perry, Astatula; and William Westmoreland, Inverness

 

• Three NEST Learning Thermostats: Mark Piazza, The Villages; Dawn Finney, Umatilla; and Carolyn Clement, Inverness.

 

• Three HoneyWell Wi-Fi thermostats: Victoria Pierce, Minneola; Bryce Lemke, Clermont; and Marla Feichtenbiner, Ocala

 

• Three Apple TV boxes: Yushica Vaughns Johnson, The Villages; Krystal O’Brien, Eustis; and Vicky Mikrut, Belleview

 

• Three iPad’s (9th Generation): Henry Frick, Tavares; Clint Louton, Mount Dora; and Troy Davidson, Groveland

 

CEO Curtis Wynn stated, “Thank you to members who made a critical difference for SECO Energy and Seminole in reducing our overall load during critical peak events this past weekend. We are grateful for your actions to reduce energy use by lowering your thermostat and curtailing household activities involving electric usage. You did your part to ensure statewide grid stability last weekend. By reducing energy usage during an extremely cold weather event, you also helped to keep your bill lower and save money.”

 

Learn more about saving energy on our Energy Efficiency website section and access our online tools such as the Energy Estimator, the Home Energy Assessment and the Solar Estimator. SECO employs a team of Energy Services Specialists (ESS) and operates an Energy Services help resource via email. Visit our website today about saving energy and money on your bill.

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

SECO Energy District 5 Members Elect Leslie Shannon Dean Wright As Trustee

SECO Energy members who reside in District 5 elected Leslie Shannon Dean Wright as the new Trustee on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. The meeting was held in the District on Tuesday, February 1, at Inverness Middle School in Citrus County for the purpose of electing a Trustee to represent District 5 on SECO’s Board of Trustees.

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO’s service area is geographically divided into nine Districts. One Trustee is elected from each of the nine Districts to represent their fellow members on SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large.

 

Along with Leslie Shannon Dean Wright, Troy Creel of Inverness, Dr. Karrie Markland of Lake Panasoffkee, David Rovaldi of Inverness and Lewis Smith of Inverness each submitted a letter of intent to run for Trustee in January. SECO’s Bylaws currently require that the cooperative hold District Meetings. Subsequently, Florida Statute requires SECO to hold in-person elections as the cooperative continues to hold District Meetings as a means of electing Trustees. A drive-thru voting option was available for members to practice social distancing and to reduce the size of the indoor meeting.

 

A SECO member since 2014, Mrs. Wright has spent her 30-year career in public service in adult education, law enforcement and state government. Trustee-elect Wright has served as the Northeast Regional Director with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and a Master’s Degree in Adult Education.

 

Mrs. Wright is looking forward to serving as the District 5 Trustee. Mrs. Wright stated, “Thank you to all of the members in District 5 who attended the meeting and cast a vote. Thank you for entrusting me as your District 5 representative on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. Serving as the District 5 Trustee on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees is an honor that I am looking forward to. I am excited to work with the Trustees and SECO leadership to meet the challenges of the energy industry and ensure its future success.”

 

Board president Richard Dennison stated, “Congratulations, Mrs. Wright, on your election as District 5 Trustee. On behalf of my fellow Board officers and peers, we welcome you and look forward to working with you to ensure SECO Energy’s future success. In addition, I thank the other four candidates for stepping forward with their willingness to serve.”

 

Curtis Wynn CEO stated, “Mrs. Wright, thank you for your willingness to serve as District 5 Trustee, and congratulations on your successful election. The turnout at the District 5 was amazing and in fact record breaking. I am grateful to all who participated in our not-for-profit cooperative’s democratic process. I look forward to working with you and the rest of the SECO Energy Board of Trustees.”

 

If you were unable to attend and want to watch a video of the Business Meeting, SECO Energy will post a video of the meeting along with the Q&A session later this week.

 

View a brief bio of SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees and a District boundaries map on our Board of Trustees website section. “Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

Florida Fauna & Flora – Zebra Butterfly

 

Florida Fauna & Flora – Zebra Butterfly

 

The zebra butterfly, formerly known as the zebra longwing butterfly, became Florida’s state insect in 1996. It is typically 3 to 4 inches in length with long wings that are black with thin yellow bands or stripes.

 

Zebra butterflies are found in Everglades National Park and throughout Florida. Its habitats include thickets, hardwood forests, hammocks and gardens. Most adult butterflies rely on flower nectar for food. They sip the liquid nectar using their proboscis that looks like a long, coiled straw.

 

Butterflies’ life cycle has four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult. Female butterflies lay eggs on or near a larval host plant, and within days the eggs hatch, and the larvae begin to feed on the plant. Its appetite is voracious, and it grows and sheds its skin often. The fully grown larva seeks shelter and attaches with silk under a leaf or twig. It then molts into a winged pupa before becoming an adult.

 

Fun Fauna Fact: Over 180 butterfly species live in Florida with 40 unique to the state. Florida’s butterfly species diversity is higher than any state east of the Mississippi River.

 

Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension

 

Read the full February 2022 SECO News online.

 

SECO News February 2022

 

Wynn’s Wire

 

 

Dear Members,

 

It is my distinct pleasure to be serving as your new SECO Energy CEO. My energy-industry career is rooted in Florida. From 1981 to 1997, I worked at West Florida Electric Cooperative. My tenure culminated there as Vice President of Member Services, Information Technology, Marketing and Economic Development. After that, I served as President and CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative in North Carolina.

 

My wife Selene and I have three children. I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management Information Systems from Troy University. With an electric cooperative career that spans almost 42 years, I am honored to step into the shoes of your previous CEO Jim Duncan. Furthermore, I am grateful to SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees for its confidence in me in not only preserving Mr. Duncan’s legacy of success but also supporting the cooperative through immediate and long-term challenges involving supply chain, fast-changing technology, rapidly rising labor costs and other issues that can place cost pressure on a utility and its ratepayers.

 

In Board of Trustees President Richard Dennison’s column in last month’s SECO News, he humbled me by citing much of my past board service and history. That service and other energy-efficiency and community-partner projects are accomplishments that have prepared me for a very busy future at SECO, encouraging the use of electric vehicles, embracing an advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) and increasing our philanthropic outreach to help those in our community who are less fortunate and also to create energy-efficiency opportunities that lower our wholesale cost of power and help members save energy and money on their electric bills at the same time. My list is longer – but those items are my main objectives in the first portion of my tenure at SECO.

 

I’m excited about the future here in Central Florida, working at a fast-growing, not-for-profit cooperative that focuses on competitive rates and reliable service. Technology is key to our ability to maintain that focus, and I will be using SECO News, the website and social media to communicate our plans to you. I hope you like the name of the new CEO column (Wynn’s Wire was voted as a favorite name through an employee survey). The word “wire” has many different meanings and uses in our industry, but for our purposes – it is a line of communication to ensure we are serving your needs well.

 

Contact Us on our website if you have a member-service or billing-related question. We typically respond within two business days. If you have a specific question for me as the new CEO, you can click on the Management Team website section. Just hover over my photo and select the Contact button. Transparency is essential, and I want you to know I am accessible if needed.

 

Best regards,

 

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

SECO News February 2022 Advice From The Old Farmer's Almanac

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

 

Ready to brighten up your lawn for spring and attract butterflies, too? The Old Farmer’s Almanac advises that a natural fertilizer is best and to apply before it rains. Don’t cut grass too low during the summer. Taller grass resists drought. Invest in a sprinkler timer or a rain gauge to save water. Water your lawn in the early morning or evening. Reduce mowing by planting flowers and herbs that attract butterflies instead. Flowers and plants such as aster, bee balm, daylily, honeysuckle, lilac, and snapdragon will bring color to your yard. At the same time, dill, mint, oregano, and parsley can lure butterflies to visit and add flavor in the kitchen.

 

Read this month’s Florida Fauna & Flora to learn more about Florida’s state insect, the Zebra Butterfly.

 

SECO News February 2022 MyWay Prepay Payment Fee Alert

MyWay PrePay Payment Fee Alert

 

For members enrolled in SECO Energy’s MyWay PrePay program, effective April 1, there will be a $3 fee for each transaction over five transactions in a 30-day calendar month. This fee affects only members who have a prepaid account type, and the reasoning is cost-conscious processing of payments. Members with a prepaid account are encouraged to self-manage through our online account manager SmartHub and closely watch their usage and prepaid balance.

 

The $3 fee for each transaction over five within a 30-day calendar month is applied to all payment processors that accept payment on a prepaid account. If you want to unenroll from the prepaid program, the account may be subject to a security deposit. Just reach out to us via our Customer Service email or select Contact Us on the website to start the discussion.

 

 

SECO News February 2022 Agent-Assisted Payment Arrangement Fee Alert

Agent-Assisted Payment Arrangement Fee Alert

 

On occasion, members request a payment arrangement to extend their billing due date. SECO has two automated tools (self-serve options) that make requesting an arrangement free, simple and convenient. Accounts must meet eligibility requirements.

 

By phone, call and speak to Electra, our automated IVR phone assistant. Call talkdesk3527933801 and say, “Payment Arrangement.” Electra can assist you 24/7, and there’s no need to speak to a member service rep. Also available 24/7, you can request a payment arrangement on our website. Log into SmartHub, click the Billing & Payments tab and choose the Payment Extensions option.

 

Effective April 1, there will be a $5 fee for members who request live agent assistance or an exception for repeat payment arrangements.

 

 

SECO News October 2020 EV Charger Winner!

EV Charger Winner

 

The latest SECO Energy Level 2 EV Charger winner is ARLEN COLBERT from TAVARES. To enter, text “EV” to (352) 320-4500 for a link to enter. Or click on the EV Charger Giveaway homepage banner. Visit our Electric Vehicles website section to learn more about the benefits of owning an EV.

 

 

September SECO News Safety Corner

Safety Corner – Electricity and Play Don’t Mix

 

Safety is our number one core value at SECO Energy. Electricity is naturally dangerous. Warn your children and grandchildren about the dangers of electricity inside and outside the home.

 

Indoors:

 

• Do not remove or play with outlet covers or switch plates.
• Invest in outlet plug covers in areas where young children can reach.
• Do not allow children to plug or unplug electrical cords.
• Do not allow children to use appliances such as toasters, crock pots, vacuums or hair dryers unattended.
• Repair or dispose of fraying extension cords. Children may handle and be injured.

 

Outdoors:

 

• Do not allow children to play on or near electric equipment.
• Never allow children to climb trees growing near overhead power lines. Call SECO, and we’ll inspect the trees to see if they need to be trimmed.
• Keep kites, balloons and toy planes far from overhead equipment.
• Do not enter or play near substations.

 

Protect the little ones in your life from the dangers of electricity. Children are curious and have active minds, quick legs and small hands and fingers. Learn more about how to be safe around electricity with our electrical safety tips on our website.

 

Read the full February 2022 SECO News online.