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Month: February 2025

SECO Energy District 3 Members Re-elect Trustee Gerald Anderson

SECO Energy members who reside in District 3 re-elected current Board of Trustees President Gerald Anderson to represent them on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees for another three years. The meeting was held on February 5 at Savannah Center of The Villages, located within the District.  

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative operated for and owned by its members. Its service area is geographically divided into nine Districts, with one Trustee elected from each district to represent their fellow members on SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to provide governance oversight and participate in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large.

 

President Anderson and Roger Weakley both submitted a letter of intent to run for the District 3 Trustee position. SECO’s Bylaws currently require that the cooperative hold District Meetings, and the Florida Statute mandates in-person elections. To encourage participation and enhance convenience, a drive-thru voting option was available for members.

 

A SECO member since 2013, President Anderson was first elected to SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees in 2019. In 2021, he earned the Director Gold Credential from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the highest Trustee accreditation from the NRECA. He formerely served as both Board Secretary-Treasurer and Vice President before being elected as SECO Energy Board President in 2022. Mr. Anderson lives in The Villages. 

 

Trustee Anderson thanked his District 3 constituents for their attendance at the District Meeting and their vote of confidence. “I’m honored to be re-elected to the SECO Board,” he stated. “We’re entering a period of significant growth and development, and I’m committed to ensuring we navigate these opportunities effectively. I value the trust placed in me by the District 3 members and am enthusiastic about the work ahead.” 

 

CEO Curtis Wynn expressed his gratitude to the District 3 members for their impressive turnout at the meeting. He also acknowledged the two candidates who demonstrated a commitment to serving their community through SECO Energy Board service. “The Executive Leadership Team and I value Mr. Anderson’s contributions as District 3 Trustee and as Board President since 2022. I have worked with, or for, hundreds of Board members, President Anderson is one of the most hardworking board members I have had the pleasure to serve with. Congratulations, President Anderson on your re-election,” Wynn stated. “We look forward to continued collaboration with him and the Board to ensure SECO Energy’s ongoing success.” 

 

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter for prize drawings, news releases, and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Manage your outage notification preferences at StormCenter. To see when SECO Energy crews/contractors are working in your area, visit our new System Improvement Map. To learn more about SECO Energy as a not-for-profit cooperative, visit About SECO Energy.

January 2025 Sunshine State Stats

In January 2025, the monthly average temperature fell by 9 degrees from December, and the total rainfall was just .51 inches. 

 

The average temperature in January was 53 degrees, which is 7 degrees cooler than the typical average. The average high for the month reached 65 degrees, also 7 degrees lower than the average high in December. Similarly, the average low temperature fell to 44 degrees, 8 degrees lower than in December. 

 

The highest temperature of the month was 81 degrees on the last day of January, and the lowest was 34 degrees on January 25th. 

 

January 2025 weather stats

 

The January 2025 rainfall of just over one-half inch was well below the January average of 3.12 inches and 1.5 inches below the December 2024 total. Measurable rainfall occurred on six days, with only three days experiencing more than .1 inch of rain. 

 

Thunderstorm activity within a 20-mile radius of Leesburg International Airport occurred on just one day: January 19, during which a total of 64 cloud-to-ground strikes were recorded. The image below shows the location of the strikes as documented by WeatherSentry within the 20-mile radius of Leesburg International Airport (KLEE).

 

 

Lightning Archive Report – 20-mile radius from Leesburg International Airport (KLEE)

 

Cloud to Ground Lightning – January 19, 2025 

Data and charts provided by weathersentry.dtn.com

 

 

February Forecast from The Old Farmer’s Almanac:

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts that February in Central Florida will bring a mix of cool temperatures, rain, and sunshine. The month starts off with rainy periods and cool weather from February 1-12, so keeping an umbrella and a light jacket handy will be a good idea. From February 13-16, conditions will improve with sunnier skies and milder temperatures, making for pleasant outdoor activities. Between February 17-23, expect mostly sunny weather at first, followed by heavy rain and a noticeable drop in temperatures. The month will close out with sunshine from February 24-28, but very cold conditions will settle in before gradually warming up again. Overall, temperatures will average 59°F, about 3° below normal, while precipitation is expected to total 2.5 inches, with drier-than-usual conditions in the north and wetter conditions in the south. Expect a cooler-than-average February with a mix of sun, rain, and occasional cold snaps. 

 

SECO Smart Connect Program: A New Way to Save on Your Electric Bill

Thousands have already enrolled—and there’s still room for you to help reduce the impact on the electric grid during times of peak energy usage and save money, too! 

 

Review our new SECO Smart Connect Program – this is an opportunity for members to receive bill credits for allowing SECO Energy to make brief changes to the settings on residential devices during times of peak energy demand. Residential members who enroll in the SECO Smart Connect Program will receive enrollment and seasonal incentives via bill credits based on the type of device(s) enrolled. Learn more and enroll here.

 

Protect Your Appliances

Power surges are sudden, powerful increases in voltage that can damage or destroy household appliances and electronics. SECO Energy’s Surge Mitigator™ program offers a meter-based surge arrester designed to protect large appliances, such as motors and compressors, by reducing surges at the meter before they enter your home. Members can lease or purchase the Surge MitiGator surge protection program by completing a contact form.  

SECO Energy District 1 Members Re-elect Trustee Scott Boyatt

SECO Energy members who reside in District 1 re-elected Scott Boyatt to represent them on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. The meeting was held on January 28 at the First Baptist Church of Clermont, located within the District. 

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative operated for and owned by its members. Its service area is geographically divided into nine Districts, with one Trustee elected from each district to represent their fellow members on SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to provide governance oversight and participate in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large. 

 

Trustee Boyatt and William Petersen both submitted letters of intent to run for the District 1 Trustee position. SECO’s Bylaws currently require that the cooperative hold District Meetings, and the Florida Statute mandates in-person elections. To encourage participation and enhance convenience, a drive-thru voting option was available for members. 

 

A SECO member since 2004, Mr. Boyatt was first elected to SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees in 2013. In 2019, he earned the Director Gold Credential from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the highest Trustee accreditation from the NRECA. He has also served as the Board’s Vice President since 2022. Mr. Boyatt lives in Clermont. 

 

Trustee Boyatt is proud to represent his fellow District 1 neighbors. He stated, “Thank you to the kind SECO members of District 1 who attended the District Meeting and for their vote of confidence in re-electing me to the SECO Board of Trustees. We are at a critical juncture regarding both member growth and the expansion of our facilities, and I am focused on guiding our progress during this exciting period. I am honored to serve as both the District 1 Trustee and Board Vice President, and I look forward to the next three years of continued improvement and member satisfaction.” 

 

Board President Gerald Anderson congratulated Mr. Boyatt on his successful re-election as District 1 Trustee. He recognized the significant contributions of the District 1 members who attended the meeting and engaged in the cooperative’s democratic process. “We on the Board are pleased to support SECO Energy’s Mission and Vision through our service,” he said, adding, “Serving alongside Mr. Boyatt has been a pleasure.” 

 

Curtis Wynn, CEO, stated, “Thank you to the District 1 members who attended the meeting, where we saw what could easily be record numbers. We are incredibly grateful to have had two candidates demonstrate their interest in serving the community through SECO Energy Board service. The Executive Leadership Team and I appreciate Mr. Boyatt’s willingness to serve his District 1 neighbors and the entire SECO membership. I congratulate him on his re-election and look forward to collaborating with him and the Board for continued success at SECO Energy.” 

 

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter for prize drawings, news updates, and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service area. Manage your outage notification preferences at StormCenter. To find out when SECO Energy crews or contractors are working in your area, check out our new System Improvement Map. To learn more about SECO Energy as a not-for-profit cooperative, visit the About SECO Energy page. 

SECO News February-March 2025

Wynn's Wire

Strengthening Rural Communities

 

DEAR MEMBER,

 

The United Nations has proclaimed 2025 the “International Year of Cooperatives,” recognizing how cooperatives support local economies and community development. Guided by the principle of Concern for Community, SECO Energy focuses on improving the lives of our members across Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter Counties.

 

This past year, SECO Energy explored community solar and microgrids to improve energy resilience and sustainability, particularly in rural areas. We held a series of meetings with local officials and key community leaders to identify ways to enhance life in Central Florida, resulting in the formation of a committee to address community needs and plan future projects that will directly benefit our rural communities.

 

As your trusted community partner, we’ve begun replacing older high-pressure sodium (HPS) area lights with LED communal lighting to improve energy efficiency and safety. At the same time, we’ve continued to convert overhead power lines to underground construction that helps reduce weather-related disruptions in electric service. We have completed system improvement projects across the service area, including new substations and upgrades that increase capacity at some of our existing substations. Our Expansion and Improvement Plan continues to move forward to ensure services remain reliable and sustainable to meet the ever-increasing demand for safe and affordable energy.

 

Through educational opportunities and community programs like Youth Tour and scholarships for high school students, we hope to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in the energy industry, contributing to a future of safe, efficient, and innovative energy solutions to strengthen our communities.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

CURTIS WYNN

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

SECO Energy completed its annual member-wide customer satisfaction survey, where over 1,200 members were asked to participate. The member responses were sent to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®), a company that measures customer satisfaction across multiple industries throughout the entire United States. For 2024, SECO Energy received an ACSI score of 91 on a 100-point scale.[1]

 

SECO Energy’s score is higher when compared to publicly measured investor-owned utility scores and municipal utility scores reported in the syndicated 2024 ACSI Energy Utility Study and places SECO Energy 17 points higher than the average investor-owned utility score of 74, as well as 16 points higher than the average municipal utility score of 75, per the industry ratings.

 

ACSI® is one of the oldest and most highly regarded industry satisfaction studies which publishes annual customer satisfaction results for approximately 400 companies across about 40 industries and 10 economic sectors based on roughly 200,000 customer interviews.

 

For more information, please visit theacsi.org/industries/energy-utilities/

 

[1] Compared to publicly measured energy utilities in the ACSI® survey of customers rating their own energy utility. Results based on data provided by SECO Energy, collected between December 2 and 9, 2024. ACSI did not regulate the survey administration or sample size. ACSI and its logo are registered trademarks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. For more about the ACSI, visit www.theacsi.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECO Energy is pleased to announce the following students have been selected as this year’s Tallahassee Youth Tour Delegates:

 

  • Ryan Allen, Eustis
  • Thomas Astacio, Dunnellon
  • Lillian Brogan, Fruitland Park
  • Allister Clarke, Lake Panasoffkee
  • Molly Flynn, Clermont
  • Ranaijha Hepburn, Ocala
  • Sariah King, Bushnell
  • Kaiming Lei, Middleton
  • Jayley Lewis, Bushnell
  • Bella Maurice, Belleview

Please join us in congratulating these students as they embark on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a leadership conference in Tallahassee, where they will tour Florida’s capital, learn about the Cooperative Business Model, and meet local representatives.

 

 

 

 

The SECO Energy Foundation is dedicated to uplifting and strengthening communities in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter Counties to improve quality of life. Through grants and partnerships, the Foundation supports a wide variety of local nonprofits.

 

SECO Energy members who round up their monthly utility bills are making a meaningful difference in our local communities, and we are grateful for your support. See how those small contributions are making a big impact:

 

OVERVIEW OF FOUNDATION FUNDING FOR 2024

STEM Projects – $50,000

Environmental Projects – $10,000

Energy-Related Projects – $40,000

Veterans Initiatives – $105,000

Public Safety and Education Programs – $75,000

Health/Human Services – $365,475

 

The SECO Energy Foundation operates as a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3), and contributions are tax-deductible. To learn more about the Foundation, view awarded grants, and explore funding guidelines, visit SECOFoundation.org.

 


If you have a home office, look for opportunities to save energy in your workspace. ENERGY STAR® rated equipment consumes up to 50% less energy than standard models. Avoid phantom load by plugging equipment like computers, printers, and scanners into a power strip, then turning the power strip off once your workday is done. These types of equipment still use small amounts of power even when switched “off.” You can also save energy in your home office by replacing older bulbs with energy-saving LEDs.

Source: energy.gov

 

 

 

Read the full February-March SECO News.