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SECO Energy Corporate Communications Wins National Spotlight on Excellence Award

SECO Energy Multimedia Supervisor Bryan Wooley, Director of Corporate Communications Amanda Richardson and CEO Curtis Wynn

SECO Energy is proud to announce that its corporate communications team has earned national recognition by winning Gold in the Best Social Media Post – Classification 3 (for distribution cooperatives with more than 65,000 meters) category at the 2025 Spotlight on Excellence Awards. Presented by the Council of Rural Electric Communicators and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, this prestigious award celebrates top-tier communication excellence among electric cooperatives nationwide. 

 

The award-winning social media post featured a powerful video message from SECO Energy Chief Executive Officer Curtis Wynn. Released in the critical hours ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall, the message urged members to prepare for the storm and highlighted SECO’s comprehensive readiness efforts. The video project, led by Director of Corporate Communications Amanda Richardson and Multimedia Supervisor Bryan Wooley, received praise for its clarity, urgency, and strong commitment to member safety. 

 

“We are honored to be recognized for work that directly supports and protects our members,” said Wynn, SECO Energy CEO. “Communication is just as vital as power restoration during a potential crisis, and this award validates our team’s dedication to excellence.” 

 

Hurricane Milton struck SECO’s 2,100-square-mile service area as a powerful Category 3 storm, leaving over 100,000 members without power. Throughout the storm and the restoration process, SECO’s communications team kept members informed with timely updates through StormCenter, social media, and SECOEnergy.com. Restoration efforts were nearly complete within days, with power safely and swiftly restored to more than 99% of affected members – even in hazardous conditions. 

 

The Spotlight on Excellence Awards honors the innovation and impact of cooperative communicators. Winners, like SECO Energy, exemplify best-in-class strategies across platforms and reinforce the value of effective communication, especially during emergencies.

 

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on X (formerly 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 System Improvement Map. To learn more about SECO Energy as a not-for-profit cooperative, visit About SECO Energy.  

SECO Energy CEO Inspires LSSC Graduates with Powerful Commencement Speech

 

LSSC’s Interim President Dr. Laura Byrd presents SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn with the prestigious Lakehawk Award following his 2025 commencement address.

SECO Energy Chief Executive Officer Curtis Wynn delivered a powerful message of perseverance and purpose to the graduating class of 2025 at Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) on Friday, May 9. In his heartfelt commencement speech, Wynn urged the graduates to embrace challenges, lead with intention, and not be afraid to take that first courageous step toward their future. Following the address, Wynn was honored with the 2025 LSSC Lakehawk Award in recognition of his impactful speech.

 

In his keynote, Wynn shared his journey from humble beginnings in Graceville, Florida, to becoming the first African American CEO of an electric cooperative in the United States and a nationally recognized leader in rural innovation and energy equity.

 

Speaking to an audience of faculty, families, and graduates, Wynn reminisced on his upbringing in a home that lacked modern conveniences. He spoke of the grit of his parents, and the resilience that propelled him from washing trucks at a rural electric cooperative to testifying before Congress.

 

“You are not just graduating, you’re breaking barriers, changing legacies and opening doors that others in your family may never have imagined,” Wynn said, connecting his own path to that of the many first-generation college graduates in the audience.

 

Wynn stressed the importance of seizing opportunities, sharing his own rise from truck washer to CEO, and emphasized the critical need for a new generation to enter the energy sector workforce. He specifically pointed to the college’s lineworker training program as an example of shaping a strong, skilled future workforce.

 

Curtis Wynn, Chief Executive Officer of SECO Energy, delivers the 2025 commencement address at Lake-Sumter State College’s Leesburg campus graduation ceremony.

SECO Energy is proud to partner with Lake-Sumter State College to power possibilities — for our students, for our communities, and for our future workforce,” said Wynn. “There are thousands of high-paying, purpose-driven careers in the energy industry waiting for graduates just like you.”

 

In his closing message to the class of 2025, Wynn urged them to lead with purpose. “Your background does not define your future — your perseverance does.” The speech was met with enthusiastic applause, confirming SECO Energy’s commitment to community, education, and economic opportunity across Central Florida.

 

As SECO Energy continues to invest in workforce development, SECO Energy encourages local students to consider careers in the energy industry. To learn more about career opportunities, visit SECOEnergy.com> Your Co-Op > Careers.

SECO News May 2025

Wynn's Wire

 

Reliability Through Strong Partnerships

 

DEAR MEMBER,

 

At SECO Energy, we’re proud to serve over 250,000 homes and businesses across Central Florida with reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity. But did you know that the electricity flowing through SECO’s lines begins its journey at a partner cooperative that we help govern and support? 

 

That partner is Seminole Electric Cooperative, one of the largest generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives in the nation. SECO Energy is one of nine member-owner cooperatives of Seminole. This means we don’t just buy power from Seminole — we’re part owners. We help guide their strategy, invest in their future, and work together to ensure our members receive safe, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible energy. 

 

How does it all work? Seminole generates electricity using a diverse portfolio of resources, including natural gas, coal, renewable energy, and purchased power. From its state-of-the-art Seminole Generating Station in Palatka to renewable solar partnerships across the state, Seminole plays a critical role in balancing reliability with environmental stewardship. Once that power is generated, Seminole ensures that it is transmitted to SECO’s substations, where we take over and deliver it directly to your home or business. 

 

This partnership is more than a business arrangement — it’s a cooperative bond built on shared values and a common mission to serve our members. Having a strong, transparent relationship with Seminole Electric Cooperative ensures that SECO has a voice in major energy decisions, access to long-term, affordable power supply contracts, and the ability to plan effectively for the future as energy technologies and consumer needs continue to evolve. 

 

Thanks in part to this reliable supply of power and the strength of our local distribution system, SECO Energy has earned industry-leading reliability scores year after year. We consistently outperform national benchmarks in key reliability metrics like System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI), System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) — meaning SECO members experience fewer outages and shorter durations when outages do occur. And when the lights go out, our crews respond with unmatched speed and professionalism to restore power quickly and safely. 

 

Thank you for trusting SECO Energy to power your homes, your businesses, and your lives. We don’t take your trust for granted — and we will continue to work with great partners like Seminole Electric Cooperative to keep the power flowing, the lights on, and our service strong. 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

CURTIS WYNN

Chief Executive Officer

 


 

 

May is National Electrical Safety Month. Safety is SECO’s top core value, and members and communities are encouraged to work and play safely around electricity. Seniors and children are at greatest risk of suffering injury or death from a home electrical fire, making awareness and prevention especially important.

 

Electrical energy is inherently dangerous. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (EFSI), over 51,000 homes are damaged or destroyed due to electrical fires each year and cause over 500 deaths and 1,400 injuries, along with $1.3 billion in property damage.

 

Knowing the basics of your home’s electrical system is one of the best ways to prevent electrical fires. Outdated wiring and overloaded circuits – especially common in older homes – are among the leading causes of electrical fires. Warning signs may include flickering lights, frequently tripped breakers, and a burning smell near outlets or switches. These could indicate that your home’s electrical wiring and outlets may need to be updated.

 

If you suspect your home’s wiring needs an update, hire a licensed and insured electrician. Electrical repairs are not a DIY project. A professional can safely inspect your system and, if needed, add outlets or upgrade your electrical panel to reduce the risk of overloaded circuits.

 

Stay safe around utility equipment. Never touch or play around utility equipment such as padmount transformers (big green electric boxes) or overhead power lines. If you see a power line on the ground, stay away; it may still be energized and dangerous. Touching power lines can kill you. After a storm, be alert for fallen wires – call 911 to report these immediately.

 

Vehicle crashes involving power poles can result in energized lines near the accident. If it’s safe, remain in the vehicle until first responders confirm it’s clear to exit.

 


 

 

A recent comprehensive cost-of-service study – which included a routine analysis of plant facilities, expenses, financial forecast, and revenue requirement – found that the current rate structure needs to be updated to align with SECO’s growing membership and rising operational expenses. As a result, effective May 1, residential kilowatt hour (kWh) rates will increase by an average of 9.17%. On October 1, the second phase of the area light pole rental fee adjustment will take effect. This will impact members affiliated with a homeowners’ association (HOA) or property owners’ association (POA), developers, and city and county governments. The second phase of the pole rental fee increase has been reduced following an updated cost analysis and operational changes.

 

For details, visit SECOEnergy.com/Newsroom.

 


 

 

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025! SECO Energy is funding $36,000 in scholarships to 12 local high school seniors to help them begin their journey as they pursue higher education.

SECO Energy’s 2025 Youth Scholarship Awardees are:

 

Cayman Azis, Celebration High School – Marine Biology and Ecology

 

Abigail Colon, West Port High School – Animal Science

 

Cedrick Gener, Citrus High School – Electrical Engineering

 

Maria Leon-Salazar, Real Life Christian Academy – Mechanical Engineering

 

Suhani Nihalani, Vanguard High School – Biomedical Engineering

 

Isabelle Raistrick, West Port High School – Nursing

 

Charles Randall, Foundation Academy – Nuclear Engineering

 

Peyton Ressler, The Villages Charter High School – Political Science

 

Jonathan Rodriguez, Lake County Home School – Mechanical Engineering

 

Mittie Thomas-O’Brien, Umatilla High School – Health Services Administration

 

Zachary Townsend, Belleview High School – Constructional Engineering

 

Leslie Zavala-Guillen, South Sumter High School – Medicine

 

SECO Energy proudly recognizes these student scholars for their determination, hard work, and scholastic and personal achievements. Congratulations, students, you are on your way to meeting your education and career goals!

 


 

 

The SECO Energy Board of Trustees elected its Officers for 2025. Board President and District 3 Trustee Gerald Anderson was re-elected to serve a fourth consecutive term. District 9 Trustee and Board Secretary/Treasurer Morgan Hatfield was elected to serve her first term as Board Vice President. District 2 Trustee Joyce Anderson was elected to serve as the Secretary/Treasurer – a role she previously held between 2022 and 2023.

 

SECO Energy’s Trustees serve as the governing body of your cooperative. One of the Seven Cooperative Principles, Democratic Member Control, is at the heart of how SECO and other cooperatively structured organizations operate. Trustees are democratically elected by the members who reside in each of SECO’s nine geographic Districts, ensuring fair representation across our service area.

 

The Board of Trustees plays a vital role in providing oversight and shaping policy decisions. The Board works closely with SECO’s Executive Leadership Team to guide the cooperative toward fulfilling its Mission. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO Energy is committed to delivering reliable and innovative energy services to its members and the communities it serves.

 

To find your District and read a short Trustee bio, visit secoenergy.com/board-of-trustees-2/.

 


ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH: Summer is almost here – schedule an HVAC tune-up with a qualified technician before temperatures climb into triple digits. Our Energy Services Specialists recommend setting your thermostat to 78 degrees during the summer months for optimal energy savings and comfort. Use ceiling fans to help keep you cooler – but remember to turn them off when you leave the room. Source:energy.gov

 

Read the full May SECO News.