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Month: July 2025

SECO Energy Foundation Funds Community Outreach Programs

The SECO Energy Foundation has funded over $740,000 transformative community programs in Central Florida so far in 2025. SECO Energy serves more than 250,000 homes and businesses in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter Counties. The SECO Energy Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to uplifting local communities.

 

During its third quarter Board Meeting, the Foundation’s Board of Directors approved 18 grants totaling $215,646:

 

Find, Feed & Restore – $25,000: Supports transitional housing, career training, financial counseling, and mental health support for families in Lake County.

 

Levy County Board of County Commissioners – $25,000: Funding to support the Community Paramedicine Program, which reduces emergency calls and improves healthcare access in Levy and Citrus Counties.

 

The Arc Nature Coast – $24,935: Developing a vocational auto shop for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Hernando and Sumter Counties.

 

Habitat for Humanity of Citrus County – $24,886: Provides funding for energy-efficient exterior doors to improve homes’ energy efficiency for low-income homeowners.

 

Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind – $23,640: Funds smart glasses and training to increase independence for blind or visually impaired individuals in Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties.

 

Umatilla Police Department – $21,010: Enhances officer safety and public service through the purchase of new mobile data terminals (MDTs) that will improve emergency response and field communications.

 

Disability Achievement Center – $20,000: Supplies durable medical equipment to individuals with disabilities through the Consumer Equipment & Modification Assistance (CEMA) Program, enabling them to live independently in Pasco County.

 

Trout Lake Nature Center – $5,000: Serving Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties

 

Thrive Clermont – $5,000: Serving Lake and Sumter Counties

 

Mom’s Guide to Robotics – $5,000: Serving Hernando, Lake, and Sumter Counties

 

Powerhouse Youth Project – $5,000: Serving Lake County

 

South Lake Community Ministries – $5,000: Serving Lake County

 

Community Health Centers, Inc. – $5,000: Serving Lake County

 

Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation – $5,000: Serving Lake County

 

Healing Hearts Farm – $4,900: Serving Citrus, Marion, and Pasco Counties

 

Good Spirit Foundation – $4,775: Serving Citrus County

 

Friends of Marion Baysinger Memorial Library – $4,000: Serving Lake County

 

Sheltering Hands – $2,500: Serving Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties

 

“I want to acknowledge the generosity of our SECO Energy members,” said SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn. “Without the contributions of SECO members, many of these community organizations and projects supported by the SECO Energy Foundation would remain unfunded. Thank you, members, for your support of the SECO Energy Foundation – you are helping to make a difference in your communities.”

 

The SECO Energy Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local community initiatives. The Foundation awards grants to organizations that address pressing community needs, with a special emphasis on projects for health and human services, public safety, veteran initiatives, educational STEM, energy related, and environmental. For more information or to apply, visit www.SECOFoundation.org.

SECO News July 2025

Wynn's Wire

 

DEAR MEMBERS,

 

As temperatures rise and the summer heat returns, SECO Energy remains committed to delivering the safe, reliable service you depend on. With more than a quarter-million homes and businesses relying on us daily, keeping your lights on – especially during peak demand – is not just our job; it is our promise.

 

That’s why we’re making significant, ongoing investments in the core components of our electric system, especially our substations. Substations are critical to maintaining reliability. They regulate voltage, balance electrical load, and enable our crews to isolate outages and restore power more quickly and safely. Upgrading and enhancing these essential facilities ensures that our electric grid remains strong, efficient, and responsive as our service area continues to grow.

 

Although we won’t detail every project here, SECO is strategically upgrading existing substations and building new ones throughout our system to meet increasing demand and strengthen reliability across all of the communities we serve.

 

With the rapidly rising costs of labor and material, these infrastructure investments are becoming increasingly more expensive. But they are also necessary to keep pace with growth and to maintain the high reliability standards that SECO members have come to expect. However, there’s also a powerful way you can help us manage the rising cost of infrastructure: by participating in our new Smart Connect program.

 

Smart Connect empowers members to play an active role in reducing demand on the grid during peak hours. When you take part, whether by building a Home Profile in SmartHub or simply being mindful of energy use during peak times, you are helping lower the system’s overall energy load. That, in turn, reduces the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades in the future.

 

Together, through smart technology and your active engagement, we can protect our system, reduce long-term costs, and keep energy affordable for everyone.

 

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.

 

Sincerely,

 

CURTIS WYNN

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

SECO News July 2025 Protect Your Home From Power Surges - And Win!

 

SECO Energy’s Surge MitiGator™ program helps shield your home from damaging electrical surges and spikes. Now is the perfect time to sign up for this protection! Enroll by September 30, 2025, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of three portable generators. If you’re already leasing or previously purchased a Surge MitiGator™, you’re automatically entered.

 

Surge protection is your home’s first line of defense, blocking electrical disturbances before they can damage appliances and electronics. Surges often result from lightning strikes, vehicle accidents, fallen trees, and other unpredictable events. The surge device includes a 15-year manufacturer warranty for extra peace of mind.

 

CHOOSE YOUR PROTECTION PLAN:

  • Lease for just $5.95/month plus tax and installation fee
  • Purchase outright for $349

 

SECO recommends adding point-of-use surge protectors for sensitive electronics. These are widely available at most major home improvement stores.

 

To enroll, visit secoenergy.com/surge-mitigator/ and complete the web form. We’ll draw three lucky winners in October.

 

 

SECO News July 2025 Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month: Stay Cool and Save!

 

As summer temperatures rise, you can stay comfortable and keep your energy costs in check by adjusting your HVAC temperature settings. Setting your thermostat to 78°F when you’re home and awake is ideal for balancing comfort and efficiency. When you’re away, raising the temperature to 85°F can lead to substantial energy savings. Remember, the lower you set your thermostat, the harder your system has to work – using more energy and increasing your bill.

 

Installing a smart thermostat is one of the best investments for improving energy efficiency. These devices automatically adjust your home’s temperature based on your schedule, making it easier to save energy without sacrificing comfort. Already have a smart thermostat? You could receive a $50 one-time incentive by enrolling your Wi-Fi-connected device in SECO’s Smart Connect program.

 

You can earn additional incentives if you have a Level 2 EV Charger or battery backup system. Learn more about the program and enroll.

 

SECO News July 2025 Annual Meeting Trivia Winners

 

Congratulations to our 2025 Annual Meeting trivia winners!

 

Donna Dube – Lady Lake – $250 SECO Energy Bill Credit

Thomas Graham – The Villages – $250 SECO Energy Bill Credit

Doug Golden – Ocala – $100 SECO Energy Bill Credit

Mikelyn Urban – Inverness – $100 SECO Energy Bill Credit

Lorelei Small – Groveland – $100 SECO Energy Bill Credit

Steve Gosnell – Inverness – $50 SECO Energy Bill Credit

William Riemer – Sumterville – $50 SECO Energy Bill Credit

Regina Wergin – Ocala – $50 SECO Energy Bill Credit

Paul Skonezny – Clermont – $50 SECO Energy Bill Credit

Peter Orlowski – Lady Lake – $50 SECO Energy Bill Credit

 

If you missed this year’s Annual Meeting, watch the recording online at SECOEnergy.com/Your Co-op/Annual Member Meeting.

 

SECO News July 2025 Trustee Focus A Message from District 5 Trustee Shannon Wright

 

Build Your Home Profile in SmartHub

 

SECO Energy offers more innovative tools to help you manage your energy use – and SmartHub is one of the best. By building a Home Profile you can analyze your home’s energy consumption, identify potential savings, and make informed decisions to boost efficiency. Completing the Home Profile also allows SmartHub to deliver insights tailored to your home’s unique characteristics.

 

SmartHub is a secure, user-friendly platform that empowers you to view and pay bills, monitor energy usage in real-time, set up budget alerts, and access personalized insights about your energy consumption. It puts you in the driver’s seat of your energy management.

 

Building your Home Profile is easy as 1, 2, 3:

  1. Log in to SmartHub on a desktop computer or mobile device.
  2. Navigate to the “Usage” menu option and choose “Build Your Home Profile.”
  3. Enter basic information like square footage, heating/cooling system, number of occupants, etc. – that’s it!

 

Once your Home Profile is complete, SmartHub will provide a personalized breakdown of your estimated energy use by category (heating, cooling, appliances, lights, etc.) along with custom tips to help you improve efficiency. Review the data collected to make wise choices about your energy usage.

 

Take a few minutes to build your SmartHub Home Profile today. Whether you’re looking to cut costs or go greener, the insights provided can lead to longterm energy savings and empower you to take control of your energy dollars.

 

Read the full July SECO News.