April 2026 SECO News
Thank you for joining us at our 2026 Annual Meeting
Dear Members,
Thank you, members, for attending SECO Energy’s 2026 Annual Meeting on March 26. Your participation is an important part of the cooperative process, and we appreciate the time you spent casting your vote on Annual Meeting business and staying engaged and involved in the future of your cooperative.
If you missed our Annual Meeting, I encourage you to watch the video on SECOEnergy.com. You can also watch it on our Facebook page or YouTube channel.
Holding the Annual Meeting virtually has been very effective; it keeps costs down and makes it easier for members to participate. Your participation in the democratic process is especially important for a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative like SECO. Your vote and engagement matter.
Before the Annual Meeting, we asked you to vote on two items of business. The first was the restatement of SECO’s Articles of Incorporation, and the second was the approval of the 2025 Annual Meeting Minutes. Originally drafted in 1938, the Articles of Incorporation are SECO Energy’s foundational governing document.
We are pleased to share that members overwhelmingly approved both measures. Member participation in these votes helps ensure the cooperative continues to operate with transparency and strong governance, guided by the voices of the members we serve.
Looking ahead, as part of our ongoing commitment to improving member services and communication, SECO Energy has launched a newly redesigned website. The updated site will feature improved navigation, enhanced search capabilities, and a modern design that makes it easier to manage your account and regularly connect with us. Check out the newly designed website at SECOEnergy.com.
With National Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 18, I would also like to recognize the SECO Energy line technicians who work in challenging conditions to safely maintain our system and restore power whenever our members need it the most.
Finally, our Board, leadership team and employees remain committed to serving you with reliable energy, responsible governance, and a focus on continuous improvement. It is our privilege to serve you and the communities that call this region home.
Thank you for being a valued member of SECO Energy.
Sincerely,
CURTIS WYNN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Arbor Day is a Great Time to Think About Energy Savings and Safety
April 24 is National Arbor Day, a day dedicated to planting, nurturing, and celebrating trees. The Arbor Day Foundation – the largest nonprofit membership organization focused on tree planting – encourages communities and homeowners to recognize the many benefits trees provide.
Planting the right tree in the right place can do more than beautify your yard. Strategically placed trees can help improve comfort around your home and reduce energy use during Florida’s hot summers.
How Trees Can Help Save Energy
Trees can help reduce energy use in several ways. In Central Florida, one of the greatest benefits is the shade trees provide for homes. Well-placed trees can:
• Reduce cooling costs by shading roofs, windows, and outdoor air conditioning units.
• Lower surrounding outdoor temperatures.
• Improve indoor comfort during the hottest months.
• Provide long-term energy savings with relatively low planting and maintenance costs.
Planting shade trees on the West and South sides of your home can help block intense afternoon sun and reduce the amount of heat entering your home.
While trees provide many benefits, proper placement is important—not only for maximizing energy savings but also for protecting electric service reliability.
SECO Energy now offers Generlink® – a safe and convenient way for members to connect a portable generator to your home during a power outage. GenerLink® is a UL-listed transfer switch that connects directly to the electric meter and allows you to safely power your home with a portable generator. It eliminates the need for dangerous extension cords and prevents backfeed, helping protect both utility workers and your home. GenerLink® can power most household appliances with generators up to 9,600 watts and requires no home rewiring.
Professional installation is included. GenerLink® units are installed exclusively by a SECO-certified technician and are available for $1,200 plus tax (installation included).
Don’t wait until the next storm is heading our way. Prepare today before hurricane season begins in June. Order yours today at SECOEnergy.com. Purchase a GenerLink transfer switch and you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of five $100 bill credits! To qualify for one of the five $100 bill credits, purchase your GenerLink by May 31, 2026. Members who have already purchased a GenerLink transfer switch are automatically entered.
SECO Energy regularly trims trees away from overhead power lines to maintain safe and reliable electric service. Trees growing too close to power lines are a leading cause of power outages and can create serious hazards, including sparks, fires, and electrical shock.
To help prevent these problems, SECO performs routine vegetation management and encourages members to make thoughtful choices when planting trees on their property. A tree planted in the right place today can help prevent safety issues and service interruptions in the future.
Planting Tips for Safety
When planting trees, choose locations that will not interfere with power lines as the trees mature.
• Small ornamental trees or shrubs that will not exceed 25 feet in height should be planted at least 10 feet away from power lines.
• Trees that grow to a mature height of more than 40 feet should be planted at least 50 feet away from overhead power lines.
When landscaping near electrical equipment, keep fences, shrubs, and other obstructions at least 10 feet away from the front of pad-mounted transformers (where the lock is located) and at least three feet away from the rear and sides of the transformer.
Proper placement of trees helps maintain safe access for utility crews and supports the reliable electric service SECO members depend on. To learn more about SECO Energy’s vegetation management practices and tree-planting guidelines, visit SECOEnergy.com.
Planning a home improvement project that involves digging?
Before planting a tree, installing a fence, or adding a mailbox, remember to call Sunshine 811 before you dig. Dialing 811 connects you to your state’s free utility locating service, which notifies all local utilities to mark the location of underground lines on your property.
Underground utilities such as electric, natural gas, water, communications, and cable lines can be buried just inches below the surface. Accidentally striking one of these lines can result in serious injuries, service outages, and costly repairs. This service is free of charge – and in Florida, it’s the law.
Taking a few minutes to call 811 before you dig helps protect you, your neighbors, and utility workers. Safe digging starts with contacting 811.
Line technicians are the first line of defense against power outages, and we are thankful to the SECO Energy technicians for their constant and continuous efforts in serving the needs of our members and communities. National Line Technician Appreciation Day is April 18, and I would like to give some much-deserved appreciation to our SECO Line technicians.
SECO’s line technicians are highly skilled troubleshooters. Their job functions consist of day-to-day construction and maintenance, and they are experts at restoring service and resolving outages when fixing trouble when called. These talented men and women are routinely dispatched throughout our service area looking for opportunities to improve our system and lessen the impact of outages to our members.
In addition to the daily efforts made by line technicians to improve and maintain our system, these brave individuals are the ones responsible for restoring power to communities affected by natural disasters. For us here in Central Florida, that usually takes shape in the form of a hurricane or tropical storm. When our community finds itself affected by extensive outages during storm season, our line technicians rise to the occasion. They face difficult challenges while working long hours away from their families, putting 110% forward every single time there is a major storm event.
When you see one of our hometown heroes, join me in letting them know how much you appreciate their tireless efforts.
BOARD MEETING DATES
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. in the Corporate Offices at 330 South US HWY 301 in Sumterville.
A Trustees’ meeting will also be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
