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Author: Amanda Richardson

SECO Supports Youth Energy Academy STEM Focus

On June 14 and 15, local energy experts teamed up to provide high school students a real-life glimpse into the many careers in the electric utility industry. SECO Energy, Duke Energy and Ocala Electric Utilities partnered to bring the Fourth Annual Youth Energy Academy to life for more than fifty students in Marion County. The event was held at the College of Central Florida’s Hampton Center.

 

In conjunction with employees from the three electric utility providers, representatives from several other companies (College of Central Florida, Boys & Girls Club, CLM CareerSource, Lockheed Martin and DeConna Ice Cream) volunteered, presented or provided support. With a limited workforce, the business community understands the premise of investing in today’s youth to develop future leaders and foster diversity.

 

Kathy Judkins, SECO Energy’s Deputy Director of Civic, Charitable and Government Affairs stated, “SECO Energy, Duke Energy and Ocala Electric Utilities have formed a strong partnership in the quest to develop a talent pipeline of local students for the energy industry. At this year’s Academy, students had the opportunity to gain essential knowledge related to the array of jobs, careers and occupational requirements in the energy field.”

 

The two-day event was jam-packed with activities that ranged from learning how electricity travels from the generation plant to homes and what it takes to restore power during an outage to a hands-on live demonstration provided by Duke Energy’s Ronnie Bailey and Moise Graham. Students learned the difference between soft and hard skills via a presentation from Heaven Colon, CLM CareerSource. The students then explored high-skill, high-wage careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by taking a closer look at robotics. They met Forest High School EMIT program students – EMIT stands for Engineering and Manufacturing Institute of Technology.

 

Youth participants also learned about one of the fastest growing jobs in the industry – the Substation/Relay Tech position – from SECO Energy Manager Transmission and Substation Design Kenny Rodrigue and Environmental & Project Supervisor Ron Summers. Participants built solar cars to test in the sun, and found out that solar panels receive enough energy to power the cars to move when the sun is not shining.

 

The activities didn’t end there. On day two, the students toured the City of Ocala water treatment plant with Rachel Slocumb, Division Coordinator. Utilities Director Mike Poucher showed students what can occur while texting and driving through a demonstration of a pole versus car accident scene that included how to safely exit a vehicle. Participants also rode in bucket trucks and learned about Ocala’s fiber-optic internet system. Watch video clips of this year’s Youth Academy highlights at SECO Energy’s YouTube channel.

 

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEjIr13Vjac[/embedyt]

 

SECO Energy CEO Jim Duncan stated, “The Youth Academy aligns with two key cooperative principles – Education, Training and Information and also Concern for Community. The energy field offers a multitude of diverse careers just waiting for talented candidates to apply. Participating in youth education programs gives SECO a hand in crafting its future workforce and offers local, talented youngsters employment opportunities close to home and family.”

 

Six years ago, the Florida Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) incorporated a Youth Energy Academy model focused on, but not limited to, minority students in St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Orlando and Ocala. “AABE’s goal is to spark the interest of the emerging workforce by educating young people about opportunities in the energy arena. With over 240 Marion County students going though this academy so far, we believe we will see a few of them working in the energy industry,” stated AABE Florida Chapter President Mikle Gordon. The AABE Florida Chapter is lead by members from six energy providers, as well as a number of entrepreneurs and business partners.

 

Learn more about SECO Energy and its Concern for Community online. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Sunshine State Stats, June 2018

The weather in June 2018 was similar on average to June 2017. The average temperature this June and last June was 81°. Rainfall, however, for June of 2018 was 5.30 inches compared to last June at 14.63 inches.

 

June 2018 Sunshine State Stats breakdown

 

There were 460 cooling degree days and 0 heating degree days for June 2018. Similarly, last year there were 495 cooling degree days with 0 heating degree days. The Degree Days are based on how much warmer or cooler the average temperature at a particular location is than 65°F. In other words, if the average temperature is 60° degrees outside on a particular day, there are 5 Heating Degree Days for that day in that location.

 

July 2018’s temperatures are forecast to be above normal with lows in the 70s and highs in the low 90s. Rainfall is forecast to be heavier than normal compared to 2017. Remember that July is typically one of the hottest months of the year. The excessive heat and humidity will make your HVAC run more frequently, therefore impacting your electric bill. Remember 78 – 80° is the national standard for the HVAC in the summer. Set the thermostat higher to reduce your energy consumption. Just one degree higher can save 6 – 8% on your cooling cost.

 

If you want to check historical usage, log into SmartHub to view past bills and 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. If you want a member of our Energy Services team to come to your home to perform a free energy audit, contact us today to book an appointment.

SECO News, July 2018

Duncan’s Digest

 

Did you know SECO Energy serves over 200,000 homes and businesses in seven Central Florida Counties? Our 2,100-square mile territory houses 48 substations, over 12,000 miles of overhead line and more than 138,000 poles. SECO provides service to over 53,000 area lights that brighten roadways, sidewalks and members’ yards.

 

May 2018 SECO News Duncan's Digest

 

The 53,000 area lights are a significant component of our system. Crews are constantly on the lookout for lights that are out or burning during the day, and SECO typically repairs an area light in about 24 hours. To provide members and others with a fast way to report area light issues, SECO developed an easy-to-use online tool. This new system is called LightFinder.

 

In LightFinder, each area light is represented by an icon. Working lights are indicated by a green lightbulb icon. Lights already reported for repair are shown as a red wrench icon. For 24 hours after repairs are complete, the light icon changes to an orange check mark. Member-owned lights are expressed as blue icons, and inactive lights are gray

 

To report an area light outage or needed repair, visit StormCenter online. Locate the LightFinder icon and proceed to the LightFinder map. In the search bar at the top of the page, input the pole number or address to locate the area light.

 

Click the icon representing the light you wish to report. An info panel opens on the right side of the screen. Choose the light problem type from the drop-down menu, enter comments and continue.

 

Once reported, you will receive an email confirmation and a follow-up notification when the light is repaired.

 

LightFinder is also accessible through our online billing/payment account management tool called SmartHub which is available as an app for your smartphone or mobile device. To download, search SmartHub in your smartphone or tablet’s app store and complete the installation instructions. By clicking the icons on the home page of the SmartHub app, you can report area light outages through LightFinder or report a power outage through StormCenter.

 

These new online tools are designed for you, our members, to save you time and to help SECO communicate with you quickly. I hope you take advantage of the tools if needed.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

SECO News July 2018 Energy Efficiency Program Into Savings

Energy Efficiency – Program Into Savings

 

Installing a programmable Wi-Fi thermostat is a low-cost step to reduce energy costs. ENERGY STAR recommends using the programmable thermostat’s pre-programmed settings to save up to $180 a year on your electric bill. You can purchase a name-brand Wi-Fi programmable thermostat at your local hardware or big box store for under $100.

 

For optimum efficiency, utilize the thermostat’s pre-set energy efficiency controls. Resist adjusting the thermostat to temporarily make a room cooler or warmer. Continued adjustments will increase the amount of energy used, and will not heat or cool your home faster. If you have strip heating, manually adjusting your thermostat by more than a few degrees at a time will cause the strips to cycle on in error.

 

During the summer, set the temperature for 78 degrees or higher. Set at 68 or lower during winter months. Program “away” timeframes so that your HVAC does not run unnecessarily while no one is home. Keep your fan setting on “Auto” and the HVAC unit’s fan will run only as needed. If the unit requires batteries, be sure to change them once a year. Weak or dying batteries will prevent programmed settings from running correctly.

 

 

 

SECO News July 2018 Safety Corner Downed Line Dangers

Safety Corner – Downed Line Dangers

 

SECO Energy inspects thousands of poles annually to ensure they are in good condition. Poles damaged by bears, woodpeckers, high winds, vehicle accidents or weakening due to age are replaced. In the event of a tornado, tropical storm or hurricane, poles may break and result in downed power lines.

 

Downed lines are extremely dangerous. Always assume a downed line is energized. Never touch a downed power line and stay far away. Even the ground near a downed line has the potential to be energized – which can cause severe injury or death. Call 911 or SECO to report a downed line immediately.

 

Warn children of the dangers of downed power lines. Children are curious by nature and may want to touch or approach downed lines. Never allow children to play near electrical equipment or climb trees encroaching overhead lines. After storms, survey your area for hazards before allowing children outside to play. A downed line may be hidden by a tree or landscaping and not easily seen.

 

Power lines and poles are often found near roadways and can be damaged in vehicle accidents. In 2017, SECO crews repaired or replaced poles over 70 times as a result of vehicle accidents. If you strike a utility pole, stay in your vehicle unless it is on fire. Practice extreme caution before exiting. A downed line may be present on your car or close by on the ground. Warn emergency personnel and bystanders about possible downed lines nearby.

 

Understand the dangers of downed power lines. Play it safe, stay away from downed lines and report immediately.

 

Read the full July SECO News online.

Sunshine State Stats, May 2018

May 2018 was slightly cooler on average than May 2017. The average temperature was 77°, while May of 2017 had an average temperature of 79°. Rainfall for May of 2018 was 8.28 inches compared to last May at 2.71 inches.

 

Sunshine State Stats breakdown May 2018

 

There were 363 cooling degree days and 0 heating degree days for May 2018, while last year there were 426 cooling degree days with 0 heating degree days. The Degree Days are based on how much warmer or cooler the average temperature at a particular location is than 65°F. In other words, if the average temperature is 60° degrees outside on a particular day, there are 5 Heating Degree Days for that day in that location.

 

June 2018 is forecast to be somewhat the same as last year with average temperatures in the mid 80’s and 90’s. Rainfall is forecast to be heavier than normal compared to 2017. The hot summer weather is upon us. Remember that every degree below 78° F the thermostat is lowered will increase your cooling costs by 6% – 8% per degree.

 

Per ENERGY STAR, investing in a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 annually. Wifi models that you can program from your computer or smartphone start at under $100 nowadays. Or you could win a wifi programmable thermostat in our May Facebook incentive. Read May SECO News for details.

 

Just in time for the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, SECO debuted an all-new StormCenter outage reporting platform. Bookmark StormCenter on your smartphone or other mobile device today.

 

If you want to check historical usage, log into SmartHub to view past bills and 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. If you want a member of our Energy Services team to come to your home to perform a free energy audit, contact us today to book an appointment.

SECO Energy Debuts Interactive StormCenter Map with Email, Text and Voice Notifications

Just in time for the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, SECO Energy debuts all-new StormCenter platforms. StormCenter offers members enhanced outage reporting capability, real-time restoration estimates and a brand-new communications suite giving members the power to manage outage notifications.

 

Outage Map all-new StormCenter

Over the last year, SECO researched a number of outage map and communications vendors before contracting with Kubra – a customer experience solutions provider with a proven reputation in the utility industry. The new StormCenter consists of four user-friendly platforms for two-way outage communication. A new, interactive map displays current outages, estimated restoration times, cause of the outage and more. The map also includes a weather overlay to view the current weather radar and a zoom feature to pinpoint specific outage parameters.

 

Reporting an outage and checking the status of an existing outage is easy. On the Report/Status StormCenter page, input the last name on the account along with the house number or the account number and telephone number on file. Indicate if the outage is a complete loss of power, partial loss of power or flickering lights and submit. Once the outage is submitted, members can view the estimated restoration time, start time, number of members affected and crew status on the confirmation page.

 

Report Status web all-new StormCenter

 

StormCenter allows members to choose how they want to receive outage updates and notifications. Members with active email addresses on file with SECO are automatically enrolled in email notifications. Members with verified cell phone numbers are subscribed to receive text messages. Phone numbers that appear to be land lines will be enrolled in voice notifications. Members can easily change or add communications channels and opt out of unwanted notifications.

 

To manage notifications, log in with your account number or phone number on file for the location. Choose email, text and/or voice notifications and program “do not disturb” settings for each active communication channel.

June 2018 SECO News Manage Notifications

 

SECO’s new StormCenter includes LightFinder, a separate interactive map to easily report an area light outage or needed repair. Report the light using a street address or SECO pole number. Members will receive an email confirming the reported light issue and an email confirmation once the light is repaired – usually within two business days.

 

Working lights are labeled with green icons. Reported lights are identified with a red icon with a wrench. Lights that were repaired in the last 24 hours are represented with an orange icon. Inactive lights not associated with an account are gray icons and lights owned by members are noted by blue icons.

 

For a full overview of SECO’s new StormCenter capabilities, view the instructional video on SECO’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

 

June 2018 SECO News LightFinder

 

CEO Jim Duncan is proud to introduce SECO’s brand-new StormCenter platforms to members. Duncan stated, “SECO invests heavily in outage prevention technology and facility maintenance. As a result, our reliability statistics are among the best in the nation – despite the fact that we are a Florida utility subject to a storm season that spans from June through November. Our electric system is stringently maintained, but occasional outages occur for a variety of reasons such as lightning, wildlife, vehicle accidents, unexpected equipment failures and more. We realized it was time to invest in new technology to improve outage communications with members when outages occur.”

 

Duncan added, “Outage reporting is now high-tech. Surveys show that 70 percent of our members use an internet-enabled smartphone and more than 50 percent of our members own a tablet. Our new StormCenter platforms are mobile-friendly and function on a wide variety of browsers. It’s easy to report an outage, check the status of an existing outage or manage outage notifications.”

 

SECO members should visit StormCenter and bookmark the page on their mobile devices. The cooperative encourages members to begin storm preparedness today and to program their communication preferences as the 2018 hurricane season begins.

 

Social media users will continue to find up-to-date outage information on Facebook and Twitter – enhanced by the new StormCenter tools. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO News, June 2018

Duncan’s Digest

 

SECO Energy invests heavily in outage prevention. We spend about $10 million annually on vegetation management to reduce tree-related outages. Our storm hardening program includes diligent inspection and replacement of utility poles that won’t withstand heavy storms. We frequently upgrade the infrastructure that serves your energy needs so that you receive the most reliable service possible.

 

May 2018 SECO News Duncan's Digest

Our reliability stats are, in my view, among the very best in the nation – despite the fact that we are a Florida utility subject to a storm season that spans from June to November. We humbly recognize that even the most stringently maintained electric system sustains occasional outages for a variety of reasons such as lightning, wildlife, vehicle accidents, unexpected equipment failure, etc. With this in mind, we realized it was time to invest in new technology to give our members high-tech communications options when outages do occur. We selected technology that was smartphone and tablet friendly – because those devices continue to perform during an outage.

 

SECO researched a number of outage map and communications vendors before contracting with Kubra – a customer experience solutions provider with a proven reputation in the utility industry. The products we have developed using Kubra’s software allow SECO Energy members to receive outage information via email, text and voice notifications. These products launched on June 1 – just in time for the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. I encourage you to visit our StormCenter page online to be familiar with these tools before the next storm.

 

All-new StormCenter web banner

The brand-new StormCenter software consists of four user-friendly platforms to communicate about outages.

 

If you’re a social media user, you will continue to find up-to-date outage information on Facebook and Twitter – enhanced by our new StormCenter tools. Keep in mind that these new tools are designed for outage communications only. Energy usage, billing and payment information will continue to be found in SmartHub, our online account portal.

 

For a full overview of SECO’s new StormCenter capabilities, view the instructional video on SECO’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

 

I hope you take the time to program your communications channel preferences and that the 2018 hurricane season leaves you little reason to use them!

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Read the full June SECO News online.

SECO Energy Trustee Dennison Earns NRECA Director Gold Certification

SECO Energy District 4 Trustee and Vice President Richard Dennison has completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Director Gold Credential Program.

 

According to the NRECA, the Director Gold credential recognizes utility professionals who are committed to advancing their knowledge and performing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability. Before obtaining the advanced Director Gold credential, Vice President & Trustee Dennison completed both the NRECA’s Board Leadership Certification and the Credential Cooperative Director Certificate.

 

A SECO member since 1999, Vice President & Trustee Dennison lives in Marion County and is active in his local community. Dennison was first elected to SECO’s Board of Trustees during a special election in 2015 when a former Trustee vacated the post. Dennison was re-elected in 2017 and was elected to his first officer position as Board Vice President in April 2018.

 

Vice President Dennison stated, “I am proud to continue my education through the NRECA. Earning the Director Gold credential allows me to broaden my utility industry knowledge to benefit the SECO membership at large. SECO Energy has an outstanding operational and financial performance record. I am proud and humbled to work with my Board peers and serve our SECO members.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan praised Dennison’s commitment to his continuing education and SECO members. Duncan stated, “I commend Vice President Dennison’s committed effort to enhancing his industry knowledge through the NRECA Board education program. Mr. Dennison is an essential member of SECO’s Board of Trustees, I am grateful for his service and commitment to our members.”

 

Visit our website for photos and brief bios of the Trustees along with an interactive District map. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Raises $29,462 for Relay For Life’s “Hunt for a Cure”

SECO Energy joined the movement of fighting cancer with its “Hunting for A Cure” team slogan during the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life annual fundraising campaign. Year after year, SECO’s employees enthusiastically adhere to one the cooperative’s core values – Commitment to Community – by supporting local community projects and causes. This year, SECO employees, vendors and partners reflect this principle by generously donating more than $29,462 to the American Cancer Society (ACS) of Citrus, Marion Lake and Sumter Counties – doubling its set goal and raising over half of Sumter County’s ACS goal.

 

ACS Community Development Manager Katrina Baggett stated, “I am excited to see a small community such as Sumter County make such a huge impact for the American Cancer Society. The Sumter County Relay For Life set out in September of 2017 to reach a goal of $50,000 and by the end of the event on April 28, 2018, that goal had been met. Sumter County is not only crushing goals on the local level, but is helping ACS with the overall goal of crushing cancer.”

 

Several fun-filled SECO employee activities including the April 21 SECO sponsored golf tournament at Arlington Ridge, pushed the company’s fundraising efforts beyond its goal. Over 60 players and their respective companies committed to sponsorships valued at over $10,500. These funds were donated to ACS to find cures for cancer and reduce the burden of the disease on our community, co-workers, friends and family members. “We salute our sponsors and our participants, who joined us for a fun day of “Hunting for a Cure” on the green,” said SECO employee and Relay For Life team member Lisa Perryman.

 

On April 28, SECO’s Team joined a community gathering of volunteers, caregivers and survivors at the Relay For Life walk held at the Sumter County Fairgrounds. SECO employees Danielle Booker and Donna Etts created a “Hunting for a Cure” campsite. Relay team members played fun games and took turns walking themed laps during the 10-hour event signifying a cancer patient’s non-stop fight. At the Relay, two members of the SECO Team honored as cancer survivors took part in a special lap.

 

SECO also matched the first $10 of its employees online team contribution and supported other fundraisers in the first quarter that raised ACS funds. The company sold camouflage t-shirts with the “Hunting for a Cure” theme, held a silent auction and other drawings. Participation resulted in record-breaking ACS fundraising for SECO.

 

The SECO team and the Relay For Life purpose is to support those currently battling cancer, honor those that have fought the battle and won and remember those who have lost their fight against cancer. Proceeds help the ACS make an international impact on cancer.

 

SECO’s Relay Team Captain Elizabeth Beagle spoke during the April 28 Relay For Life event on SECO’s behalf as a presenting sponsor. Beagle stated, “SECO has supported Relay For Life for 16 years and has raised over $124,000 for ACS. I am truly humbled by each employee’s effort to make this a successful campaign. Thank you SECO for continuing to adhere to our core values to support the Relay For Life event year after year.”

 

Visit SECO’s Community page online to learn more about SECO’s community involvement. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Congratulates 2018 Scholarship Awardees

May 1, 2018 – SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative operating for the benefit of its members. As a member-focused cooperative, SECO is committed to delivering reliable, safe, affordable power to its members and focuses on community enrichment.

 

SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees first approved the scholarship program for local students in 1996. In the twenty years since inception, SECO’s scholarship program has awarded almost $600,000 in scholarship monies to 281 young scholars residing in SECO’s service area.

 

This year’s SECO scholarship recipients are a class of bright, ambitious, hard-working students who are concentrated on achieving their goals. SECO’s 2018 Scholarship Program awardees are:

 

Jahmani Walter Beckford, Groveland, is graduating from Real Life Christian Academy.
Eunice Garcia Ceballos, Ocala, is graduating from Belleview High School.
Chelsea Chapa, Eustis, is graduating from Mount Dora High School.
Kaylie Rae Fields, Umatilla, is graduating from Umatilla High School.
Jasmine Renee Gee, Ocala, is graduating from West Port High School.
Odalis Lora, Astatula, is graduating from Tavares High School.
Moriah Martin, Bushnell, is graduating from South Sumter High School.
Luz Elena Mata, Summerfield, is graduating Belleview High School.
Corinne Ross, Tavares, is graduating from Tavares High School.
Ashlyn Paige Saunders, Ocklawaha, is graduating from Belleview High School.
Stephen Ngozi Unamaka, Clermont, is graduating from East Ridge High School.
Katelin Vaughn, Belleview, is graduating from Belleview High School.

 

President and District 9 Trustee Jerry Hatfield is looking forward to meeting this year’s scholarship recipients. Hatfield stated, “As a former Lake County educator, I know first-hand our local schools are filled with students who desire an education beyond high school. This desire is sometimes hampered by limited financial resources. SECO’s Scholarship Program offers students monetary assistance to help them achieve their goals of a further education and a future career.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan believes the SECO Scholarship Program could be a first step to a successful career path, possibly with SECO. Duncan stated, “A career path with SECO Energy may be a good fit for some of our scholarship recipients. SECO is centrally located near their hometowns and several metropolitan areas in Central Florida. We hire a host of high-skilled, high-wage positions that include a robust benefits package with generous paid-time-off, medical coverage, dental and vision coverage. An additional benefit that may be particularly interesting to younger potential employees is our student loan repayment assistance program.”

 

Duncan continued, “The energy industry is growing and with that growth are new technologies and new career opportunities. SECO is a growing cooperative that needs highly skilled employees to keep up with the latest industry trends and available technology.”

 

SECO will host a celebratory event for the 2018 scholarship recipients and their families at its headquarters on May 21, 2018.

 

Learn more about SECO Energy and its community participation online. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Sunshine State Stats, April 2018

April 2018 was slightly cooler on average than April 2017. The average temperature was 72°, while April of 2017 had an average temperature of 74°. Rainfall for April of 2018 was 3.46 inches compared to last April at 2.33 inches.

 

Sunshine State Stats April 2018 breakdown

 

There were 208 cooling degree days and 6 heating degree days for April 2018, while last year there were 283 cooling degree days with 4 heating degree days. The Degree Days are based on how much warmer or cooler the average temperature at a particular location is than 65°F. In other words, if the average temperature is 60° degrees outside on a particular day, there are 5 Heating Degree Days for that day in that location.

 

May 2018 is forecast to be somewhat the same as last year with average temperatures in the 80s and 90s. Rainfall is forecast to be heavier than normal compared to 2017. Much hotter weather is coming our way.

 

Keep in mind that 78°- 80° is the national standard for thermostat settings during the summer months. Per ENERGY STAR, investing in a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 annually. Wifi models that you can program from your computer or smartphone start at under $100 nowadays. Or you could win a wifi programmable thermostat in our May Facebook incentive. Read this month’s SECO News for details.

 
 
If you want to check historical usage, log into SmartHub to view past bills and 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. If you want a member of our Energy Services team to come to your home to perform a free energy audit, contact us today to book an appointment.