Kyon Hollis – Page 2

SECO Energy Works Overnight Through Hurricane Ian

SECO Energy worked overnight Wednesday to begin restoring electric service to homes and businesses that lost power as Hurricane Ian moved across Florida but was forced to temporarily delay restoration efforts this morning in Sumter and Lake Counties due to high winds. It is unsafe to raise truck buckets in winds higher than 35 mph. Fortunately, restoration work has now resumed with subsiding winds.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida as a Category 4 storm. Currently the system has lost speed and is exiting the state’s east coast as a tropical storm. Overnight, SECO Energy’s electric facilities fared well as Hurricane Ian blanketed its service area with heavy rain and high wind gusts. At the Leesburg Airport KLEE weather station, wind gusts were measured at 52 mph with maximum sustained wind speeds of 38 mph, and 1.5 inches of rain. The current National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast has Ian moving out of the state into the Atlantic Ocean and possibly making another landfall along the coast of South Carolina. As of 8 a.m. Thursday, the now Tropical Storm Ian has maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and is moving northeast at 8 mph.

SECO Energy currently has just over 11,000 accounts without electric service and crews are deployed to restore. SECO crews are also battling flooding or high-water areas as well. The NHC forecast indicates rain and gusty winds will continue in SECO’s service area for most of Thursday and possibly into Friday. The possibility of tornadoes and flash floods continues.

CEO Curtis Wynn encourages members to practice safety as the remnants of Ian linger. Wynn stated, “I want to assure all SECO members that now is the time to be cautious of downed power lines and trees in our service area. Always assume a downed line is energized and dangerous, keep children inside and away from possible downed lines and trees. If you are without electric service and decide to operate a generator, follow the safety directions from the manufacturer. If you experience a medical emergency or other life-threatening hazard, call 911.”

SECO Energy has closed its five Member Service Centers for the duration of Hurricane Ian so that all employees can focus on restoration efforts. SECO’s Emergency Restoration Plan determines the system’s restoration priority of each affected feeder. Essential services such as hospitals, shelters, schools and government agencies are the highest priority. Line repairs that will restore power to large groups of members are next, feeders that serve large commercial services and then individual electric services in less populated areas.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for all 67 Florida counties on Sunday, September 25. County Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in Central Florida are monitoring Hurricane Ian’s impact. Schools have closed across Central Florida and shelters are opening. For a list of shelters including general, pet-friendly and special-needs visit FloridaDisaster.org. SECO members who require continuous electric service to power life-sustaining medical equipment should have a backup power source or relocate to a shelter. Special needs shelters are open in every county SECO serves.

StormCenter is SECO Energy’s outage and communications platform for members to report outages, check the status of an existing outage and enroll in outage communications and alerts via email, text, voice or all three. Visit StormCenter today and bookmark on your smartphone or tablet to report outages quickly and easily.

Major weather events can cause extended power outages. SECO Energy reminds members to follow safety protocols when using a generator during a power outage. Generators emit deadly carbon monoxide (CO) that is odorless and colorless. Thousands of people die each year from CO poisoning. Never operate a generator in an enclosed space, including a garage. Always place the generator at least 15 to 20 feet away from your home and never near open windows.

Before operating a generator, thoroughly read and review the owner’s manual. Never plug a generator directly into an electrical outlet. This current flow is deadly for utility personnel. Keep children away from an operating generator and store fuel in approved containers. Do not smoke while fueling a generator. Always operate a generator in a dry space. If it is raining, use a canopy or cover. SECO Energy’s Hurricane Handbook includes generator safety tips and how to prepare for before, during and after a storm.

“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 SECOEnergy.com > Your Co-op> About.

Check Out StormCenter SECO Energy is Storm Ready! — StormCenter is SECO Energy’s outage reporting and communications platform that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online at www.SECOEnergy.com/StormCenter.

SECO Energy Braces for Hurricane Ian

SECO Energy is bracing for the heavy rains and winds pummeling its service territory when Hurricane Ian crosses Central Florida later Wednesday and Thursday. Currently, Hurricane Ian is a major Category 4 hurricane with maximum wind speeds of 155 mph – just 2 mph shy of being a Category 5 hurricane.

Hurricane Ian is situated in the Gulf of Mexico about 60 miles west of Naples. Based on the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast, the storm could lose strength before it makes landfall in the Charlotte Harbor area on the west coast of Florida Wednesday. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, the hurricane is slowly moving north northeast at 10 mph.

The latest track for Hurricane Ian has shifted slightly south. Residents along Florida’s west coast have been urged to evacuate the area. NHC forecasts heavy rains and flooding across Central and North Florida through Thursday. Hurricane Ian’s path is dangerously close to SECO Energy’s service area. Members will begin to experience gusty winds and large amounts of rain Wednesday afternoon as Ian closes in. Ian could potentially stall over Central Florida and dump rain through Friday. SECO members should prepare for extended power outages due to this major hurricane. SECO’s service territory will experience large amounts of rain, heavy winds, and the possibility of tornadoes and flash floods.

CEO Curtis Wynn stresses caution during Hurricane Ian’s impact. Wynn stated, “Hurricane Ian is an extremely large, dangerous hurricane that may devastate SECO Energy’s service area. I urge members to be prepared for heavy rains and high wind speeds. Be cautious, don’t approach downed power lines, stay informed about Hurricane Ian’s track, and prepare to hunker down at home or at a local shelter if needed. The potential for tornadoes after a hurricane is high.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for all 67 Florida counties on Sunday, September 25. County Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in Central Florida are monitoring Hurricane Ian’s impact. Schools have closed across Central Florida and shelters are opening. For a list of shelters including general, pet-friendly and special-needs visit FloridaDisaster.org. SECO members who require continuous electric service to power life-sustaining medical equipment should have a backup power source or relocate to a shelter. Once SECO Energy enacts its Emergency Response Plan and after Hurricane Ian passes through SECO’s area, members should visit the cooperative’s Daily Restoration Plan Map to identify if crews are working in their area that day.

Before operating a generator, thoroughly read and review the owner’s manual. Never plug a generator directly into an electrical outlet. This current flow is deadly for utility personnel. Keep children away from an operating generator and store fuel in approved containers. Do not smoke while fueling a generator. Always operate a generator in a dry space. If it is raining, use a canopy or cover. SECO Energy’s Hurricane Handbook includes generator safety tips and how to prepare for before, during and after a storm.

“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 SECOEnergy.com > Your Co-op > About.

Path of Hurricane Ian — Hurricane Ian’s current location on September 28, 2022. Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center.

SECO News September 2022

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Thankfully, at print time for this edition of SECO News, the season has been inactive, and the forecast revised. But it only takes one powerful tropical storm or hurricane to bring widespread damage to transmission and distribution electric infrastructure, so don’t let your guard down. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the possibility of a hurricane forming is highest during September.

Earlier this year, the Colorado State University (CSU) Tropical Meteorology Project team called for a well-above-average 2022 hurricane season. In August, the CSU experts decreased the season forecast to potentially above-average. Warmer tropical sea temperatures and cooler subtropical sea temperatures indicate a high probability that a major hurricane (Category 3, 4 or 5) will make landfall in the U.S.

CSU now predicts 18 named storms and 4 major hurricanes, which is by no means below average. Between 1991 and 2020, the average number of named storms was 14.4, and major hurricanes was 3.2.

SECO Energy is StormReady and prepared to respond to outages caused by summer thunderstorms, tropical storms and hurricanes. SECO’s StormReady approach includes our investment in our outage reporting and communications platform StormCenter. Report a new power outage and check the status of a current outage using your smartphone or tablet 24/7 (or call our IVR and use the automated system that offers outage details). With your account enrolled in notifications, we’ll send proactive outage alerts via email, text, voice or all three – depending on your enrollment preferences. These notifications generate when our system detects a feeder outage affecting your location. Manage your notification preferences at SECOEnergy.com > StormCenter.

Your county Emergency Operations Centers offer storm-related services. If you or a loved one have special needs, add your name to the Special Needs Registry at www.FloridaDisaster.org and review shelter, evacuation and emergency services details. SECO Energy’s restoration priorities in a named storm recovery are feeders that serve shelters, schools, hospitals and government/public safety facilities. Then we focus on restoring service to feeders with the largest number of accounts. If you or a loved one require electric service for life-sustaining medical equipment, invest in a generator or prepare to go to a shelter if a named storm heads our way.

Essential supplies fly off the shelves when a hurricane is en route. Need help getting started with a supply plan? Read our Hurricane Handbook at SECOEnergy.com > Safety > Hurricane Handbook to learn what to do before, during and after a tropical storm or hurricane.

Sincerely,

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

Stop A Scam In Its Tracks

The adage is true: If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. Common scams include a threat to shut off electricity, “free” solar equipment or a stranger knocking on your door to supposedly change your meter. Millions of Americans fall victim to scams each year. Scammers try to create a sense of urgency or offer something too good to be true, so you’ll comply first and regret later.

One popular scam is a phone call that your energy provider will disconnect power in 30 minutes if you don’t pay your bill. The scammer wants your credit card information or suggests you meet in a public place (not the utility’s approved payment location) and hand over cash or a gift card. Don’t fall for the scam – SECO Energy will never call you and threaten to disconnect power within minutes. We will not ask for cash, gift cards or other internet forms of payment such as Zelle or Venmo. Check your billing balance and payment history through our online account manager SmartHub at SECOEnergy.com > Your Account.

Less-than-honest solar contractors advertise “free solar” or “eliminate your electric bill.” Both claims are false. Solar equipment is costly and never free – especially if a scammer talks you into financing a system at a high interest rate. Watt for watt, solar power generation costs more than traditional power generation. Members who invest in solar will purchase utility-supplied power when the sun isn’t shining – unless they invest in a backup power system like battery or generator power sources. Also, you will not have power during a utility outage unless you’ve installed a backup power source with your solar system. Get the facts about solar. Visit SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Is Solar Right For You? Find facts on solar generation, types of panels and inverters, how net metering works, frequently asked questions and more.

Another scam is a stranger knocking on your door to check/change your electric meter, perform a home energy audit and sell products that will reduce your electric bill. This person may indicate SECO sent them, or they represent a SECO program. Don’t let them in the door unless you have prearranged the visit. Nefarious persons may offer products or services you don’t need. The situation may be dangerous if someone is trying to gain access to your home and property. A Marion County couple fell for this ploy. Their home was robbed while a scammer distracted them in the yard while claiming to examine the electric meter. SECO will only send authorized contractors to your home to read your electric meter or replace faulty equipment. SECO contractors carry company ID and will show you their badge upon request.

You’ll find a list of common scams that are perpetrated in-person, by phone or online by visiting FBI.gov > Scams and Safety. If someone at your door is demanding payment or access, call 911 to ensure your safety. If you have questions about a phone interaction that you believe is a scam, email CustomerService@SECOEnergy.com.

SECO Energy Board of Trustees Secretary/Treasurer and District 2 Trustee Joyce Anderson has successfully completed the requirements to earn the Director Gold Credential (DGC) from the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA). This Credential recognizes directors/trustees who demonstrate their commitment to advancing their knowledge and performing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability.

Trustee Anderson resides in Sumterville and was first elected to the SECO Energy Board of Trustees in February 2020. Ms. Anderson currently serves as the Board of Trustees Secretary/Treasurer and has been a SECO member since 2017.

SECO Energy Donates $10,500 for Public Education Foundations

School is back in session. As part of our ongoing commitment to education and the communities we serve, SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven program has donated $10,500 to local public education foundations.

$1,000 to The Citrus County Education Foundation

Its mission is to provide resources to support the Citrus County School District to enhance the quality of education for present and future generations.

$3,500 to The Educational Foundation of Lake County

The Foundation will fund travel to the World Competition for Vex Robotics. With SECO’s donation, more teams will be able to compete.

$3,000 to The Public Education Foundation of Marion County

The Foundation will use the funds to support their Grants for Great Ideas program that provides teachers funding for innovation in STEM education.

$3,000 to The Sumter County Schools Enhancement Foundation

The Foundation serves students with incentives for achievement, helping students in need, and awarding scholarships to seniors to promote higher education.

This year’s collective donation is a continuing investment in public education in the communities we serve, and follows two of the seven Cooperative Principles of Education, Training and Information and Concern for Community. Read more about the Pennies from Heaven program and 2023 transition to the SECO Energy Foundation at SECOEnergy.com. Click the Foundation banner to check your enrollment status in the electric bill round-up program that funds these types of initiatives.

Surge MitiGator – Win a Generator

Win one of three portable generators! Enroll in SECO Energy’s Surge MitiGator surge protection product by November 15. Members in a current lease or prior purchase are already eligible to win.

The MitiGator chomps down on voltage spikes and surges before they damage appliances and cause financial loss. Surges are caused by lightning, vehicles crashing into SECO facilities, small animals, fallen trees and more. The Surge MitiGator is installed at the meter and reduces surges that come through the electric line. The product carries a 15-year warranty.

Lease the protection for only $5.95 plus tax per month with a $25 installation fee. Purchase prices range from $349 to $399, and installation is always free.

Enroll in the Surge MitiGator program (lease or purchase) for a chance to win a portable generator. We’ll pick a winner in September, October and November. To enroll, visit our Surge MitiGator website section and fill out the web form.

The arrester at the meter is the first step in protection. Point-of-use surge devices should be installed for a home’s electronics and appliances. Purchase these at your local big box or hardware store.

SECO Energy Foundation Transition

SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven program is transitioning to the SECO Energy Foundation in January 2023. The goal of the SECO Energy Foundation is to generate more funds for projects that align with SECO members’ needs and the cooperative’s strategic objectives including increased bill payment assistance for SECO members.

At year-end, all SECO members will automatically be transitioned to enrollment in the SECO Energy Foundation that rounds up monthly bills to the nearest dollar. The average donation per member whose bill is rounded up is $6 annually.

Update your SECO Energy Foundation enrollment status by visiting SECOEnergy.com > Contact > SECO Energy Foundation. You can send an email to CustomerService@SECOEnergy.com, call (352) 793-3801 or write to SECO Energy, Attn: Corp Comm, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585 by December 31, 2022.

We are so thankful for our current Pennies from Heaven enrollees, and we look forward to expanding our community outreach with the new SECO Energy Foundation.

Contributions will be tax-deductible.

Read the full September 2022 SECO News online.

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn Appointed to USDA Equity Commission Subcommittee

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced recently that SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn was appointed as one of 12 members of the newly established Equity Commission Subcommittee on Rural Community Economic Development (RCED). Section 1006 of the American Rescue Plan directed the USDA to create and fund the Equity Commission, signaling the beginning of the kinds of systemic, structural and cultural changes essential to advancing equity in rural community economic development across the nation.

The RCED Subcommittee members include representatives of community-based organizations, lending institutions, small business or cooperatives like SECO Energy, tribal entities and two members from the Equity Commission. The new members, including CEO Curtis Wynn, are:

Cheryal Hills, Minnesota

Davis Carrasquillo-Medrano, Puerto Rico

Calvin Allen, North Carolina

Lakota Vogel, South Dakota

Valerie Beel, Nebraska

LaTonya Keaton, Illinois

Doug O’Brien, Maryland/Washington, DC

Curtis Wynn, Florida

Terry Rambler, Arizona

Larry Holland, Mississippi

Nils Christoffersen, Oregon

Shonterria Charleston, Georgia

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, “USDA is committed to ensuring that the underserved communities and populations that have been disproportionately impacted by the effects of economic and environmental shocks are prioritized as we address systemic inequities and build back trust. The diverse perspectives and expertise of the new RCED Subcommittee members will be critical to ensuring the Commission’s discussions and recommendations are balanced, insightful, and project the desired equity outcomes for everyone.”

“I am very excited to join the RCED Subcommittee to support the work of the Equity Commission and Subcommittee on Agriculture,” said CEO Curtis Wynn. “Improving quality of life in underserved communities with residents in persistent poverty is a cause that has been near and dear to my heart throughout my 40-year career in the electric cooperative industry. I am honored to have been selected to work alongside other Subcommittee appointees who share my passion for equity, investments in energy infrastructure and clean energy capabilities.”

The RCED Subcommittee will work with the Equity Commission and its Agriculture Subcommittee to provide recommendations to the Secretary that specifically address issues and concerns to rural development, persistent poverty and underserved communities. The newly appointed subcommittee members reflect diversity in demographics, regions of the country, background, and in experience and expertise. As part of the application and selection process, USDA sought members who can share the voice and experiences of farmers, ranchers, and farmworker groups, people of color, women, Tribal and Indigenous communities, individuals with disabilities, individuals with limited English proficiency, rural communities, and LGBTQI+ communities.

The RCED Subcommittee members will join the Equity Commission and its Agriculture Subcommittee at the commission’s public meeting on September 21-22, 2022. SECO Energy members and others who desire to provide input on issues that should be considered by the Equity Commission and its Subcommittees are encouraged to submit public comments via email to equitycommission@usda.gov.

USDA touches the lives of Americans each day in many positive ways, including transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.

“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.

SECO News July 2022

Dear Members,

SECO Energy continues to deal with supply chain constraints due to the pandemic aftermath. Utilities across the state and the nation are experiencing shortages of raw materials, labor shortages, shipping delays and increased demand for utility products. We are challenged to procure transformers, PVC pipe, meter boxes and any equipment that relies on a microchip. This shift changes our business model to operating around the available materials. In fact, utilities across the state and the nation are feeling the strain of the supply chain issue. Learn more from the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association in its recent statement.

These constraints also result in increased cost of inventory and price escalation due to runaway inflation – which is at a 40-year high. In May, the price of natural gas hit a decade high $9 per million BTUs (British thermal units) and this significantly affects the cost of power SECO delivers to you from our wholesale provider, Seminole Electric Cooperative. Given the domestic and global events causing these market trends to continue, SECO must prepare to meet our business targets and member requests in an environment today that is extremely challenging.

We anticipate the continuation of cost increases and supply chain interruptions. Ultimately, these factors will result in our members paying more for their energy needs – just as we at SECO find ourselves paying more for the materials we buy to construct new services and maintain existing infrastructure.

Roughly 70 cents of every dollar SECO spends is to purchase power from Seminole. Members who read SECO News regularly and review their electric bill each month have seen a line item referred to as the PCA – or Power Cost Adjustment. This calculation allows SECO to adjust for the rise or fall of fuel costs in real time without formally adjusting the actual rate.

This is a common utility practice that prevents the over or under collection of funds from our members. The PCA factor was changed in April bringing our cost per thousand kilowatt hours from $121.00 to $128.05. Unfortunately, projections from Seminole require us to make yet another adjustment to the PCA – sooner rather than later.

The fuel cost adjustment was approved by the Board and takes effect on July 1 with an increase to $137.60 per thousand kilowatt hours consumed at the residential level. Know that utilities across the state and the nation for that matter are all in the same boat and are making fuel cost adjustments and raising rates.

Notwithstanding all of this, SECO will strive, as we always do, to minimize such impact on our members by keeping our rates as affordable as possible and making sure our rates remain competitive locally, regionally and nationally.

In a June report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), it forecasts the U.S. residential electricity price will average 14.6 cents/kWh between June and August 2022. SECO’s residential cost per kWh remains well below that and we’re hopeful we can hold that line through the remainder of the summer when members consume the most energy.

I realize that I’ve written to you largely about costs this month, but I want to close with the topic of reliability. Surveys show that the reliability of electric service is the most important driver of member satisfaction. Despite our collective current cost crunch, we continue to invest in expanding and maintaining our electric facilities throughout the entire service territory. With hurricane season upon us, I encourage you to view our System Improvement Map at SECOEnergy.com for Expansion and Reliability Projects to see where contractors and SECO Energy crews are working to enhance your experience as a SECO Energy member.

Sincerely,

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

Advice From The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Summer Fishing Days

Cast a line, the fishing’s fine! The best fishing time is when fish are most active just after sunup and as the sun is going down and for an hour after. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, anglers should fish during the full moon period when tides are higher than average. Also, one hour before and one hour after the high tides in your favorite fishing spot is an ideal time. Another indication of a good fishing day is when the breeze comes from the west, and the water is still or only slightly rippled. Fishing with family or friends, or enjoying quiet time alone makes for a great day!

The best fishing days are between the new and full moon according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. This summer, drop your line between July 1 – 13, July 28 – August 11 and August 27 – September 10. Read Florida Fauna & Flora this month to learn about red snapper.

Summer Energy Efficiency Savings

The long, hot days of summer are here. The EIA calculates the highest amount of electricity consumed in the U.S. is attributed to HVAC use. For Floridians, HVAC use is a longer span (typically early spring to late fall) than in other parts of the country and runs more frequently. It is likely the highest energy user in your home.

Energy efficiency and reducing energy costs are hot topics, especially in the summer months. SECO Energy offers several online tools to help members understand their home usage and identify energy wasters.

The first stop is SmartHub, SECO’s online account platform. See past bills to compare last year’s usage with 2022’s usage – is it higher? Is it related to the weather? Visit our Sunshine State Stats in the Newsroom Blog to see how temperatures fluctuate and affect your bill.

Your next stop is our online Home Energy Assessment – a home energy audit you conduct from the comfort of home. Fill out the assessment based on your home’s specifics (construction type, roof age, amount of insulation, etc.) and lifestyle. Submit your answers to receive personal energy-savings advice tailored to the data you input in the Assessment. Implement our suggestions, and you’ll be on your way to consuming less energy – and saving money.

The Energy Estimator is an online tool that explores the math associated with your energy usage. The Estimator will calculate the estimated cost for each of your home’s appliances and electronics. Submit your email address to receive no-cost and low-cost energy-savings suggestions via email.

You’ll find these energy-efficiency tools and more energy-saving tips at SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions. Use our online tools today to save energy and money tomorrow.

Florida Fauna & Flora: Red Snapper

Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that Florida’s 2022 recreational red snapper season opened June 17 and runs consecutively through July 31. Visit myfwc.com for upcoming fall dates.

Red snapper in deeper waters tend to be redder than those caught in shallower waters. They have a long triangular face with the upper part sloping more strongly than the lower and earned the name snapper from their enlarged canine teeth.

Age wise, red snapper can live a long time—red snapper as old as 57 years have been reported in the Gulf of Mexico and can grow to 40 inches long and 50 pounds. Females are able to reproduce as early as age 2. Males and females spawn from May to October, depending on their location.

Red snapper feed on fish, shrimp, crab, worms, cephalopods (octopus or squid) and some plankton. Young red snapper are food for the large carnivorous fish that share their habitat, such as jacks, groupers, sharks, barracudas, and morays.

These fish are generally found at 30 to 620 feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico and along the eastern coasts of North America, Central America, and northern South America. They are rare north of the Carolinas.

Read the full July 2022 SECO News online.

SECO News June 2022

Central Florida is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. Nearly a quarter million people moved to Florida over the last 12 months. Historical data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the three largest counties SECO Energy serves (Lake, Marion and Sumter) posted impressive population gains over the last decade.

SECO now serves over 222,000 homes and businesses in our seven-county service territory. In 2021 alone, SECO added 5,770 accounts, and in March 2022, we broke a 15-year record for the highest number of new accounts established in a month. The growth positions SECO as the third-largest distribution electric cooperative in the state and the seventh largest in the country out of 800 not-for-profit cooperatives.

While this edition of Wynn’s Wire focuses on Lake County expansion and improvement projects reliability in every part of our service territory is a priority. Watch for upcoming Wynn’s Wire columns for updates on projects in the other counties we serve. Better yet, visit SECOEnergy.com today to view our System Reliability and Expansion Map to see what projects are occurring in your area right now.

In 2021, SECO welcomed 2,038 new services in Lake County. This accounts for 35% of our overall 2021 new meter count. With the population increase and growing demand for safe, affordable, reliable energy, I’m excited to share SECO’s system improvement projects that benefit the SECO members in Lake County. These electric infrastructure improvements and expansions will increase members’ service reliability and add redundancy for quicker outage restoration.

South Lake County is growing extraordinarily fast. The population in Clermont, Fruitland Park, Groveland and Minneola are increasing at some of the highest rates in the state. SECO has nearly completed a new power substation named Sawgrass to handle the growing load in the southern portion of Lake County. The substation is state-of-the-art and will be a part of an overall design to provide redundant power sources to the members throughout the region to further avoid lengthy outages.  

The design of the Sawgrass substation utilizes two Duke Energy transmission lines in a looped configuration serving both sides of SECO’s distribution lines in the substation. This redundancy increases reliability for the members served from the Clermont and the Sawgrass substations. This two-way loop increases the ability of crews to restore service to members served by both substations through distribution backfeeding.

Members served by our Clermont substation may remember the lengthy transmission outage in October 2019 that lasted for over eight hours. While this very impactful, non-storm-related outage was caused by a neighboring utility’s transmission line issue, we are extending our efforts to avoid a future recurrence of outages that are caused by others. We are totally committed to take steps to reduce outage time and increase reliability, regardless of the cause.

Another new Lake County development called Wellness Way will also require infrastructure expansion. This area’s master plan includes almost 16,000 homesites and an additional 11 million square feet of non-residential commercial space. SECO Energy is exploring a plan for these new facilities, with the ultimate goal of high reliability.

In other parts of Lake County, crews recently completed what we call a ‘voltage conversion’ of the Astatula and Deer Island substations. In this maintenance project, the voltage, or electric potential, was increased on every transformer on every feeder served. The increased electric potential accommodates growing energy demand and improves service reliability for members served by both substations. 

Next year, SECO is developing plans for even more expansions and upgrades in the Groveland area. As I mentioned previously, Groveland is one of the fast-growing small cities in Florida. Due to an increase in commercial and industrial load, SECO is also planning an expansion to the infrastructure serving the Christopher Ford Industrial Park.

I again encourage all members to read upcoming editions of Wynn’s Wire for updates on projects in the other counties we serve and visit SECOEnergy.com to view our System Reliability and Expansion Map to see what projects are occurring in your area.

The explosive growth we are seeing makes SECO Energy an exciting place to work. We are always looking for talented individuals to join us on our growth journey – and we’re hiring for a variety of positions. Visit “Careers” on SECOEnergy.com for a position with a career path and great benefits that may be perfect for you!

Sincerely,

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

Advice From The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Summer 2022 Forecast

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts summer weather in Central Florida will be hot and dry. The forecast indicates the average temperature will be above average from June through September. Rainfall will be less than average until August, when rainfall is predicted to be 3 inches above average. Watch for thunderstorms throughout the season. In July and August, tropical storms are predicted in the southeast and deep south.

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. Supplies sell out quickly when a storm threatens our area. Stock up today and have your emergency essentials on hand. Download a copy of our Hurricane Handbook for a starting list of essentials and learn what to do before, during and after a storm.

2022 SECO Energy Scholarship Awardees

Join us in congratulating our 2022 SECO Energy scholarship awardees! The high school seniors who are seeking a future career in the energy industry have been awarded a $3,000 scholarship to put toward a college, university, trade or vocational school in Florida.

Jonathan Troy Duran Estrella The Villages Charter High School

Paul Farrell Learning Academy

Brandon Scott Gallmeyer Tavares High School

Allyson Hicks The Villages Charter High School

Caleb Nolan Littlefield Homeschool

Kannon Matthew Pauling Tavares High School

Jordan Kanyé Riche Wildwood Middle High School

Marcial I. Rodriguez Citrus High School

Allison Nicole Shields Umatilla High School

Great job, students! We hope our current and previous scholarship awardees will contact SECO Energy for internship and future career opportunities. SECO is hiring! To view open positions, set up job alerts and submit an application, visit Careers on SECOEnergy.com.

Tree Line USA 15 Years of Excellence

SECO Energy has been recognized as a Tree Line USA Utility by the Arbor Day Foundation for 15 consecutive years. Tree Line USA recognizes public and private utilities that take part in activities that protect and enhance America’s urban forests. Tree Line USA promotes the coexistence of delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community trees.

SECO Energy achieved five program standards to be recognized as a Tree Line USA utility: follow industry standards for quality tree care; provide annual worker training in best tree care practices; sponsor a tree planting and education program; maintain a tree-based energy conservation program; and participate in an Arbor Day celebration.

2022 is the 150th Anniversary of Arbor Day, and the Arbor Day Foundation is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Since the Foundation’s beginnings, it has helped to plant and distribute almost 500 million trees in over 50 countries worldwide. Learn more about Arbor Day and its mission at arborday.org.

For tips on planting trees away from power lines and how trees can help reduce annual energy costs, visit Right Tree Right Place.

Read the full June 2022 SECO News online.

SECO News May 2022

Over the last decade, SECO Energy has been on a fast-growth pace while operating with strong fiscal responsibility. Unlike other parts of the country, COVID did not slow the need for infrastructure expansion across SECO’s service territory.

The Sunshine State added more than 221,000 residents from other U.S. states between July 2020 and July 2021, according to the latest population estimates from the Census Bureau. That’s Florida’s largest gain in residents since 2005. Data compiled by Move.org shows Florida is the number one state people moved to in 2020 and 2021.

This expansion and growing demand for power will likely be our norm for a while. March 2022 challenged SECO with the highest monthly number of new services in 15 years. For SECO, this growth is occurring in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors.With the traffic and construction around Sumter County, residents might think that The Villages growth is highest across SECO’s service territory. That’s not the case. In 2021, Lake and Marion Counties grew 35 and 37 percent, respectively.

With the significant amount of growth in our three largest counties, the following three elements are necessary to viably keep pace with the activity in SECO’s service territory – and maintain competitive rates in the process: 1) financial capability, 2) a talented SECO team, supported by stable contract labor and consistent access to material and equipment, and 3) since we do not generate and transmit power, we must be able purchase competitively-priced wholesale power that we can sell to our members. These three elements are critical to our success.

SECO’s 2021 Annual Report was recently published at SECOEnergy.com, and the utility’s financial position is strong. But the growth and major investments that come with this growth during a time of record inflation challenge our ability to maintain flat rates while we preserve reliable service.

Last year, SECO members consumed over 3.68 billion kilowatt hours of electric power – an increase of almost 40 million kilowatt hours compared to 2020. To support the growth in our area and increasing demand for energy, our investment in facilities has topped over $1 billion. This ongoing facilities investment averages over $6 million per month. However, we are all aware that the Federal Reserve is anticipating several interest rate hikes this year. This has our attention since we know that SECO and our funders are not exempt from the cost impact of this policy.

Leading Power generation, now and in the future. Seminole maintains a balanced and diversified portfolio of energy resources.

Like all utilities, SECO continues to manage supply chain constraints due to the pandemic aftermath caused by shortages of raw materials, lack of labor, shipping delays and increased demand for utility products. The most challenging procurements are transformers, PVC pipe, meter boxes and equipment that relies on microchips.

As a result, SECO’s inventory planning and operating model has necessarily shifted to operating around available materials. These materials constraints increase cost of inventory and price escalation beyond normal inflation. In 2021, SECO absorbed immediate cost increases without negatively impacting members’ rates in hopes of quick economic recovery. 2022 is a different story.

Meeting business targets and member requests in today’s economic environment is gaining in complexity. SECO anticipates the continuation of cost increases and supply chain interruptions. Ultimately, these factors will result in members paying more for their energy needs. Roughly seventy cents out of every dollar spent is to purchase wholesale power. In partnership with our wholesale power provider Seminole Electric Cooperative, SECO strives to minimize impact on our members and keep rates affordable and competitive.

Without question, your electric service is supported by a large, robust and well-maintained infrastructure that distributes power generated by Seminole. In recent years Seminole has taken steps to discontinue operating one of its coal units and replacing it with a natural-gas facility. Seminole continues to operate its 2.2-megawatt community solar farm and is adding more renewable energy to its portfolio.

With these strategic changes, Seminole’s power production shifts dramatically away from 42% coal in 2020 to just 8% by 2024. Its use of natural gas increases from 28% in 2020 to 73% in 2024. Renewables are planned to double by 2024, but only account for 8% of the electricity Seminole generates for SECO and its other eight member cooperatives. When these strategic operational and environmental decisions were made prior to 2020, the cost of operating coal-fired units was not as cost effective as using natural gas to produce electricity – nor was it as environmentally effective.

Since 2020, domestic and global events and the resulting economics have driven energy prices up. Oil prices have been on the rise since mid-2020, and consumers are paying significantly more at the pump. The natural gas market is affected as well. Seminole’s shift to a larger portion of its portfolio generating from natural gas has financial consequences.

The Energy Information Administration estimates that the wholesale spot price of natural gas in 2022 will reach an eight-year high. That market volatility will affect the cost of Seminole’s production of power and ultimately will reflect on members’ bills.

This impact is already upon us. Members who read SECO News and review their electric bill each month are aware of a line item referred to as the PCA – or Power Cost Adjustment factor. This calculation allows SECO to adjust for the rise or fall of fuel costs in real-time without formally adjusting rates. This is a common utility practice. As a not-for-profit utility, it prevents the over or under collection of funds from consumers.

In April, the price of natural gas and SECO’s wholesale bill from Seminole caused SECO to raise our PCA from $121.00 per thousand kilowatt hours to $128.05. Despite this fuel pass through increase, I ask that you continue reading to learn how competitive SECO’s rates are to other utilities in our area and nationally and what other steps we are taking to reduce costs.

Sincerely,

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

Rate Stack Up

Over the last 33 years SECO’s rates have risen just 30% or slightly less than 1% per year on average. According to the Energy Information Administration, the national average rate increase for electric utilities is 45%, one and a half percent per year, which is over a half percent more per year than SECO. The cooperative has clearly remained competitive.

2022 ANNUAL MEETING CONTEST

Did you miss our live 2022 Annual Meeting webcast on March 24? To watch the video, visit SECOEnergy.com and click on the Watch and Win! 2022 Annual Meeting Video homepage banner. Watch the video with the President’s Report from Richard Dennison and the CEO Report from Curtis Wynn and answer one question for a chance to win.

Which state did Curtis Wynn say was 2nd in the entire country in electric vehicle ownership?

1. California

2. Texas

3. Florida

4. New York

5. Arizona

Prizes:

$500 SECO Energy bill credit

$250 SECO Energy bill credit

Nest Learning Thermostat

HoneyWell Wi-Fi Thermostat

Apple TV HD

Complete the webform to enter the drawing. Prize winners will be drawn from all correct submissions on June 15, 2022, and winners notified by email or phone. SECO Energy membership must be active at the time of drawing.

Good luck!

AMI-Investment in Future Cost Savings

Moving into the future and understanding the supply chain and labor issues, the SECO Energy Board of Trustees has approved investing in technology that will save money and improve reliability over time.

SECO is one of a very few large, fast-growing utilities in the state or in the nation for that matter that has not deployed Advanced Metering Infrastructure (or AMI) throughout its service territory. The cooperative is conducting two pilot projects to test the viability of deploying AMI on our system and is preparing to decide on a vendor to deploy the AMI technology that will improve operations and reduce costs in a variety of ways.

Currently, SECO pays contractors to read meters on the more than 220,000 homes and businesses across the seven counties we serve. Because we don’t currently have Advanced Metering Infrastructure in place, many of our processes are manual – and costly.

With AMI, the projected savings are significant savings coming from eliminating the high cost of manually dispatching trucks and contracted employees to read meters every month and from reducing the time and cost it takes to more quickly detect and restore power outages.

Learn more about AMI benefits for you, our members, in the Annual Meeting video posted on our website, Facebook and YouTube. Watch for updates in SECO News and at SECOEnergy.com.

Read the full May 2022 SECO News online.

SECO News January 2022

Dear Members,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and SECO Energy, please join us in welcoming Curtis Wynn as our new CEO. Mr. Wynn takes the helm on January 4, stepping into Jim Duncan’s role as he retires after a distinguished 43-year SECO career.

Mr. Wynn’s energy industry career is rooted in Florida. From 1981 to 1997, he worked at West Florida Electric Cooperative. His tenure culminated there as Vice President of Member Services, Information Technology, Marketing and Economic Development. Mr. Wynn has served as President and CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative in North Carolina. Roanoke is a not-for-profit electric cooperative that serves 14,500 metered accounts.

Mr. Wynn is married with three children. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management Information Systems from Troy University. Based on his electric cooperative career that spans almost 42 years, SECO’s Board of Trustees expects that Mr. Wynn will continue Mr. Duncan’s legacy of success at SECO.

In reviewing his bio, Mr. Wynn’s resume reflects a long list of awards and accomplishments showing a history of supporting creative solutions that are turning the challenges of the energy industry evolution into major opportunities.

He also serves or has served on a variety of boards including: immediate past board president, National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA); past president, vice president and secretary-treasurer of North Carolina Electric Membership Cooperative; board member, North Carolina’s Association of Electric Cooperatives; board member, Meridian Cooperative (formerly Southeastern Data Cooperative – SEDC); and past nominating committee member, CoBank.

SECO Energy provides electric service to 220,000+ homes and businesses across seven counties in Central Florida. SECO Energy is a three-time J.D. Power award-winning electric utility and is a front runner statewide and nationally with the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

Welcome, Mr. Wynn. We look forward to working with you and seeing our cooperative into the future supporting our strategic goal of providing affordable, reliable electric service.

Sincerely,

Richard Dennison

Board President and District 4 Trustee

Payment Mailing Address Change

For members who prefer to pay their monthly energy bill by mail, our payment mailing address has changed. The new payment address is:

SECO Energy

DEPT # 3035

PO BOX 11407

Birmingham, AL 35246-3035

This change is effective on January 1.

If you are considering a more modern and secure payment option in place of writing a paper check, visit SECOEnergy.com > My Account > 12 Ways to Pay. Using SmartHub, you can enroll in bank draft, schedule a credit/debit card payment or pay by e-check. SmartHub also allows you to opt-out of receiving a paper bill in favor of an eBill sent to your email address each month after your meter is read. This helps us keep rates low by saving time and money – both for you and SECO.

Pennies From Heaven Donates $3,485 To The American Cancer Society

SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven Program donated $3,485 to help fight cancer. From October 1 through November 15, 2021, for every member who enrolled in our Surge MitiGator surge protection, your not-for-profit electric cooperative donated $5 from the Pennies from Heaven program to a local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

697 members enrolled resulting in donations totaling $3,485.

Take the bite out of damaging surges and spikes with the Surge MitiGator. Power surges are caused by lightning, vehicles crashing into SECO poles, small animals, birds or fallen trees.

SECO’s made in the USA meter-based surge arrester reduces surges BEFORE they enter your home through the meter. The Surge MitiGator has a beastly 15-year warranty and is designed to protect your home’s large-motor appliances. Household appliances and sensitive electronics such as televisions and computers can be damaged or destroyed by power surges and also require point-of-use devices for adequate protection.

You can lease the MitiGator for only $5.95 plus tax per month plus a $25 installation fee. The purchase price ranges from $349 to $399, with installation included. To enroll, visit SECOEnergy.com > Surge MitiGator and complete the web form.

Second AMI Pilot

In 2014, SECO Energy engaged with a smart meter vendor in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) pilot project of about 1,200 meters. After the pilot, we installed 36,000 meters in our territory. Unfortunately, the product did not perform as expected. The meters and communications equipment were removed and returned to the vendor.

Since then, we’ve kept an eye on the market. In 2018, we conducted workshops with eight different major smart meter vendors. Each offered a slightly different product and provided varying performance expectations based on the type of communications systems their brand offered. Because SECO’s service territory is a mix of dense suburban areas, metropolitan areas and sparsely populated rural areas, we require a product that will perform in a variety of terrains. Several vendors offered to build a hybrid to accomplish that. Unfortunately, it comes with a hefty price tag. Thus, we decided to take small steps to determine what product is best for SECO.

Late in 2019, SECO announced a pilot project that replaced 6,200 outdated prepaid meters with Elster/Honeywell AMI meters that used Verizon 5G technology. The Board of Trustees recently approved an additional pilot project for a broader comparison and benchmark using Landis+Gyr technology. Both the Elster/Honeywell and the Landis+Gyr pilot projects will help us gain the experience of operating an AMI system.

AMI meters supply daily usage readings that will integrate with SECO’s online account management platform SmartHub. Through this SmartHub integration, members will have much more insight into their energy consumption and habits. AMI also has the potential to reduce labor costs and can expedite member requests for service reconnection or disconnection. Meter tampering and line loss can also often be identified using AMI. Immediate identification of outages is also a strong advantage of an AMI system. Distribution automation in an AMI system can improve power quality, optimize efficiency and provide comprehensive data for planning, engineering and maintenance.

To identify the strengths and weaknesses of both AMI products/vendors, SECO requires a test period that spans all seasons to glean the data and field experience in real-time. SECO can analyze the data gathered from both pilots once complete.

Technology is changing rapidly, and we must choose a product and vendor that will serve SECO into the future. AMI is likely one of the largest equipment and technology investments we will make in the coming decade. Watch SECO News for updates as we evaluate our pilots.

WINNERS CIRCLE

Engage with our virtual assistant Electra on the phone for a chance to win a $25 gift card. Winners who self-served using Electra are:

Joseph Hrytzay from Sorrento

Daizebel Ortiz from Tavares

Carol Bullock from Inverness

Conrad Penchion from Ocala

Joan McDonald from Lady Lake

The latest winner of a SECO Energy Level 2 EV Charger is Irene Jaronczyk from The Villages. To enter, text “EV” to (352) 320-4500 for a link to enter. Or click on the EV Charger Giveaway homepage banner. Visit our Electric Vehicles website section to learn more about the benefits of owning an EV.

Winners in our Go Green and Win: Paperless Billing and Bank Draft Incentive

Kelli Wilson from Ocala is the winner of a $200 SECO Energy bill credit.

William Barnes from Floral City is the winner of a NEST thermostat.

Benjamin Mohr from Clermont is the winner of an Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa.

Congratulations to our recent winners!

Read the full January 2022 SECO News online.

SECO News September 2021

Thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle (EV)? Visit SECOEnergy.com to watch our Virtual EV Showcase featuring yours truly in a brief cameo appearance. Not only will you have a chance to win a Level 2 fast charger or a $500 electric bill credit, but you’ll also find the latest details on a wide variety of EVs – including the Audi e-tron, Chevy Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Leaf, Porsche Taycan, Volkswagen ID.4, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Tesla Model S and Tesla Model Y.

SECO Energy partnered with local dealerships and The Villages Tesla Club to develop the Virtual EV Showcase so that members can preview these amazing vehicles from the comfort of home. In no uncertain terms, folks, these vehicles bear no resemblance to your daddy’s Oldsmobile. They have style, torque and will save you a considerable amount of money on fuel and maintenance.

Visit SECOEnergy.com, click on the EV Virtual Showcase banner, watch the video, fill out the webform and select the correct answer from the drop-down that describes my actions in the cameo appearance in the video. I’ll even give you a clue. One of the four answers below is correct.

I get a hole-in-one on 18!
I drive a golf cart into a water hazard.
I miss my tee time.
I talk to a SECO employee about EV savings and SECO’s low rates.

Two lucky winners will be drawn from all correct submissions on October 15. Thanks for playing and thanks to those who worked with us on the Virtual EV Showcase:

Vann Gannaway Chevrolet
Volkswagen of Ocala
Pearson Nissan of Ocala
Volvo of Ocala
Village Ford
Porsche of Ocala
Audi Gainesville
The Villages Tesla Club

Great things are happening in the EV world. The savings are undeniable and the availability of public charging stations has grown dramatically. If you own an EV or are planning to purchase one and want to charge up quickly, as an ongoing promotion we’re giving away a SECO Energy branded Level 2 charger each month while supplies last. Text “EV” to (352) 320-4500 for a link to enter. Or click on the EV Charger Giveaway homepage banner.

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

HURRICANE HANDBOOK

DISCONNECTING IN ADVANCE: SECO Energy does not disconnect service ahead of a storm. This is an older practice some utilities used in the past to prevent damage.

RESTORATION PRIORITY: SECO provides world-class reliability to 220,000+ homes and businesses. Outages are caused by weather, vehicle accidents, equipment issues, animal/tree contact, etc. Therefore utilities cannot guarantee 100% uninterrupted service.

During emergency restoration with widespread damage, our first responsibilities are shelters, hospitals, schools, and government agencies like emergency ops centers, fire stations and law enforcement facilities. The next priority is large commercial accounts providing food, water and damage-recovery supplies. Feeders with the largest number of members served are next.

FLORIDA’S SPECIAL NEEDS REGISTRY: Members with Special Needs should register with the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org to receive county-specific lifesaving information. You will receive essential options from local emergency management by signing up for your county’s emergency alert notifications.

MEMBERS USING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT: Residential members’ accounts coded as having medically necessary service are not the first priority after a storm with widespread damage. Prepare before storm season and anticipate the possibility of extended outages that could last for days. If you are dependent on electric-powered medical equipment, register with your county emergency management center’s Special Needs Registry. Plan to go to a shelter or purchase a generator for use during outages

OUTAGE NOTIFICATION PREFERENCES: Visit SECOEnergy.com and click StormCenter. Select “Manage Notifications.” Log in with your account number or phone number. View/update preferences for email, text or voice notifications. Set do not disturb parameters.

ADD STORMCENTER APP TO MOBILE DEVICE HOME SCREEN: On our website, click StormCenter then select “Outage Map.” Tap the Share Arrow, then select “Add to Home Screen” from options.

BOOKMARK DAILY RESTORATION PLAN MAP: SECO uses this interactive map only when the Emergency Response Plan is activated. This map is different from the StormCenter outage map. The Restoration Plan Map displays the areas where crews are working each day to show when you can reasonably expect service restoration. Access this map from the website homepage banner during emergencies or from “Contact Us.”

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES – STOCK UP FOR SEVEN DAYS: Prepare your emergency supplies in advance. Move your emergency supplies into a secure room with no windows or fireplaces. Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings. Only open doors when necessary. Move freezable foods into the freezer. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours after a power outage; a full freezer will keep food frozen for about 48 hours.

HUNKER DOWN – STAY INFORMED: Remain indoors and prepare to wait out the weather safely. Stay informed with a battery-powered weather radio. Be ready to relocate your family and pets to a secure location in your home with no windows or fireplaces. Break out the family board games and preserve your phone’s battery power.

NO RESTORATION IN WINDS ABOVE 35 MPH: We invest heavily in an aggressive vegetation management program to keep our overhead lines clear. Still, severe storms with high winds create tree-related outages. Once sustained wind speeds reach 35 mph, it is unsafe to use bucket trucks or perform restoration. When wind speeds have fallen below 35 mph, SECO deploys employees and contractors to begin restoration efforts.

TORNADOES – WATCH VS WARNING: Tornadoes are extremely dangerous, potentially deadly vertical funnels of rapidly spinning air, often referred to as nature’s most violent storm. Winds can reach speeds of 300 mph.

TORNADO WATCH: Tornadoes are possible in or near the watch area. Check supplies and be ready to quickly move to an interior room or hallway. Avoid windows.

TORNADO WARNING: A tornado was spotted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Go to an interior room or hallway. Avoid windows.

IF YOU EXPERIENCE A TORNADO, stay clear of downed power lines and damaged buildings. Always treat downed lines as if they are energized.

RETURNING HOME-ASSESS DAMAGE: If your home or business is damaged, turn off your main breaker to prevent fires only if it is safe to do so. Turn off each appliance’s main breaker if they are wet and then unplug the appliance.

After service is restored, if fuses blow turn off the breakers and contact a licensed electrician. Always call an electrician or an appliance repair service if in doubt.

DEBRIS CLEANUP: Once a storm has passed, ensure that you and your home are safe while power is being restored. Do not make debris piles that interfere with utility trucks. Keep debris away from power lines, transformers and downed lines for safety and speedy restoration. Call your county’s emergency operations center if debris on public roadways prevents utility and emergency vehicle access.

SAFETY CORNER – GENERATOR SAFETY

Thousands of people die from Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning each year. After a storm with extended power outages it is especially dangerous. If you use a generator, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends installing a battery-operated CO detector in your home. Choose an area where the sound of the alarm will wake the home’s inhabitants. Outside bedroom doorways is a good choice.

A stationary generator is a permanently affixed generator installed by a licensed technician. It has an approved disconnect and transfer switch that isolates your home’s circuits from SECO Energy and eliminates the risk of backfeeding on utility lines.

The more common type is a portable generator that does not require a licensed technician to install. Extension cords are used to plug certain appliances into the generator’s outlets.

NEVER operate a generator indoors or in an enclosed area such as a garage or covered porch. Never place a generator outside of an open window where CO can infiltrate the home. More lifesaving information and our generator safety video are available at SECOEnergy.com > Safety > Generator Safety.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE

Engage with our virtual assistant Electra on the phone for a chance to win a $25 gift card. Winners who self-served using Electra are:

Kathleen Mason from The Villages

James Bonin from Deland

Kathleen Schmidt from Ocala

Bruce Waters from Groveland

The latest winner of a SECO Energy Level 2 EV Charger is Tony Wong from Ocala. To enter, text “EV” to (352) 320-4500 for a link to enter. Or click on the EV Charger Giveaway homepage banner. Visit our Electric Vehicles website section to learn more about the benefits of owning an EV.

Winners in our Go Green and Win: Paperless Billing and Bank Draft Incentive

Darys Nieves from Groveland is the winner of a $200 SECO Energy bill credit.

Gerhard Weber from Ocala is the winner of a NEST thermostat.

Ron Campoli from Leesburg is the winner of an Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa.

Virginia Stygar from Ocala is our second winner of a portable generator. We have one more to give away! For a chance to win, lease or purchase SECO’s Surge MitiGator product that protects your home’s appliances from damaging surges and spikes. To learn more or enroll, visit SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Surge MitiGator. Members in a current surge lease or prior purchase are automatically entered in the drawing to win.

Congratulations to our recent winners!

Read the full September 2021 SECO News online.

SECO Energy Back-To-School Program Funds $3,000 for Marion County Education Foundation

August 19, 2021 – SECO Energy’s back-to-school program allocated Marion County Public Schools with $3,000 for the Public Education Foundation of Marion County. The funds will support teacher requests for support of STEM-related projects in the classroom. As a not-for-profit local electric cooperative, SECO believes in supporting the communities it serves.

The Public Education Foundation of Marion County’s mission is to financially and materially support Marion County Public Schools, its students and teachers. Meghan Magamoll, Executive Director stated, “We are grateful for SECO Energy’s commitment to supporting educational STEM projects in Marion County. Through the Public Education Foundation’s Grants for Great Ideas program, SECO Energy’s generous donation will be matched dollar for dollar to double the impact in our schools.”

SECO Energy Sr. Consultant for Civic, Charitable and Government Relations Kathy Judkins states, “SECO is proud to partner with local school districts to fund projects related to STEM. We know our future workforce may likely be among Marion County students, and we want to ensure they know that SECO is community focused and that potential employment opportunities await them after high school, technical school or college.”

Learn more about SECO Energy and its efforts to support education and local communities at SECOEnergy.com > Your Co-op > Community. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

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Archive

Stop A Scam In Its Tracks

SECO Energy Donates $10,500 for Public Education Foundations

Surge MitiGator – Win a Generator

SECO Energy Foundation Transition

Advice From The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Summer Fishing Days

Summer Energy Efficiency Savings

Florida Fauna & Flora: Red Snapper

Advice From The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Summer 2022 Forecast

2022 SECO Energy Scholarship Awardees

Tree Line USA 15 Years of Excellence

Rate Stack Up

2022 ANNUAL MEETING CONTEST

AMI-Investment in Future Cost Savings

Dear Members,

Payment Mailing Address Change

Pennies From Heaven Donates $3,485 To The American Cancer Society

Second AMI Pilot

WINNERS CIRCLE

HURRICANE HANDBOOK

SAFETY CORNER – GENERATOR SAFETY

WINNERS’ CIRCLE

NEED HELP? CALL (352) 793 -3801

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NEED HELP? CALL (352) 793 -3801

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