SECO News October 2025
The Value of Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Electric Service
DEAR MEMBERS,
We often take the electricity that powers our homes and businesses for granted. Yet less than 100 years ago, Central Florida was largely without electric service – investor-owned utilities considered it too expensive to extend lines to rural homes and farmsteads. During the Great Depression, neighbors came together to build electric cooperatives, bringing electricity to rural communities when it was needed most.
Electricity keeps your home comfortable, your food fresh, your laundry clean, and your devices charged. It powers schools, local businesses, and fuels community growth, connecting you to every corner of the world.
When compared to other household expenses, electricity remains one of the best values in your budget. The average SECO Energy home consumes roughly 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month. Through careful long-term planning, efficient operations, and a commitment to cooperative principles, SECO’s rates have remained relatively stable. At today’s rates, most homes spend less than $5 per day on electricity – an exceptional value even as the costs of other essentials continue to rise.
Behind every flip of a switch is a dedicated team ensuring your family’s comfort and safety. SECO maintains more than 14,000 miles of electric infrastructure across our service area. When storms or outages occur, we respond quickly, understanding the vital role electricity plays in our daily life.
SECO’s mission is to deliver reliable and innovative energy services to our members and communities. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is one of many innovative solutions SECO has developed that gives you insight and control over your energy usage. The AMI driven Smart Connect program works with your in-home devices, such as your smart thermostats and electric vehicle chargers to reduce peak energy demand and help lower SECO’s wholesale power costs. Additionally, our home energy reviews can help you identify common sense ways to reduce electricity consumption and maximize the value of every kilowatt-hour.
SECO Energy delivers the electricity that powers your life and your community. It supports your quality of life, drives the local economy, and strengthens neighborhoods. We are proud to provide you safe, reliable, and affordable electric service – and we will continue working diligently to keep it that way.
Sincerely,
CURTIS WYNN
Chief Executive Officer
SECO Energy is seeking student delegates for the 2026 Florida Youth Tour in Tallahassee. This program is open to high school juniors living in SECO-served homes. Twelve students will be selected, with one from each of our nine Districts and three additional candidates.
Delegates will be sponsored by SECO to join over 100 peers on February 4 – 5, 2026, for tours of the State Capitol, Florida’s Supreme Court, and other local attractions. From the chosen students, four will have the chance to attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., where they will learn about electric cooperatives and engage with elected officials. This experience aims to deepen understanding of rural electrification and foster networking and leadership opportunities.
To qualify for the SECO Energy Youth Tour, applicants must meet the following criteria:
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Students must be currently enrolled as a high school junior or be home-schooled at the junior level within one of our nine service Districts.
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The student must live with a parent or guardian whose home is served by SECO Energy and must have an active account at the time of application and during the tour dates.
Applicants must submit a short essay on the future of the energy industry and a letter of recommendation from a school counselor, teacher, administrator, or community leader.
Energy vampires or phantom loads can haunt your electric bill. Many appliances and electronics drain electricity even when turned off or in standby mode, contributing to a “phantom load.” Microwaves, TVs, computers, gaming consoles, phone chargers, and remote-control devices are common energy vampires.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, phantom loads account for 5 to 10% of residential energy use, costing the average household up to $100 a year.
TIPS TO REDUCE ENERGY VAMPIRES:
- Use Power Strips: Plug devices into a surge or timed power strip with switches to turn them off completely when not in use.
- Unplug Unused Devices: Disconnect appliances like coffee makers and phone chargers after use.
Be mindful to keep these energy drains at bay to avoid inflated bills. For more energy efficiency tips, visit SECOEnergy.com.
Protect your home from damaging power surges and spikes with SECO Energy’s Surge MitiGator™ program. Power surges are sudden, intense increases in voltage that can damage or destroy household appliances and electronic devices, including televisions, computers, cordless telephones, and more.
Safeguard your home’s appliances with SECO’s meter-based surge arrester. This device is designed to prevent unnecessary financial loss by protecting large appliances (such as motors and compressors) by reducing surges at the meter before they enter your home.
You can lease this protection for only $5.95 per month, plus tax, or purchase it for $349, plus tax. From October 1 to November 15, 2025, SECO will waive the $40 installation fee.
Question from Member:
Will a programmable thermostat really help me reduce energy costs?
You Asked: We Answer:
Absolutely! A programmable thermostat helps you take control of your energy use by automatically adjusting temperatures when you’re asleep or away from home. When used correctly, a programmable thermostat can reduce your annual energy costs by up to 10 – 15%, according to the Department of Energy (Energy.gov). That’s money back in your pocket while still keeping you and your family comfortable.
WANT TO TAKE YOUR SAVINGS A STEP FURTHER?
Earn rewards by enrolling your smart devices (such as a thermostat, EV charger, or battery backup system) in our Smart Connect program. To learn more about the program and eligibility, visit SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Smart Connect.
BOARD – LED INITIATIVE PROVIDES PAYMENT RELIEF AFTER SUMMER HEATWAVE
Following an extreme summer heatwave that pushed energy use to record levels, SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees has championed a major change to its residential deposit procedure. Qualifying residential members will now have their deposits automatically credited to their electric bill – no request needed.
TO QUALIFY, YOU MUST:
- Have paid a deposit when opening a residential account with SECO and still have an active deposit balance on the account
- Have completed 24 consecutive months of excellent SECO payment history.
“This change reflects our commitment to putting members first,” said Gerald Anderson, President of SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. “After this summer’s extreme heat, we wanted to find tangible relief for those eligible for a deposit refund and thank them for their loyalty and good payment history.”
District 6 Trustee Mike Muffett, an early advocate for automatically refunding member deposits, shared, “We know our members work hard, and many have been stretched thin. These steps show that SECO is their trusted energy provider, especially in challenging times.”
In addition, through a partnership with FloridaCommerce, eligible SECO members will receive payment assistance funded by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The federal program assists income-qualified households with energy costs. Normally, members must apply for LIHEAP support, but thanks to this partnership, qualifying member accounts will automatically receive federal energy assistance credit on their SECO electric bill – no application required.
FIRST EPISODE PREMIERES OCTOBER 9
We’re always looking for better ways to communicate and connect with you—our members. That’s why SECO Energy is launching a new podcast!
Episode 1: “Who We Are & Why We Serve” with CEO Curtis Wynn and VP of Communications, Community & Member Experience, Kathy Judkins. Learn more about your cooperative, how we serve our community, and how we’re finding new ways to stay connected with you. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Read the full October 2025 SECO News.
