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SECO Energy Trustee Joyce Anderson Earns Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate

SECO Energy congratulates District 2 Trustee Joyce Anderson on earning her Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) Certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The CCD is the first part of the NRECA’s Director Education Program.

 

According to the NRECA, directors/trustees seeking the CCD certification must complete five courses that focus on basic cooperative governance and the essential skills required of cooperative directors/trustees. The CCD prepares directors/trustees to fulfill their fiduciary duty as elected officials serving on behalf of their membership. Upon completion of the five CCD required courses, directors/trustees are awarded the Credential Cooperative Director Certificate.

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for, and owned by its members. SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees consists of members who live in SECO’s service area. They are elected to oversee the governance of the cooperative. Each Trustee on the Board is elected by the members who reside in his/her District. Collectively, the Trustees are responsible for establishing, reviewing and revising corporate policies to ensure that SECO continues to preserve reliable, affordable service for all members.

 

Trustee Anderson is proud to represent her District on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. Mrs. Anderson stated, “I am excited to further pursue my Board education through the NRECA in order to fully represent the members in District 2. My former experience in the utility industry has prepared me for my role on SECO’s Board of Trustees. I am proud to complete the Credentialed Cooperative Director certification and look forward to continuing my Board education.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Congratulations, Trustee Anderson, on earning your Credentialed Cooperative Director certification. I am thankful for your Board service and willingness to serve as your District’s representative on the SECO Energy Board and to serve as one of our co-op’s representatives on the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association board.”

 

View our Board of Trustees page for a brief bio of SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees and a District boundaries map. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Trustee Joseph Kusiak Earns Director Gold Credential

SECO Energy congratulates District 7 Trustee Joseph Kusiak on earning his Director Gold Credential (DGC) from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The DGC offers a continuing education path for directors/trustees beyond the Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) and Board Leadership Certificate (BLC).

 

According to the NRECA, the DGC recognizes directors/trustees who desire a tangible credential that demonstrates their ongoing commitment to advancing their knowledge and performing their fiduciary duty to the best of their ability.

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for, and owned by its members. SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees consists of members who live in SECO’s service area. They are elected to oversee the governance of the cooperative. Each Trustee on the Board is elected by the members who reside in his/her District. Collectively, the Trustees are responsible for establishing, reviewing and revising corporate policies to ensure that SECO continues to preserve reliable, affordable service for all members.

 

Trustee Kusiak completed the required education credits to earn both his CCD and BLC in November 2019 and is proud to complete the credits for the Director Gold Credential. Mr. Kusiak stated, “I am proud to have completed the education requirements to earn the Director Gold Credential from the NRECA. Serving on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees and garnering the trust of the members in District 7 is an honorable and rewarding experience. I look forward to continuing my Board service and celebrating SECO’s future success.”

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Congratulations, Trustee Kusiak, on earning your Director Gold Credential and completing the NRECA’s director/trustee continuing education courses. I am thankful for your Board service and willingness to serve as your District’s representative on the SECO Energy Board and to serve as one of our co-op’s representatives on the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association board.”

 

View our Board of Trustees page for a brief bio of SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees and a District boundaries map. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy CEO Jim Duncan Announces Retirement

After 43 years of service, SECO Energy’s CEO Jim Duncan announced his plans to retire in January 2022. Mr. Duncan conveyed his plans to the Board of Trustees at this month’s meeting during an executive session. The announcement comes as SECO Energy approaches its 83rd Annual Business Meeting of the Membership in March and as Mr. Duncan approaches his 75th birthday this coming August.

 

Mr. Duncan has served as the Chief Executive Officer of SECO Energy since 1990 and is one of the longest-serving CEOs in SECO Energy’s history. His career with SECO began in 1979 when he was hired as Director of Accounting and Finance at a time when the cooperative’s meter count was just 37,000. When Mr. Duncan was promoted to CEO in 1990, the cooperative served just 66,000 homes and businesses. Under Mr. Duncan’s purview, the cooperative reached the 100,000-meter milestone in 1999.

 

Much has changed in the last three decades with Mr. Duncan’s leadership. Reliability improved dramatically as Mr. Duncan recognized the need to invest in the cooperative’s infrastructure and strengthen a vegetation management program to promote the world-class delivery of reliable power. Under Mr. Duncan’s watchful financial eye, rates came down and the cooperative again became competitive in the Florida electric market.

 

In recent years, SECO Energy surpassed the 200,000-meter milestone and under Mr. Duncan’s leadership became a three-time J.D. Power award winner with scores topping those of all utilities in the nation in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2020, the cooperative upheld its title as an American Customer Satisfaction Index frontrunner in Florida and nationally with a score of 91. Without question, Mr. Duncan has built a legacy of customer-service focus that will remain strong long after his retirement next year.

 

Mr. Duncan and his wife Connie have been married for 53 years. They are avid boaters, travelers and University of Florida Gator fans. The couple has two grown sons and three grandchildren. Mr. Duncan stated, “Connie and I have spent the last few decades dividing our free time between Central Florida, St. Augustine, our home state of Tennessee and amazing scuba diving vacation spots. Though the timing of my retirement was a difficult and emotional decision, we know that it’s time to take the next steps to spend our golden years focused on fun and family.”

 

With 43 years of service, Mr. Duncan has devoted his life to the cooperative’s success for the benefit of its employees and members – he will be deeply missed. The Board of Trustees is in the process of identifying a recruiting firm to assist with finding Mr. Duncan’s replacement. Internal and external candidates will be considered.

 

This year’s Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 25, at 4:30 p.m. as a virtual webcast again this year as the COVID-cautious practices continue to protect employees, members and the continuity of electric service. Watch for your invitation to the virtual business meeting in your February or March billing statement.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Soars to a 91 in Latest ACSI

SECO Energy’s customer satisfaction scores reached a new high for 2020. The not-for-profit electric cooperative soared to 91 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) rating that was measured as a part of SECO’s member satisfaction survey and calculated by ACSI. SECO’s score of 91 is a one-point increase over its 2019 score of 90.

 

The American Customer Satisfaction Index provides a one-of-a-kind, cross-industry measurement of customer satisfaction in the United States. Each year, the ACSI uses data from interviews with roughly 300,000 customers as inputs to an econometric model for analyzing customer satisfaction with more than 400 companies in 46 industries and 10 economic sectors. ACSI data has proven to be strongly related to several essential indicators of micro and macroeconomic performance.

 

At the end of 2020, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) conducted the membership survey on SECO Energy’s behalf that included the ACSI metrics at year end and contacted members by email to ask about their unique experience with the cooperative. Members rated SECO with an impressive ACSI score of 91, which is the highest score SECO has received since taking part in annual ACSI surveys since 2010.

 

SECO Energy’s ACSI score is tops when compared to average ACSI scores in the Energy Utilities Sector. The average ACSI score for energy utilities as an industry is down from 73 in 2019 to 72 in 2020. Nationally, cooperative utilities averaged 73 in 2020, which is 2 points lower than the 2019 cooperative average. Investor-owned utilities and municipal utilities scores averaged 72, both of which are 1 point lower than the 2019 average.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO Energy and our world-class employees excel in customer satisfaction. I am exceptionally proud of their service and dedication to our members and the communities we serve. When comparing our 2020 ACSI score of 91 to our industry peers and Fortune 500 companies, SECO is clearly a satisfaction frontrunner.”

 

Duncan added, “Thank you, members, for taking the time to respond and recognizing our employees’ efforts on your behalf. We are grateful for your approval and continued support.”

 

In recent years, SECO Energy has received national attention and three J.D. Power trophies for its exceptional customer satisfaction rankings. In the 2015 J.D. Power study, SECO Energy was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Midsize Utilities in the South.” And in 2016 and 2017, SECO was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Cooperatives.”

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our About page to learn more about the Central Florida not-for-profit electric cooperative.

$36,000 in Scholarships Available from SECO Energy

SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees proudly approved the 2021 SECO Scholarship Program at a recent board meeting. $36,000 in scholarships is available for 12 recipients to receive $3,000 each.

 

The scholarship program is open to high school seniors who are graduating in May/June 2021. Applicants must live in a home served by SECO Energy and plan to pursue a career in the energy industry. Awardees must also be enrolled full-time in an accredited college, university or vocational/technical school located in Florida by the end of 2021. Qualifying degrees or certifications are in technology, engineering, math or business.

 

The energy industry is a growing field in Florida and SECO must find new, creative ways to connect with students who could be potential employees to hire a workforce with the technical skills and training required in this competitive field. According to the 2020 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), Florida currently has 124,954 traditional energy workers statewide – with a large number gearing up toward retirement in the coming years. Of these energy workers, 54,283 are in electric power generation, 18,802 are in fuels and 51,869 are in transmission, distribution and energy storage.

 

CEO Jim Duncan looks forward to reading about the applicants’ career plans and accomplishments. Duncan stated, “SECO Energy and the electric industry is a great place to plant career roots. Our SECO Scholarship Program is a recruiting tool that introduces us to local students pursuing a career in the growing energy industry. We hope to attract local students who want to engage with SECO for internship opportunities or as a possible future employer.”

 

Duncan continued, “Not-for-profit electric cooperatives like SECO Energy prioritize community support, environmental stewardship, corporate citizenship and sustainability. SECO offers competitive wages but we also offer a pension plan and healthy 401k match – which is a hard-to-find benefit in this day and age. In addition, SECO provides employees with high-quality, low-cost medical, dental and vision coverage. It’s a great place to work, and we are an essential employer that offers a healthy balance of work and personal life with a generous paid-time-off program, student loan reimbursement and more.”

 

Applications are available online beginning January 4, 2021. Paper applications are available at SECO’s five Member Service Centers located in Eustis, Groveland, Inverness, Ocala and Sumterville. Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021.

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

‘Tis the Season to Give – SECO Energy Donates Retired Laptops and iPads

SECO Energy broadens its commitment to its local communities by donating used retired laptops and tablets to Christmas Across South Lake, a charitable organization in Lake County dedicated to bringing a brighter Christmas to children. The donated laptops and tablets will give teenagers a Christmas gift they may not otherwise receive. This much needed equipment will help with their educational studies.

 

Christmas Across South Lake is a collaborative community Christmas project that aims to help over 1,000 children and families this holiday season with food for the families and toys for the children. According to Christmas Across South Lake volunteers, the organization has difficulty locating presents for their teens.

 

Each year, SECO Energy donates a small number of used retired laptops and tablets to community non-profit organizations within SECO’s service territory. SECO offered a small supply of recently retired laptops and tablets for the organization’s older teens who generally go without a Christmas present.

 

SECO Energy Sr. Consultant for Civic, Charitable & Government Relations Kathy Judkins stated, “As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO Energy is committed to supporting education in its service territory. It’s our hope a few of these laptop or tablet recipients will be interested in pursuing a career in the energy industry and apply for our educational scholarship in January 2021.”

 

SECO has long supported local students through educational scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors who live in a home served by SECO. For more than two decades, SECO has enabled over 300 young scholars to begin their dreams of a college education by awarding over $500,000 in scholarships. 2021 scholarship applications will be available on January 4, 2021, for qualifying graduating high school seniors. The application deadline is March 26, 2021.

 

For eligibility requirements and details about SECO’s Scholarship program or to print an application online, visit our
Scholarship page.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy and Touch of Class Corvette Club Keep Christmas Spirit Alive with Toys for Tots

SECO Energy Member Service Centers serve as Toys for Tots drop-off locations. The not-for-profit cooperative’s Inverness Member Service Center received nearly 100 toys from the Citrus County Touch of Class Corvette Club (TOCC). Along with SECO employees’ toy donations and TOCC delivered toys, the spirit of Christmas will remain alive for many children in the Citrus County area.

 

Through the ongoing efforts of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program’s mission and community partnerships, new, unwrapped toys are collected and distributed as Christmas gifts to local children in need. “Santa is still coming to town,” said Paul Purely, Toys for Tots Coordinator for Citrus County.

 

SECO Energy CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Under normal business circumstances or amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, SECO’s employees continue to express their kindness by giving to others. With the effort of our employees and organizations such as The Touch of Class Corvette Club, hundreds of children will receive a present on Christmas day.”

 

A few Touch of Class Corvette Club members, SECO Energy employees and a Toys for Tots Marine representative in his Dress Blues put on celebratory, protective masks and posed for the camera while displaying the toys gathered for children in need.

 

TOCC President George Lentowicz stated, “Our club believes that the display of our community’s concern and generosity through the Toys for Tots Program is vital in providing families and children with hope and encouragement through the Christmas season that lasts throughout the year.”

 

SECO Energy members who want to partner with SECO Energy to improve the quality of life in local communities can enroll in its Pennies from Heaven program that rounds up monthly bills to the nearest dollar. The small change donated through Pennies from Heaven supports financial assistance to local worthy causes in SECO’s service area. Requests for Angel Fund bill payment assistance are administered through several local agencies by calling 211 or visiting 211.org. Members who need bill payment assistance can also visit SECOEnergy.com and find a local social service agency using our interactive map.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Brings Holiday Joy with Toys for Tots Drive

As challenging as 2020 has been for many folks, it has not prevented SECO Energy employees and its members from spreading holiday joy this year by donating toys to Toys for Tots.

 

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation depends on local community support to brighten a child’s Christmas with a toy. That is why SECO Energy joined this worthy cause. The toys donated through Toys for Tots remain in the community where they are donated. For many local children, a toy donated through SECO employees’ and members’ generosity will be the only present received for Christmas.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated,“Even during 2020’s time of uncertainty, SECO employees remain committed to bringing a smile to children this Christmas. The donated toys will bring happiness and a sense of normalcy to children across our service area. That makes me smile. As a Marine myself, I am proud of our commitment to this organization and our employees’ and members’ generosity.”

 

Greg Merimee a Lake & Sumter Toys for Tots volunteer is thankful for SECO employee’s generosity. Merimee stated, “SECO Energy has been one of the best supporters to Toys for Tots every year. We must always bring a large truck just for SECO employees’ donations. They bountifully give so many beautiful bicycles and fantastic toys. On behalf of the Marine Corp League and Toys for Tots, we thank everyone at SECO.”

 

In addition to the hundreds of toys donated by employees, SECO’s Pennies from Heaven program matched toy donations with an additional $5,000 courtesy of the employees and members who participate in the program.

 

Senior Consultant for Civic, Charitable and Government Affairs Kathy Judkins manages the Toys for Tots donation drive for the cooperative. Judkins stated, “The toys collected will give children of many families a glimpse of hope this Christmas. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to continue to spread holiday cheer.”

 

SECO Energy members who want to partner with SECO Energy to improve the quality of life in local communities can enroll in the Pennies from Heaven program that rounds up monthly bills to the nearest dollar. The small change donated through Pennies from Heaven supports financial assistance to local worthy causes in SECO’s service area. Requests for Angel Fund bill payment assistance are administered through several local agencies by calling 211 or visiting 211.org. To find a social service agency, use SECO’s online interactive map. Members can simply input their address and search for an agency in their county of residence.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Employees Pledge $61,433 for Local United Ways

SECO Energy employees generously pledged $61,433 to local United Ways through the employee-led 2021 United Way Pledge Drive. United Ways in ten local counties will benefit from the dollars pledged for 2021.

 

SECO’s 400+ employees live in or near the counties the not-for-profit cooperative serves, and employees choose the county where their donated dollars will benefit. The bulk of SECO employees live in Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties, and these counties received the highest dollar amounts in donations.

 

The breakdown by county is: Lake and Sumter: $29,508; Marion: $20,885; Citrus: $6,023; and other counties (Gilchrist, Hernando, Levy, Orange, Pasco and Polk): $5,017. The total pledge for 2021 is $61,433.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO employees recognize that local community help is needed year-round and not only during the Christmas season. For this reason, employees take part in an annual employee-funded United Way Pledge Drive. Our employees’ pledge of $61,433 will make a big difference in the lives of local families.”

 

SECO Energy Senior Consultant for Civic, Charitable and Government Relations Kathy Judkins added, “This year has been challenging for some local families who have struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shutdown. The need is even greater than before. We appreciate our employees’ personal commitment to participate in our workplace giving campaign and their dedication to making a difference in the communities we serve.”

 

Members with a philanthropic spirit can assist their fellow members by enrolling in SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven charitable fund. Pennies from Heaven will round up participating members’ bills to the nearest dollar. The extra pennies are used to fund member bill payment assistance and other local worthy causes. This year, Pennies from Heaven has supported local food banks that have experienced critical shortages and donated $5,000 to local Toys for Tots organizations.

 

To enroll in Pennies from Heaven, visit our Pennies from Heaven page. Members who manage their account through SECO’s online account manager SmartHub can subscribe on the app or desktop version by selecting Billing & Payment and choosing Pennies from Heaven.

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Energy Recovers Quickly After Tropical Storm Eta

SECO Energy has completed the restoration effort for all members whose service was interrupted while Tropical Storm Eta trekked through the cooperative’s service area. Several thousand SECO members were left without service overnight.

 

Tropical Storm Eta brought heavy rain and winds to SECO’s area. The storm’s rainbands began to affect the area just after midnight on Thursday. The storm’s high wind gusts of up to 50 mph downed trees that toppled into power lines. This caused power outages, but SECO’s system experienced minimal damage from Tropical Storm Eta.

 

The not-for-profit cooperative was prepared. SECO line crews as well as line and tree contract crews were staged throughout the service area for a quick response to outages caused by Tropical Storm Eta. Crews in the field worked to restore service while behind-the-scenes employees employees answered outage calls, developed work plans for quick restoration and dispatched crews where needed.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “I am grateful for SECO Energy’s world-class employees who pulled together to restore service in less than one day to all members affected by Tropical Storm Eta. All of our employees are commited to working safely and providing excellent customer service every day. Whether in the field, or providing employee and member support from the office, our team’s performance was stellar.”

 

SECO Energy’s online outage reporting and communications platform StormCenter is available 24/7 to report new outages or check the status of an existing outage. Members can use their smartphones or tablets to report outages, enroll in outage notifications and alerts via email, text or voice message, or all three. An alert is sent when the system recognizes that your service has been interrupted. The alert will include crew status, start time and an estimated restoration time.

 

Members can visit StormCenter and bookmark the site on their smartphones or tablets. On StormCenter, members can view the outage map, manage notifications, check the status of an existing outage, report an area light issue and more.

 

Stay up to date on weather affecting SECO Energy’s service area, the latest news releases and cooperative updates by “liking” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter.