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SECO Celebrates 2017 Scholarship Awardees

SECO Energy celebrated its 2017 SECO Scholarship program with a reception for the scholarship awardees and their families at its headquarters in Sumterville Monday evening. Twelve graduating high school seniors, who live in a home served by SECO, were awarded for their scholarly pursuits with a $3,000 scholarship to the university of their choice. All of the students have plans to attend a university in The Sunshine State.

 

SECO is proud to introduce its 2017 class of scholarship awardees who hail from Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties:

 

  •   Karla Michell DeAnda – North Marion High School – Marion County
  •   Amy Michele Folker – The Villages Charter High School – Sumter County
  •   Jordan Gangi – Lecanto High School – Citrus County
  •   Macey Marie Graham – Umatilla High School – Lake County
  •   Garret Thomas Heussner – Belleview High School – Marion County
  •   Summer Noel Hotz – Real Life Christian Academy – Lake County
  •   Daniel McNair – North Marion High School – Marion County
  •   Joaquin Isaiah Negron – The Villages Charter High School – Sumter County
  •   Sarah Rose O’Neill – Tavares High School – Lake County
  •   Hannah Lea Pendleton – Citrus High School – Citrus County
  •   Robert Reed – Dunnellon High School – Marion County
  •   Mikkala Shea Supancic – West Port High School – Marion County

 

SECO Celebrates 2017 Scholarship Awardees group picture

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is guided by the seven cooperative principles. Its scholarship program encompasses two of these principles – Concern for Community and Education, Training and Information. Providing financial support to local, young scholars beginning their education, prepares them as future potential SECO employees and community leaders.

 

Ray Vick, SECO’s Board of Trustees President stated, “I am very impressed with SECO’s 2017 scholarship awardees achievements. These young men and women are bright, ambitious and a credit to their communities. On behalf of myself and the Board, I wish them the very best as they begin fulfilling their dreams.”

 

Jim Duncan, CEO agrees, “SECO’s 2017 scholarship group is impressive. I hope some of the latest crop of scholarship awardees contact SECO after graduation or during their summer break for employment and internship opportunities. This summer, one of our 2016 scholarship winners, Megan Elliott, is returning to her hometown and interning in SECO’s Operations department. SECO is a centrally located, regional utility that offers high-paying careers along with an exceptional benefits package.”

 

Learn more about SECO’s scholarship program and additional community outreach programs. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Special Olympics Run Starts at SECO

On Wednesday morning, SECO Energy’s employees enthusiastically greeted participants of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. Sumter County’s leg of the torch run started at SECO’s headquarters in Sumterville, FL for the second consecutive year.

 

Various branches of law enforcement officers throughout the county jumped on bicycles to trek 11 miles from SECO to SCARC Inc., a group home in Bushnell for the disabled. Major Steve Binegar from the Sumter County Sheriff’s office had the privilege of carrying the flamed torch.

 

Special Olympics Run Starts at SECO - SECO’s employees took a quick photo with law enforcement

 

SECO’s Vice President of Corporate Services & Human Resources Gregg Morrell stated, “SECO Energy, its Board of Trustees and our employees strongly support all levels of law enforcement and hosting this great cause was an honor. Employees enjoyed cheering the runners and bikers on as they geared up to carry the torch through Sumter County’s leg of the Torch Run. We look forward to participating again next year.”

 

For decades, over 5,000 officers from more than 300 Florida law enforcement agencies carry the torch on a 1,500-mile relay through all 67 counties in Florida. The state’s “Final Leg” of the Torch Run opens the State of Florida’s Special Olympics Summer Games on Friday, May 19, at Disney ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista.

 

Special Olympics Run Starts at SECO - Major Steve Binegar of Sumter County Sheriff’s office trekked off with the flame of hope torch for Sumter County’s leg of 1,500-mile relay across 67 counties in Florida.

 

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

SECO Joins Earthfest at Arbor Day in Ocala

SECO Energy’s Vegetation Management team participated in the City of Ocala’s Earthfest at Arbor Day in the Great Outdoors on Saturday, April 22, at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala.

 

Hundreds of guest visited Tuscawilla Park in downtown Ocala, to enjoy the lovely spring weather and visit with vendors and participants in celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day. Visitors to SECO Energy’s booth took home over 125 free trees, lots of additional give-aways and the children enjoyed the face painting.

 

SECO’s Vegetation Management team of certified arborists, who have been specially trained in all aspects of arboriculture, were on-hand to lend advice to the new tree owners. SECO’s arborists shared proper tree planting, pruning, and long-term care and maintenance advice for specific tree species. Arborists also answered additional tree-related questions and advised planters where to best plant their new trees to save on energy costs.

 

In April, SECO was pleased to announce that the utility was once again recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Line USA Utility. This is the tenth year SECO has earned the honor of this designation.

 

John LaSelva, SECO’s Vice President of Operations stated, “I hope all who visited the SECO team at Earthfest at Arbor Day enjoyed the face painting, prizes and free trees. SECO is proud to share its tree-related knowledge with the public to promote greener landscapes. Would you like to save energy and lower your monthly energy costs? Consider planting trees. Trees not only beautify outdoor spaces and provide cleaner air – they are also a simple energy-efficiency tool. Trees planted near your home offer shade during the summer, resulting in lower energy costs.”

 

Learn more about tree-line safety, how trees can save energy and planting the right tree in the right place on our website. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

Solar Scam Prevention

They’re at it again! The solar scammers have infiltrated SECO Energy’s service territory. They claim to be working with SECO. They state that your electric bills are averaging a certain dollar amount. They sound credible; they’re not! The dialogue is all too familiar and for this reason SECO says, “Beware.” If it sounds too good to be true, it typically is too good to be true.

 

SECO Energy knows how scammers work. Too often, the Cooperative is contacted by members who have spent their hard-earned dollars on solar panels and are disappointed that they are not saving significant money on their electric bills. Although solar technology continues to improve and the price of panels and installation has decreased, it is still a hefty investment. The initial cost for a solar photovoltaic system is sizable compared to the savings on a member’s monthly electric bill – even with the current tax incentives. Traditional electricity supplied by your utility is still the best value, but SECO is happy to help walk members through the process of a solar installation at their homes or businesses.

 

Solar Scam Prevention, Beware

 
 
When contemplating solar, there is so much to consider. What works for one person may not work for another. Your location may or may not be conducive to solar energy production. Don’t let a scammer’s one-size-fits-all approach convince you to make a hasty decision. Before engaging a contractor, contact SECO’s Energy Services Specialists. These experts are trained at the Florida Solar Energy Center, and they have tools to help determine if solar is beneficial for you. SECO also suggests that you solicit bids from a minimum of three reputable solar installers. The Florida Solar Energy Industries Association website (www.FLASEIA.org) has a complete list of recommended contractors.  

 

If you would like to live the “Solar Life” but don’t want to make a big financial investment, SECO has an option for you. The Cooperative’s “Solar Life” program requires no upfront investment in panels, no roof holes, no insurance and no maintenance costs. No need to worry about HOA or zoning restrictions. And no need to cut trees in hopes of increasing rooftop solar production. Subscriptions in the “Solar Life” program carry no cancellation fee and no minimum term. The cost is $32 a month for four panels and the kilowatt hours generated reduces the amount of utility-supplied power. Enroll in the “Solar Life” program today here..

 
 
If you would like more information, visit our Solar Power section. Contact SECO through our website’s Contact Us form. Or call (800) 732-6141 and speak with a representative today. SECO can help you separate fact from fiction and not become a victim.

SECO Team Raises $22,000 for Relay For Life

SECO Energy’s Relay For Life Team raised $22,000 to advance the fight against cancer at Sumter County’s Relay For Life Event at the Sumter County Fairgrounds on Saturday, April 8. SECO Energy is a Silver Sponsor of the event and became the top fundraising business in Sumter County.

 

The SECO Team joined hundreds of volunteers at the Relay For Life walk. The purpose of the Relay For Life event is to remember those who have lost their fight against cancer, honor cancer survivors, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society make a global impact on cancer. Relay team members take turns walking during the 6 to 24-hour-event to symbolize a cancer patient’s non-stop fight. At the Relay, two members of the SECO Team were honored as cancer survivors to take part in a special lap.

 

This year, the SECO Team’s slogan was “Taking Aim at a Cure” and visitors to the site were treated to an old-fashioned patriotic country-fair experience. The team sold hamburgers, cotton candy, snow cones and drinks. The SECO Team sold chances to win a YETI® Tundra, donated by SECO Energy.

 

Toward the end of the night, the lights turn off for a very special lap, the Luminaria lap. The Luminaria lap is a quiet, solemn lap lit by hundreds of Luminaria bags, dedicated to honor or remember loved ones who fought or are fighting cancer. SECO purchased 21 Luminaria bags for its employees to personalize and remember their family and friends.

 

SECO Energy Team Raises $22,000 for Relay For Life

 

SECO’s Relay for Life Co-Captain, Meagan Thurston, who is also a SECO Human Resources Generalist, stated, “SECO has supported Relay for Life for 15 years and has raised over $95,000 for the American Cancer Society. This year, we are proud to reach the Sapphire fundraising level for the first time. It’s refreshing to be part of an organization that puts our community first. Thank you SECO for continuing to support the Relay For Life event year after year.”

 

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

SECO Earns Tree Line USA Utility for Tenth Year

SECO Energy is proud to announce it has once again been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Line USA Utility. This is the tenth year SECO has earned the honor of this designation.

 

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the Tree Line USA program exists to recognize best practices in public and private utility arboriculture, demonstrating how trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens.

 

SECO successfully earned its Tree Line USA Utility designation by adhering to the Arbor Day Foundation’s five core standards. SECO practices quality tree care, trains utility employees and contractors annually about best practices, sponsors tree planting and public education, offers a tree-based energy conservation program and participates in an Arbor Day Celebration.

 

Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation President, praised SECO’s tenth Tree Line USA designation. Lambe stated, “Your commitment to proper tree-care practice benefits your customers in numerous ways, including providing cleaner air and water, increasing property values and improving quality-of-life. Trees also conserve energy and reduce peak demand, a crucial benefit to customers and providers alike.”

 

John LaSelva, SECO’s Vice President of Operations stated, “I am extremely proud of the Vegetation Management team for its decade-long commitment to the Arbor Day Foundation. SECO’s team of certified arborists have the tools and knowledge to promote a healthy urban forest while reducing tree-caused outages.”

 

Enjoy a family-friendly event and visit with SECO’s Vegetation Management team at Earthfest at Arbor Day in the Great Outdoors on Saturday, April 22. The event is located at Tuscawilla Park, at 829 NE Sanchez Avenue in Ocala.

 

Learn more about tree-line safety and how trees can save energy on our Reliability page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Crews Worked Overnight Restoring Power After Storms

In the early morning hours Thursday, a band of powerful storms hovered over SECO Energy’s service area. The storms brought soaking rain, lightning, high winds and a tornado warning in our territory.

 

SECO is “Storm Ready” and was well prepared for the overnight storm. All SECO locations were fully staffed by 2:00 a.m. on Thursday morning with the company’s Operations crews, contract line crews and tree crews ready to respond to outages. System Operations and the company’s local call center were staffed as well. The fast-moving storm arrived in Marion County at 2:30 a.m. and traveled southeast through SECO’s service territory. The storm cleared the area around 6:30 a.m.

 

The outages were mostly small, isolated incidents involving downed trees and poles. Marion, Sumter and Citrus Counties were hardest hit, causing almost 1,500 members to lose power overnight. As of 7:30 a.m., crews are working to restore power to 254 members who remain without power. Crews are still out in full-force working the remaining outages, which should be restored by noon on Thursday.

 

John LaSelva, SECO’s Vice President of Operations, stated, “SECO’s well-designed, solidly-constructed system continues to perform well during storms. We continuously inspect, upgrade and conduct maintenance on our system to better serve our members. A well-maintained system with a comprehensive vegetation management program means less outages for members, and when storms hit, it makes for a shorter restoration time.”

 

Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1. Learn more about SECO’s storm readiness by visiting SECO’s Reliability page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates about SECO’s new Storm Center platform that is scheduled for launch this summer. The new system will include text, email and phone outage notification options.

SECO Sponsors Citrus County Fair Youth Livestock Show

For decades, SECO Energy has sponsored youth agriculture programs in its service area. To continue this long-held tradition, SECO’s Ben Brickhouse, Vice President of Engineering, attended the Citrus County Fair Youth Livestock Show in Inverness.

 

Students of all ages raise animals such as cows, horses, rabbits, chickens and pigs and proudly show their livestock at the Citrus County Fair Youth Livestock Show. 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) students from all over Citrus County compete in the livestock shows each year.

 

The Citrus County Fair is a family-friendly event in operation since the 1920s. The Fair Association’s mission is a group of volunteers who are committed to showcasing the talented youth of Citrus County and provide scholarship opportunities.

 

As SECO’s representative, Brickhouse purchased a 1,300 pound steer from 12-year-old Will Ward, a sixth grader at Inverness Middle School. Will has been a Lecanto Levi’s 4-H member for eight years and serves as club parliamentarian.  He is responsible for keeping order during meetings. Will said, “I am a SECO partner – SECO powers my family’s 4-H project.”

 

Brickhouse also purchased a 270-pound pig from Will’s sister, Grace Ward. Like her brother, Grace is also a member of the Lecanto Levi’s 4-H Club. This is Grace’s first pig she has raised and shown at the fair.

 

Brickhouse stated, “Will has participated in agriculture activities at the Citrus County Fair for years and his sister, Grace, has followed in his footsteps. Will and Grace both enjoy raising and caring for animals, and I am impressed with their knowledge and enthusiasm. I’m glad SECO was able to support them in their endeavors.”

 

Visit SECO’s Community page about its community outreach programs. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

President Trump’s Executive Order Revises Clean Power Plan

President Trump signed an executive order today that rolls back the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP). The action will change the course of illogical regulations that could have hindered SECO Energy’s ability to provide low-cost, reliable energy to its members.

 

The CPP had the potential to greatly impact the pocketbooks of families and businesses in SECO’s service area. The CPP proposed forcing energy providers in Florida to reduce CO2 emissions from existing power plants by 25 percent – potentially causing power plants that have already been retrofitted with state-of-the-art environmental controls to close prematurely.

 

Shuttering working, viable power plants prematurely would cost energy providers billions of dollars. The costs of closing these plants and building new CPP-approved power plants would also cost energy providers billions of dollars. These costs would directly impact consumers – raising electric rates for SECO members and for all energy consumers nationwide.

 

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “I am hopeful for the first time in a long time that a rational, reasonable national energy policy can be established that balances environmental concerns with reliable, affordable energy needs. The EPA greatly overreached when it tried to force energy providers and consumers into a plan that according to the former EPA head herself, Gina McCarthy, would have no measurable climate impact.”

 

Duncan continued, “With the new administration, we are entering into new and as yet uncharted territory. I hope cool heads will prevail and common sense makes a comeback. As I have said for years, energy consumers deserve a national energy policy that protects the environment as well as consumer’s pocketbooks and need for reliable power.”

 

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

Record Attendance at SECO’s 79th Annual Meeting of the Membership

Attendance boomed at SECO Energy’s 79th Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, March 25. Thousands of members, guests, vendors and VIPs enjoyed hot breakfast biscuits, sweet treats, energy efficiency displays, live entertainment, gifts and a chance to win grand prizes and various door prizes. The weather was filled with trademark Florida sunshine and the springtime breeze kept everyone cool.

 

The Cooperative’s 79th Annual Meeting broke attendance records with a total of 4,539 registered members and their guests, compared to 3,100 registered members and guests in 2016. Additional parking areas were needed due to the increased attendance. The parking team was responsible for parking over 2,000 vehicles – 600 more than last year – along with 18 motorcycles and even one golf cart that came down US 301 in the wee morning hours.

 

Parking 2,000 vehicles over a three-hour period and providing shuttle service is complicated. Coordinating the exit of that many vehicles in less than an hour is no small feat either, but SECO appreciates its members’ patience with the exit traffic.

 

SECO Energy 79th Annual Meeting, Record Attendance at SECO's 79th Annual Meeting of the Membership

 

The crowd was well-fed with over 4,500 breakfast biscuits served. SECO kept the crowd lively with sweet treats and caffeine serving more than 10,500 Krispy Kreme doughnuts, 16,000 chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies, along with 5,300 cups of coffee and almost 6,000 cans of soda.

 

Registered members received a copy of SECO’s 2016 Annual Report and a gift bag with two commemorative insulated steel tumblers. SECO and its wholesale power provider Seminole Electric distributed over 6,000 LED bulbs to members. Members won a total of 127 door prizes, many donated by local businesses and vendors that are also SECO members. Four cash prizes were up for grabs along with a refurbished Dodge Dakota truck and a refurbished electric golf cart.

 

Michael Niemiec from Inverness won the refurbished 2005 Dodge Dakota truck, Lake Panasoffkee’s Shannon Jessup was the winner of the refurbished electric golf cart from The Villages Golf Cars and The Villages resident Edward Maffuccio was the happy winner of the $1,500 cash prize. Other cash prize winners were Clark Smith from Webster who won $1,000 and Christine Bartow from The Villages and Edward James from Leesburg both won a $500 cash prize.

 

SECO Energy 79th Annual Meeting, Grand Prize winners

 

In the days leading up to the meeting and during, over 400 additional members “liked” SECO’s Facebook page and over 700 members interacted with the cooperative on Facebook during the meeting. These members were entered into a random drawing to win a $300 bill credit. Rosemary May of The Villages was the winner of the bill credit. Members who pledged a financial contribution to The Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) had a chance to win a patriotic picnic set. ACRE is a committee that funds candidates who support the interests of electric cooperatives such as SECO. Gloria Blackman of Tavares, one of 75 members who pledged to assist ACRE, was the winner of the patriotic picnic set.

 

Several of SECO’s vendor-partners were on hand to display their energy-saving products and services for interested members. SECO displayed its new Solar Life program – the hassel-free green choice alternative to individual rooftop solar. Six members signed up to have a portion of their utility-supplied power reduced by the output of four solar panels in Seminole Electric’s 8,000 panel solar array located in Hardee County.

 

SECO’s Solar Square array and its online production dashboard was also on display and accessible to members. The solar demo’s house replica displays a bi-directional meter for net metering, an inverter and a photovoltaic module on a simulated rooftop. Members interested in solar energy can use the Solar Estimator to help determine costs and output.

 

During his CEO Report, Jim Duncan asked members to consider enrolling in the Pennies from Heaven program that offers financial aid to local members. “SECO’s Pennies from Heaven program rounds up members bills to the nearest dollar. Currently, less than 8,000 members contribute to the program. If all 197,000 members enrolled in Pennies from Heaven, the yearly contribution would top $1.18 million. Imagine all of the good your pennies could contribute to in your communities if every SECO member enrolls in the program.”

 

Ray Vick, Board of Trustees President, stated, “I am personally asking all 197,000 members to consider contributing to Pennies from Heaven. With more members contributing, the collective pennies could fund local charitable organizations, purchase equipment for first responders, support school and youth programs, fund teacher endowments and many more worthy causes in SECO’s service area.”

 

Unfortunately, the record setting attendance created a small shortage in breakfast biscuits and Annual Report gift bags for about 100 members who arrived just before the business meeting began. SECO is in the process of identifying those members to provide an apology letter and gesture of goodwill.

 

The PowerPoint slides from Saturday’s Annual Meeting are posted online at www.secoenergy.com>YourCo-op. Video footage of the meeting will be posted on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter next week. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.