SECO Energy’s Tracey Cottrell Elected to the Sunshine 811 Board of Directors
SECO Energy’s Corporate Security & Risk Management Specialist Tracey Cottrell has been elected to the Sunshine 811 Board of Directors. As an 18-year SECO employee, Mrs. Cottrell has extensive experience in both the utility industry and working with the Florida Sunshine 811 statewide underground utility locating system. Mrs. Cottrell has previously been involved with strategic planning and served as Vice-Chair for two years on the 811 Board’s Damage Prevention Committee.
From Committee Volunteer to Sunshine 811 Board Member
SECO Energy’s Corporate Security & Risk Management Specialist Tracey Cottrell
Mrs. Cottrell shared her excitement to join the 21-member board and projected the message of adhering to Florida’s safe digging law. Her SECO career began as a Member Services Agent in the Call Center and quickly transitioned to the Engineering Department where she worked directly with SECO’s contracted utility facilities locators, USIC. She acted as the liaison between SECO and the USIC to ensure tickets were completed on time in an effort to assist in moving utility locating projects forward to keep pace with SECO Energy’s substantial growth over the past decade. Mrs. Cottrell invested time and research into learning more about Sunshine 811 requirements.
To ensure safe work practices, utilities are required to add many specifics on requests to locate underground facilities. Every utility that belongs to Sunshine 811 uploads its facilities onto their map and the 811 system assigns underground utility locating requests to the utility or utilities that have facilities located in the space where digging – whether the project is large or small – will occur.
The Sunshine 811 system was enacted to reduce damage to facilities owned by utilities across the state. Mrs. Cottrell processes all damage claims for SECO, which relates closely to Sunshine 811. The bulk of SECO Energy’s damage reports are “dig-ins.” Homeowners and excavators will at times begin excavation before the locator service visits the location and places flags that mark underground facilities – electric, gas, water, telecom – showing the location of these lines. Digging before the utilities are marked is unsafe. Calling before you dig is the law in Florida, which is in place to ensure public safety and the safety of the excavator.
Mrs. Cottrell is hoping to use her tenure on the Sunshine 811 Board to promote safety. She stated, “Through my Sunshine 811 Board service, I am very excited to share my knowledge of safe working practices as it relates to the Sunshine 811 system. Representing SECO Energy, I am willing to share my knowledge with my fellow Board members and continue to enhance the Sunshine 811 strategy to promote safe digging across Florida. Thank you to my fellow Sunshine Board members who have elected me to join their working ranks.”
Gregg Morrell, SECO Energy’s Chief Corporate Services Officer, stated, “Safety is SECO Energy’s top Core Value. Damage to SECO’s equipment can create extremely dangerous conditions, power outages, and subsequent repairs that are costly for the membership. SECO routinely educates its members about safe-digging practices and has processes to seek compensation for damaged equipment. We are very proud of Mrs. Cottrell’s election to the Sunshine 811 Board and trust that she will be a valuable resource and promotor of safe-digging practices.”
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