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.
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.
