SECO News March 2022

Dear Members,

SECO Energy is experiencing accelerated growth in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors while operating with strong fiscal responsibility. Florida is amid a population uptick. We expect the expansion potential and increasing energy demand to be our norm for a time.

In 2021, we added upwards of 5,700 new active services systemwide. This level of growth in our service area and Central Florida is exciting, challenging and has a positive effect on our financial position. SECO must meet the increasing demand for energy, maintain existing infrastructure and preserve reliability. SECO is very busy keeping up with our growing region and maintaining our existing infrastructure to serve you.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, significant financial investments are made to serve new members and improve your service reliability. At yearend 2021, SECO’s investment in facilities topped over $1 billion and continues to grow. This ongoing facilities’ investment averages over $6 million per month.

We have retained our position as the third-largest Florida electric cooperative and seventh largest nationally out of about 800 distribution co-ops. Among our co-op peers, a growing infrastructure supporting more than 220,000 metered accounts is extraordinary. Our facilities include 48 substations and 13,000 miles of line to reliably serve members.

This past year, with Board of Trustees approval, SECO returned $6.46 million in Capital Credits to current and former members. Since inception, SECO has returned over $80 million in Capital Credits. Assigning and returning margins to our members makes us different from other electric utilities. This is what we like to call “the cooperative
difference.”

We control costs, maintain healthy equity, return excess margins like a true co-op should, and provide competitive rates. It is clear there is a difference when serving members in a not-for-profit environment. And that’s the cooperative difference.

We pledge to provide you with the most reliable and lowest cost electricity possible while not losing sight of the high premium you place on customer service.

Best regards,

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

Virtual Business Only 2022 Annual Virtual Meeting

Members, tune in to watch our 84th Annual Meeting live via virtual webcast on Thursday, March 24, at 4:30 p.m. To access the meeting, click on the Virtual Business Meeting homepage banner on SECOEnergy.com. Links to the webcast will also be published on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Though this year’s meeting is a virtual business-only Annual Business Meeting, we need your vote to approve the 2021 Annual Meeting Minutes. You can vote on Annual Meeting business by mail, electronically or by phone. All members who cast a vote are counted as present in person for determination of quorum as stated in the Bylaws Article III, Section E, #4.

We have 100 great prizes up for grabs! All members who vote on Annual Meeting Business (2021 Annual Meeting Minutes) are eligible to win a prize. The grand prizes are a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab truck, a 2019 EZGO TXT gas-powered golf cart and three $1,000 cash prizes. Other prizes include SECO Energy electric bill credits, Wi-Fi programmable thermostats, energy savings kits and more!

Review the list of prizes on page three. To cast your vote electronically, visit SECOEnergy.com and click on the 2022 Virtual Business Meeting Vote homepage banner or text VOTE to (352) 320-2200 and follow the link. To vote by mail, fill out the ballot in your 2022 Official Annual Meeting Notice and enclose it with your electric bill payment.

To vote by phone, call (352) 793-3801 and an agent will assist. Do you have a comment or question for us? Engage with SECO Energy during the 2022 Annual Business Meeting, and your question or comment may be addressed live. Drop us a note via email at SECO2022AM@SECOEnergy.com, give us a call at (352) 329-MEET (answered on March 24 only) or send a message on Facebook or Twitter starting at 3:30 on March 24.

Good luck, and thank you for voting! We’ll see you virtually on Thursday, March 24, at 4:30 for our 84th Annual Meeting.

2022 Annual Business Meeting Prize List

2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO EXTENDED CAB TRUCK
2019 EZGO TXT GAS-POWERED GOLF CART
$1,000 CHECKS (3)
GENERAC GENERATOR
$250 SECO ELECTRIC BILL CREDITS (5)
NEST LEARNING THERMOSTATS (10)
HONEYWELL SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
PREMIUM ENERGY SAVINGS KITS (5)
SENSI SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
$100 SECO ELECTRIC BILL CREDITS (5)
LUX SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
SURGE MITIGATOR SURGE PROTECTION 1-YEAR LEASE (5)
RADIO SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
SMART POWER STRIPS (5)
ENERGY SAVINGS KITS PLUS (5)
AMAZON ECHO DOTS (4)
12-PACK LED LIGHT BULBS (5)
STARTER ENERGY-EFFICIENCY KITS (5)

Celebrate 25 Years of our Surge Protection Program with Free Installation

SECO Energy is celebrating 25 years of its Surge Protection Program with savings for you! We’re offering free installation for all new Surge MitiGator enrollments until May 31. That’s a $25 savings for you during our 25th Surge Protection Anniversary.

SECO’s made in the USA meter-based surge arrester has proven reliable over the past 25 years by reducing or eliminating surges BEFORE they enter your home through the meter. More than 40,000 members are already enrolled in the program.

The Surge MitiGator has a beastly 15-year warranty and is designed to protect your home’s large-motor appliances. Household appliances and sensitive electronics such as televisions and computers can be damaged or destroyed by power surges. These also require point-of-use devices that can be purchased at hardware or big-box retailers for adequate coverage.

Start at the meter base with the Surge MitiGator for the best protection. You can lease the MitiGator for only $5.95 plus tax per month with free installation – a $25 savings. The purchase price ranges from $349 to $399 plus tax – and this includes free installation. Visit SECOEnergy.com > Surge MitiGator and complete the webform to learn more or enroll during this limited free installation promotion.

Read the full March 2022 SECO News online.

SECO News, March 2019

DUNCAN’S DIGEST

I would like to extend a personal invitation to join us for our 81st Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 23. Gates and registration open at 8 a.m. and the business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. SECO’s ever-hospitable, friendly employees are excited to host members and guests on Annual Meeting day.

RSVP online if you plan to attend. The online RSVP is for breakfast and gift headcount only. You will still need to register upon arrival. To RSVP online or click on the RSVP home page banner. You’ll be entered in a $300 bill credit prize drawing and must be present at the meeting to win.

The theme of this year’s meeting is also a mission: “Feeding the Cooperative Spirit.” Many local food pantries are experiencing critical food shortages that compromise their ability to support area residents. Join SECO, the United Way and your fellow members to help restock local food dispensaries in the counties we serve. Consider donating healthy options including meats and vegetables; grains (oatmeal, rice, pasta); baby food and canned meals (soups, stews). United Way and local food pantry volunteers will be on-hand to collect your donated items at food drop-offs located near the big American flags in the parking areas.

Speaking of food, we are serving the now-famous “big breakfast biscuit” (sausage, egg and cheese – one per person please). You’ll also find cookies, doughnuts, coffee and sodas. Limited picnic and high top tables are available on the south side of the Annual Meeting Pavilion. You are welcome to bring your own picnic blankets, folding/camp chairs or grab a seat under the Pavilion.

To register, bring a copy of your bill. A photo ID is required. At registration, pick up a ticket set for breakfast, gifts and door prizes. Immediately after registration, you’ll drop your door prize ticket in the prize barrel at Station 1 and proceed to Station 2 to pick up your SECO gift bag. Inside you’ll find Voting Packets for the Board-recommended Articles of Incorporation amendment and the corresponding Bylaws revision. You’ll also find a copy of our 2018 Annual Report.

Scout a good seat early. Visit our Energy Showcase before the business meeting begins to learn more about energy efficiency, visit with our partners and pick up a free LED provided by our wholesale power provider Seminole Electric Cooperative. Tap your toes, sing along or dance to live music provided by member-favorite Margo Rochelle & Rodeo Drive Band.

Take a stroll and locate a member of our Facebook Help Squad. Snap a selfie or pose for a picture with a SECO photo frame. Members who “like” SECO’s Facebook page and post a photo or comment during the Annual Meeting on our page are entered into a drawing for a $300 bill credit.

The Articles of Incorporation amendment with Mr. Duncan cover letter 2019 and Bylaws revision with Mr. Duncan cover letter 2019 votes take place before the business meeting adjourns. Prize drawings begin directly after the business meeting. Grand prizes include a refurbished 2009 Ford SuperCab 4X4, a golf cart and cash prizes. The door prize list also includes gift cards and high-tech items. Keep reading for a sneak peek of the complete door prize list!

You must be present to win, so I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

SECO CHAMPIONS – 400+ SECO EMPLOYEES

SECO’s 400+ employees are dedicated to providing exceptional service to members, co-workers and communities.

Thousands of members and guests join SECO Energy and its 400+ employees at our Annual Meetings. Members are surveyed about their Annual Meeting experience after the event, and they are not shy about sharing their feedback. Members enjoy the cooperative update, the breakfast biscuits and snacks, the live entertainment and learning about energy efficiency ideas at our Energy Showcase.

But hands-down, the highest-rated Annual Meeting experience is our members’ interactions with, and the hospitality provided by, our 400+ SECO Champion employees. Our group of hard working, local folks provide top-notch customer service to our members. Whether on the front lines or behind the scenes, SECO is proud of each employee and his/her work that helps pen our cooperative’s success stories – the stories of SECO Energy Champions.

Join us at our 81st Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 23, to interact with our employees and enjoy SECO hospitality at its finest. See you there!

ANNUAL MEETING 2019 DOOR PRIZES

Refurbished 2009 Ford SuperCab 4X4
Gas-powered golf cart
$1,500
$1,000
(2) $500
Masterbuilt Smokers
Shark Robotic Vacuum
Nest Learning Thermostats
Apple TVs
Wood-Burning Fire Pit
DEWALT Cordless Drills
Power Air Fryers
Foodsaver Vacuum Sealing Systems
Ring Video Doorbells
Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablets
Victrola 6-in-1 Entertainment Centers
Fire TV Cube
Black & Decker Cordless Combos
Amazon Fire TVs
Nix Digital Photo Frame
Nostalgia Vintage Ice Cream Makers
JBL Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Kobalt 227-piece Mechanic’s Tool Set
Fitbit Activity Trackers
Kobalt 22-piece Household Tool Set
Stanley Shop Vacs
$50 Visa Gift Cards

Read the full March 2019 SECO News online.

Members Re-elect District 3 Trustee Richard Belles

SECO Energy District 3 members gathered at The Villages’ Savannah Center on Thursday, January 24 to elect a Trustee to represent their District on SECO’s Board. Members voted to re-elect District 3 Trustee Richard Belles. A SECO member since 2001, Mr. Belles was first elected to the Board in 2013.

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO members who reside in the District elect one of their fellow members to serve on SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the members at large.

In January, both Mr. Belles and fellow District 3 resident Bryan Lifsey declared their willingness to serve the members in District 3 by submitting letters of intent to run. On the afternoon of January 24, a large crowd assembled in the Savannah Center to elect a District 3 Trustee for a three-year term.

Trustee Belles stated, “Thank you District 3 members for choosing me as your Trustee. I am humbled and honored by your support and trust. It is a pleasure to work on your behalf with my fellow Trustees, and I look forward to continuing my Board service.”

President Jerry Hatfield stated, “Mr. Belles’ Board service has had a meaningful impact on SECO’s improved reliability, financial stability and customer service recognitions and success. I congratulate him on his re-election and I look forward to his assistance in serving our fellow SECO members.”

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Congratulations to Mr. Belles on his re-election and thank you District 3 members for participating in your District Meeting. SECO’s Board of Trustees is an important piece of the cooperative process. They are a fiscally responsible group who is very supportive of SECO, its members and employees. I am grateful for our Board’s fiduciary guidance and oversight, and their collective knowledge of the utility industry.”

Duncan continued, “I hope members plan to attend our Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 23. We will be serving breakfast, snacks, visit the Energy Showcase for energy-efficiency displays, enjoy live entertainment and the chance to win door prizes. The grand prizes this year are a refurbished 2009 Ford SuperCab 4-wheel drive with less than 60,000 miles, a golf cart, cash and many other prizes.”

Visit our Trustees page to view a photo and read a brief bio of SECO’s Trustees along with a District map. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO News, March 2018

March is Annual Meeting month at SECO Energy. Employees are excited to host the thousands of members, friends and family who will attend the upcoming meeting on Saturday, March 24. Registration opens at 8 a.m. and the business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m.

I’m providing a sneak peek into the festivities with our 2018 Annual Meeting Map so you can navigate the compound that morning.

But first, did you RSVP online? Visit Annual Member Meeting or click on the home page banner. Members who RSVP online and attend the meeting are entered into a drawing for a $300 bill credit.

Upon arrival, you’ll find plenty of parking and golf cart service to shuttle those with disabilities to the registration tents. Registration lines move quickly with a copy of your bill. Photo ID is required. An additional registration tent is reserved for members using scooters, wheelchairs and walkers. Registration is where you receive tickets for gifts, breakfast and door prizes. After registration, be sure to stop at Station One – the prize ticket barrel. Drop your ticket and cross your fingers for luck.

Next, bring your ticket to Station Two to receive your 2017 Annual Report, SECO gift and Bylaws Voting Booklet. Amble over to Station Three with your ticket in hand for a hot breakfast sandwich (one per guest please). Enter the coffee line for a cup of joe or visit a drink station for water or a soft drink. We also serve plenty of doughnuts and cookies. Limited picnic tables and high boy tables are available on the south side of the Annual Meeting Pavilion. You are welcome to bring your own folding/camp chairs or grab a seat under the Pavilion.

After breakfast, make your way to the Energy Showcase and present your Station Four ticket for an additional gift – an LED provided by Seminole Electric, our wholesale power provider. Browse SECO’s energy efficiency displays. Visit with our employees and energy-savings partners. Drop by the solar demonstration on the northeast side of the Annual Meeting Pavilion to see SECO’s Solar Square project in action.

While cruising the grounds, locate a member of our Facebook Help Squad. Take a selfie or a picture with a SECO photo frame that shows you having a blast at the meeting. Members who “like” SECO’s Facebook page and post a photo or comment during the meeting are eligible to win a $300 bill credit. Need help? The Facebook Help Squad will help you snap and post the picture and “like” SECO’s page.

Head over to the Annual Meeting Pavilion to find a seat. We’ve added almost 1,000 extra seats this year to accommodate about 4,200 under the Pavilion. Snap your fingers and tap your heels to live music by Margo Rochelle and Rodeo Drive Band. Enjoy another bottle of water or soft drink or a fresh cup of coffee, and munch on a cookie or doughnut. Read through the Board-recommended Bylaws Voting Booklet before the business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. Participate in the cooperative democratic process and vote on the Bylaws revision. Or ask me a question during the Q&A session.

At the close of the business meeting after the Bylaws vote, have your ticket stub available to see if there is a match during the door prize drawing. Prizes include a refurbished 2009 Chevy Colorado, an electric golf cart, cash prizes and bill credits. We have lots of other door prizes to give away including iPads and gift cards.

You must be present to win, so I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

Read the full March SECO News online.

Members Re-elect District 8 Trustee Bill James

On Thursday, February 1, members who attended the District Meeting voted to re-elect Bill James to represent District 8 on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. James became a SECO member in 2002 and was first elected to the Board in 2010.

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO members elect their fellow members to SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the members at large.

Members in District 8 gathered at The Manor at The Plantation at Leesburg to elect a District 8 Trustee for a three-year term. James has served on SECO’s Board for eight years, and ran unopposed.

James stated, “Thank you District 8 members for again electing me to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees. I am privileged to continue my work with the cooperative, CEO Jim Duncan, SECO’s senior management team and my fellow Trustees. It is a pleasure to use my 50+ years of experience in the electric utility industry to make a difference in the quality and value of the electric service in the Central Florida communities served by SECO Energy.”

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “I congratulate Mr. James on his re-election and continued service to SECO members. Mr. James’ electric utility industry knowledge and experience is an asset to SECO’s Board. It is a pleasure to work with a Board that is member-focused and committed to the Cooperative’s success. I also extend my gratitude to our District 8 members who attended the meeting and participated in SECO’s democratic process.”

Duncan added, “I hope to see all of you at SECO’s Annual Meeting of the Membership in March. Enjoy breakfast and snacks, browse energy efficiency displays at the Energy Showcase and stay through the business meeting for the door prize drawing. This year, door prizes include a refurbished 2009 Dodge Dakota pick-up truck an electric golf cart, cash and more.”

SECO members are invited to the 80th Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, March 24. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., and the business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. The meeting is located across the street from the corporate headquarters at 293 S. Highway 301 in Sumterville.

View a photo and brief bio of our Trustees along with an interactive District map. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Solar Square Demo at March 25 Annual Meeting

Solar power is on the rise in The Sunshine State. Per the Florida Public Service Commission, SECO Energy has the most solar customers of any electric cooperative in the state and almost all municipally owned utilities as well.

As of March 20, a total of 530 SECO Energy members have interconnected solar systems at their homes or businesses. These systems produced 1,789,373 kilowatt hours in 2016, resulting in payments from SECO to these members totaling nearly $140,769.62 last year alone. Over the life of these systems, the cooperative has paid $510,039 to members who produced more electricity with their solar systems than they consumed. Per the PSC, this is the highest payback of any utility in the state.

SECO’s net metering policy provides for the payback for excess solar energy at the company’s “avoided cost.” In essence, members with solar arrays are treated as small-scale wholesale providers. The cooperative pays these members for their excess power at the same rate SECO pays Seminole Electric Cooperative for power produced traditionally from fossil fuels.

CEO Jim Duncan states, “I’ve been pretty vocal over the years in candidly explaining the merits and drawbacks of rooftop residential solar installations. SECO has been successful in supporting members who generate their own power without resorting to rebates or credits that inadvertently create financial burden on other members.”

SECO’s philosophy is that those who choose to invest in solar should bear the long-term costs to receive the benefits. It is clear from the number of members installing solar that people are willing to make the financial investment. The Cooperative encourages members to exercise caution when considering solar. If you have questions or need an unbiased opinion, contact SECO’s Energy Services team for a free assessment. A team member will evaluate whether solar is right for you by examining orientation, roof pitch, usage history and potential payback.

Members are also encouraged to attend the SECO Solar Square demonstration at the March 25th SECO Annual Meeting at 293 South US Highway 301 in Sumterville. The SECO team will display various types of systems and installations, costs, contract requirements, net-metering, billing, and projected generation.

SECO’s own array (the Solar Square) and its online production dashboard will be 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 SECO Solar Estimator to help determine costs and output.

Members who are not interested in investing in their own solar array but want to live a greener lifestyle can enroll in SECO’s new Solar Life program. The member pays a flat $32 monthly fee in exchange for the kilowatt hour output of four panels.

Come out to the SECO Energy pavilion this Saturday, March 25th for free food, fun and fabulous prizes. Gates open at 8 a.m. and the business meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Prize drawings are held after the business meeting – members must be present to win.

Fun, Food and Prizes at SECO’s 79th Annual Meeting

SECO Energy members are invited to spend a morning attending the cooperative’s 79th Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, March 25. The meeting is held at the Annual Meeting Pavilion, located across the street from SECO’s corporate headquarters at the junction of highways 301 and 471 in Sumterville.

Arrive early and hungry. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. and SECO is serving breakfast. Dine on fresh sausage, egg and cheese breakfast biscuits, Krispy Kreme donuts and a variety of cookies. Sip a hot cup of coffee, enjoy a soda or water, and tap your feet or line dance to live country music hits by Margo Rochelle and Rodeo Drive.

Learn more about energy efficiency and savings by exploring this year’s Energy Showcase. Visit with vendors providing energy efficient ideas and products, or drop by the SECO information booth to ask a question or inquire about a SECO product or service. Just outside the Energy Showcase, take a few minutes to view a brand-new rooftop solar photovoltaic system and solar demonstration. Use the Solar Estimator to eyeball what your costs might be for a solar array at your home or business.

Members who attend receive a gift bag containing two commemorative insulated steel tumblers, 2016 Annual Report, and an LED bulb – along with other giveaways in the Energy Showcase. Upon registering, drop your door prize ticket in the prize barrel for the grand prize drawing which will include cash prizes, an electric golf cart, a refurbished Dodge Dakota pickup truck and many other door prizes – many of which are donated by local businesses that are also SECO members. The business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. and the drawing for the grand prizes and door prizes takes place immediately after the business meeting ends – members must be present to win.

Stroll the grounds, look for our special characters, and find a member of SECO’s Facebook Help Squad to help you take and upload a photo. Members who “like” SECO’s Facebook page and interact online during the Annual Meeting, will be entered into a random drawing for a $300 bill credit. “Like” SECO Energy’s Facebook page before the meeting and find a Facebook Help Squad member during the meeting for assistance in entering the drawing for the $300 bill credit. Drawing for the Facebook bill credit takes place just before the business meeting begins – as with all of the prizes, the member must be present to win.

CEO Jim Duncan stated, “Mark your calendar and plan to attend SECO’s Annual Meeting. Enjoy breakfast on us, dance to the band, mingle with your neighbors and fellow members, determine new ways to lower your energy usage and maybe win a prize. Come out and experience the hospitality of SECO employees, which I believe is second to none.”

Ray Vick, Board of Trustees President, stated, “SECO’s Annual Meeting is the Board’s favorite event. Myself and my Trustee peers like to share SECO’s latest news and relish the chance to meet and get to know our fellow members. My fellow Trustees and I hope to see you there.”

Members should look for their personal invitation to the Meeting to arrive with their monthly energy bill between February 8 and March 10.

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

SECO News, July 2016

Do you want to engage with SECO? I can think of at least ten ways for you to connect with us.
You can:

Call
Email
Tweet
Fill out a web form
Upload Instagram photos
Watch our YouTube channel
Send a Facebook private message
Comment on the Newsroom blog
Check-in or comment on Facebook
Visit us in person at one of our five locations

Now that you know how to engage with SECO Energy, let’s count the reasons why. You can:

Request a free home energy audit
Enroll in SECO’s Surge Protection Program
Order deeply discounted HVAC filters with free delivery
Visit with a member services representative about your bill
Make a payment at a kiosk or in person with a representative
Ask questions about your home’s conduciveness to rooftop solar
Enter trivia contests on Facebook and win a $300 electric bill credit
Establish an online account through SmartHub to view past billing

Watch this year’s Annual Meeting video and learn about company news
Find the estimated time of restoration for an outage affecting your area

In this day and age, we know we can’t just push information to you and meet today’s expectations. The communication must allow two-way dialogue, and we do our best to be responsive 24/7 and 365 days a year (366 this year since it’s leap year). I hope you’ll engage with us soon. We are always privileged to hear from our members.

Community Support

SECO Energy’s 2016 scholarship awardees are truly the best of the best! As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO supports the communities we serve. In the 20 years since we began the scholarship program, we have enabled 257 young people to begin their dreams of a college education. Here at SECO, we are proud of our scholars and would like to introduce them to our members.

The twelve scholars this year were each awarded a $3,000 scholarship for the university, accredited college or vocational/technical school of their choice. Since the program’s inception in 1996, we have pledged over $500,000 in scholarships to young people in our service area.

Congratulations, 2016 scholarship awardees!

Merari Saldana, West Port High School – Majoring in Psychology at the University of Florida.
Megan Elliott, Tavares High School – Majoring in Mechanical Engineering at University of Central Florida.
Citlali Barragan-Hernandez, Belleview High School – Majoring in Biology at the University of Florida.
James Cato, Lake Weir High School – Majoring in Business Management at Warner University.
Cayley Buckner,West Port High School – Double majoring in Ecology and Creative Writing at Warren Wilson College.
Melissa Moreno, West Port High School – Plans to obtain a doctorate in Optometry from the University of Florida.
Shelby Smith, South Sumter High School – Majoring in Biology at Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in Georgia.
Ana Mata, Belleview High School – Majoring in Business Administration/General Studies at the University of Florida.
Elijah Hughes, South Sumter High School – Majoring in Chemistry at Santa Fe College and is the first member of his family to go to college.
Karla Carvajal, Wildwood Middle-High School – Majoring in medicine/pre-med at College of Central Florida and is the first member of her family to go to college.
Raul Bayas, Vanguard High School – Majoring in Computer Engineering at Santa Fe College.
Richanda Pierre, West Port High School – Attending Florida Atlantic University with plans to work in physical therapy.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Shading for Savings

Summer is here and staying cool is a top priority. The sun’s rays make keeping your home cool difficult. Shading your windows can help reduce solar heat gain and save on energy consumption.

There are a number of good exterior options to choose from when attempting to block out the heat. Solar screens, installed on exterior frames, cover the entire window blocking the sun’s heat before it gets to the glass. Exterior shutters do the same but require manual opening and closing. Both provide a bit of privacy in addition to energy savings.

Awnings and trees are another good choice for window shading when placed on the east and west sides of your home. For added benefit, plant deciduous trees that lose their leaves in fall. You’ll want the heat from the sun to help warm your home in winter.

Interior window shading options include reflective film, shutters, and coverings such as drapes, blinds, or shades. Interior shutters and window coverings, although very effective at blocking the heat, will need to stay closed during the day – completely obstructing your view. Reflective film, on the other hand, reflects the sun’s rays without obstructing the view. Choose the option that is right for you.

Access to Underground Facilities

SECO employees are currently out and about in the community inspecting padmount transformers (big green above-ground boxes). In order to quickly and safely restore power after an outage, our Operations employees need a clear path to access this equipment.

Landscape safely – keep fences and plants at least ten feet away from the front of the transformer and at least three feet away from the sides and rear of the transformer.

We are communicating proactively with members and asking them to relocate fences or plants that are obstructing transformers. If the obstructions are not cleared near the transformers, SECO will be forced to remove anything that blocks our access.

For more information about SECO Energy products and services, visit SECOEnergy.com.

Read the full July 2016 SECO News here.

78th Annual Meeting Welcomes 3,000 Members and Guests

March 30, 2016 – SECO Energy celebrated its 78th Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday March 19th, with over 3,000 SECO members and guests. Among the guests were Representatives Dennis Baxley from District 23, and Daniel Webster from District 10; State Senator Charlie Dean attended as well.

The light rain didn’t keep away the crowd who gathered for breakfast biscuits, energy saving displays at the Energy Showcase, gifts, door prizes, an update on the business side of the cooperative and the renowned hospitality of SECO employees.

Members browsed energy saving displays at the revamped Energy Showcase tent and learned new ways to lower their electric bills. The Energy Showcase tent displayed a working rooftop and ground mounted solar panel system along with a touchscreen tool to estimate the amount of energy a home can produce using a rooftop solar panel system. SECO also hosted a number of vendors that brought their ideas and products to further assist members with energy savings.

After the meeting, CEO Jim Duncan said he was very pleased with the meeting as a whole, “As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is owned by the members, not investors or stockholders. I always encourage SECO members to attend their Annual Meeting for an update on cooperative business, and we appreciate that this year’s crowd was large. Hands down, SECO employees are the best in the business and I want to thank them for the work they do not only during the Annual Meeting, but throughout the year. SECO’s Board of Trustees, senior staff and employees are committed to providing members with low rates, reliable power and exceptional customer service.”

Board of Trustees President Ray Vick shared his thoughts “As a SECO member, and Board President, I look forward to attending the Annual Meeting every year. I enjoy spending this time with fellow members, and we all agree that the hospitality of SECO’s employees can’t be beat. On behalf of myself and the other Board members, I want to thank all of SECO’s hardworking employees who made our 78th Annual Meeting a success.”

Duncan added, “Thank you to all the SECO members, special guests and vendors who joined us on Saturday and braved the rain. The door prizes for Saturday were donated by, or purchased from, local businesses who are SECO members and I want to thank them for supporting their cooperative. Congratulations to all of Saturday’s winners.”

As a new promotion for 2016, members who liked SECO’s Facebook page and engaged with SECO during the Annual Meeting by uploading a photo, liking or commenting on the Annual Meeting status update were entered into a drawing for a $300 electric bill credit. Congratulations to Robert Warhus from Leesburg, a first-time meeting attendee, who was the winner of the bill credit. Members who weren’t able to attend the meeting can like SECO’s Facebook page today for cooperative updates and look for future chances to win.

Another opportunity to win at the Annual Meeting on Saturday was with a pledge to The Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE). This political action committee uses contributions to fund candidates who support the interests of electric cooperatives such as SECO. At this year’s meeting, SECO received 42 new pledges to ACRE and raised $1,050. SECO member John Halpin from Ocala pledged an ACRE contribution and was the winner of the Patriotic Picnic Table and accessories. Learn how you can sign up to be an energy voter at www.vote.coop.

Saturday’s prize winners also included: Leslie Burtnett of The Villages won the refurbished 2005 Dodge Dakota; David Cragen of Leesburg won $1,500; Richard Hathaway of Groveland won $1,000; and James Francis of The Villages and Norma Simonsen of Lady Lake each won $500. In addition to the truck and cash prizes, SECO members also had the chance to win almost 100 other door prizes.

View the video of the Board President and CEO Reports. Please call 352-793-3801 or email communications@secoenergy.com to share your comments or thoughts about the Annual Meeting.

Win a Truck and Enjoy Breakfast at March 19 Annual Meeting

SECO Energy invites members to its 2016 Annual Meeting of the membership on Saturday, March 19th. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the Business Meeting starts at 10:30 a.m.

Come and join us for entertainment and breakfast – we are serving big breakfast biscuits with sausage, eggs and cheese, as well as coffee, soda, cookies and doughnuts.

“I want to personally invite all SECO members to the 2016 Annual Meeting,” said CEO Jim Duncan. “As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, our owners are our members, meaning we are not focused on shareholders and profits. Every SECO employee concentrates on delivering reliable electric service, low rates and top-notch customer service for each member, and the Annual Meeting is a great way for our employees to showcase SECO’s hospitality, renew friendships and meet new members.”

Members who attend will receive several gifts and are eligible to enter the drawing for the grand prize, a refurbished 2005 Dodge Dakota 4×4! The prize drawing begins after the conclusion of the Business Meeting; we have a lot of cash and door prizes, largely donated by local businesses who are SECO members, to give away. Winners must be present to claim their prizes.

New for 2016, those who engage with us on social media at the meeting will be entered to win a special $300 electric bill credit awarded just before the Business Meeting begins. Members who “like” SECO Energy on Facebook and attend the meeting can win by uploading a photo to or commenting on our 2016 Annual Meeting status update. Interacting with SECO can have a big payoff, don’t forget to include #secoenergy or #secoselfie on your comments and photos. The SECO Energy Facebook Help Squad will be at the meeting to help you access the page and get started. Again, the randomly drawn winner of the bill credit must be present to claim the prize.

Visit our Energy Showcase in the big tent and browse our displays to discover ways to save energy and lower your electric bill. You’ll find displays that educate about safe landscaping for accessing electric equipment, locating underground facilities before digging, understanding our vegetation management program and more. Inside the Energy Showcase tent, members will also find a working solar demonstration display that includes a simple touchscreen solar estimator. Find out how to sign up for an online account, called SmartHub, at www.secoenergy.com. All members registered with SmartHub by May 15th will be eligible to win an iPad mini.

Board President Ray Vick is looking forward to the meeting and stated, “Our employees and members appreciate this time to come together and enjoy each other’s company. Please join us to experience SECO’s world-class hospitality. Mr. Duncan and I will update the membership about the business side of SECO and a number of other issues that affect electric cooperatives. And, of course, the prizes are always the best part.”

For express registration, members should bring their ID, the official notice and a copy of a bill. The meeting takes place at our Sumterville Compound at 293 S. Hwy 301, across the street from our headquarters. Employees will be on hand to offer parking assistance and shuttle service. Gates open at 8:00 a.m.

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Archive

Dear Members,

Virtual Business Only 2022 Annual Virtual Meeting

2022 Annual Business Meeting Prize List

Celebrate 25 Years of our Surge Protection Program with Free Installation

DUNCAN’S DIGEST

SECO CHAMPIONS – 400+ SECO EMPLOYEES

ANNUAL MEETING 2019 DOOR PRIZES

Community Support

Congratulations, 2016 scholarship awardees!

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Shading for Savings

Access to Underground Facilities

Read the full July 2016 SECO News here.

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