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SECO News, October 2019

Duncan’s Digest Keep It Clear – We Work Here

 

At SECO Energy we take pride in our expertly designed and well-maintained electric system that provides reliable power to almost 210,000 homes and businesses in our service territory. As the fastest-growing electric cooperative in the state (by meter count), SECO invests upwards of $50 million annually to construct new facilities to meet the growing demand for power and to upgrade aging infrastructure. We regularly inspect and stringently maintain our facilities. Within our 2,100-square mile territory, crews inspect substations, overhead and underground lines, poles, transformers, cabinets and more. We spend about $20 million annually trimming or removing thousands of trees that encroach on lines and threaten reliability.

 

Keep It Clear Banner

 

SECO personnel routinely audit and perform work on equipment such as transformers and meters on members’ property. Field employees often find it challenging to safely access padmount transformers and underground facilities because shrubs or fencing have been placed in close proximity to the front and sides of the equipment despite the large warning labels. In maintenance and outage situations, the obstacles cause the work to take longer than necessary and most important, pose safety risks to our employees.

 

A few members also restrict SECO’s access to the meter with locked gates, fences, animals, overgrown landscaping, added rooms or porches and other obstructions. This results in unsafe conditions for employees and contractors and can cause readings to be estimated rather than actual – resulting in an inaccurate electric bill.

 

Per our Terms & Conditions, these obstructions are simply unacceptable and our cooperative is taking a firm stand on such violations. To raise awareness and draw attention to the safety issue, we have developed a communications campaign called Keep It Clear – We Work Here. The campaign renews SECO Energy’s commitment to employee safety in the field. As a SECO member, you are responsible for adhering to our Terms and Conditions of Service that include providing SECO personnel with safe, unimpeded access to our equipment located on your property.

 

Keep fences, shrubs and lawn ornaments at least ten feet away from the front of the transformer and three feet away from the back and the sides. Open gates, clear obstructions and relocate animals that restrict SECO’s access to metering equipment. Trim landscaping that blocks the meter face. If SECO is unable to obtain a clear view of the meter and record an accurate meter reading, the member may receive an estimated (and inaccurate) bill for that reading cycle.

 

In the spirit of customer service, we have practiced diplomacy and patience with members who have refused to comply with our safe clearance requirements. The Keep It Clear campaign changes our approach. Unimpeded, safe access to SECO’s transformers and metering equipment is a necessity.

 

As SECO personnel conduct equipment audits across our service territory, members with equipment obstructions on their property will be asked to clear the obstructions or trim the landscaping that impedes safe access. Our Keep It Clear campaign provides affected members with letters, door hangers, emails and other notifications advising members of the need for obstruction removal. If those notices are ignored, disconnection of service is a last resort but a step that will be taken in extreme cases.

 

The vast majority of our members follow the clearance rules and respect the reasoning. I thank you kindly. If you are planning a landscape project please be sure you maintain that compliance. If you buy a house in our area or if the service is in your name as the renter, you bear responsibility for access to the electric equipment on the property. I’m asking you to keep our employees safe by ensuring access to SECO’s equipment.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

 

SECO Energy Champion Greg Lovett October 2019

 

Greg Lovett – T&D Line Supervisor

 

Length of Service: 14 Years

 

“WE SAFELY RESTORE POWER.” Greg Lovett is a 14-year SECO Energy employee who is a T&D Line Supervisor working in Citrus, Hernando and Sumter Counties. Greg and his team help construct and maintain SECO’s $900 million electric infrastructure that delivers reliable power to members. A lifelong Sumter County resident, Greg and his family enjoy fishing and water sports. His family has come to expect the late-night phone calls to restore power outages. His family understandably worries about him, but Greg is confident in the expanded safety measures that SECO has adopted that protect him and his crew. When unexpected outages occur, Greg is often called to supervise responding crews. Safe restoration is always given the highest priority. During restoration, crews inspect and confirm that all equipment is safe and that lines are clear and in good working condition before re-energizing services.

 

 

SECO Energy Insider Second Quarter 2019 StormCenter

Atlantic hurricane season’s busiest month is September, but the season remains active until November 30. Don’t let the cooling temperatures and fall decorations fool you – the threat of hurricanes and tropical storms remains active.

 

Visit StormCenter to familiarize yourself with its features. On the StormCenter outage map, you can view current outages in SECO’s service area, search for and bookmark your address on the map and view the current weather radar.

 

To enroll in outage notifications, click on “Manage Notifications” to add an email address or phone number. You can choose to receive outage notifications via email, text, voice or all three. Set times that you would not wish to be disturbed for each communication type chosen.

 

Check the status of an existing outage and a seven-day outage history using the “Check Status” tile. Choose “Report Outage” to report a current power outage. Locate your service location using the account holder’s last name and house number, or search by phone number or account number.

 

Use LightFinder to report an area light that is off or a light that shines all day. Search for either the pole number or address. Each light is represented by a light bulb icon. Green indicates the light is working. A red icon is a light that has been reported as malfunctioning. If the icon is orange it has been repaired in the last 24 hours. Inactive lights are represented by a gray icon. A blue icon is a member-owned light.

 

Have a question?Contact Us” allows you to complete a web form in just a few clicks.

 

 

April 2019 SECO News call Before You Dig 811

Overhead power lines and poles are easy to see, but you can be injured or killed by digging into an underground electric line. Before putting a shovel in the ground, the law requires you to dial 811 to request all underground utilities be properly marked so you don’t dig into a buried utility line.

 

Know what’s below – call 811 before you dig to avoid making contact with an energized underground line risking injury or an outage. In Florida, call 811 or visit www.sunshine811.com to arrange free location of underground utility lines. In Florida – it’s the law.

 

 

Winners' Circle October 2019 SECO News

In July SECO News, we encouraged members to learn more about energy efficiency with SECO Energy’s online energy audit tool theHome Energy Assessment. Members who completed the Home Energy Assessment and provided an email address to receive energy-efficiency tips tailored to their home were entered into a drawing to win one of three high-tech programmable thermostats.

 

Congratulations to Evelyn Graddy from Eustis who is the winner of the Nest Wi-Fi thermostat; the Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat was won by James Trimble from The Villages; and Frances Sciotto from Ocala is the winner of the Ecobee Wi-Fi thermostat.

 

In the August edition of SECO News, CEO Jim Duncan asked if SECO has your correct phone number or email address. Members who updated or verified their personal contact information by email, online or phone were entered in a drawing for a $300 SECO bill credit.

 

Jill Chandler from Paisley is the winner of the $300 SECO bill credit. Thank you to all who participated and watch for upcoming chances to win.

 

Read the full October SECO News online.

SECO News, August 2019

DUNCAN’S DIGEST

 

DO I HAVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER? In early July, the Colorado State University (CSU) Tropical Meteorology Project updated its 2019 Atlantic hurricane season forecast. CSU predicts six major hurricanes will develop before the end of the season. A major hurricane is categorized as a CAT 3, 4 or 5.

May 2018 SECO News Duncan's Digest

 

Peak hurricane season is typically in September. Are you ready? Does SECO have the ability to contact you? Have you updated your seldom-used landline number to your cell phone number if you use it primarily? If you call us during peak volume and the phone number doesn’t match an account, your service options may be limited.

 

How do you update or verify your contact information for account/billing purposes? The easiest way is to visit our homepage and log into SmartHub. Choose “My Profile” then “Update My Billing Address & Contact Information.” Make any necessary changes and choose “Save.” Or, you can email Customer Service. Include name, account number, service address, the last four of the member’s SSN and the updated contact information. You can also call us at (352) 793-3801 or contact us through Facebook private message or Twitter direct message.

 

Our StormCenter and outage notifications system houses separate contact information that conducts outbound, proactive communications and must be updated as well. Did you know StormCenter will send you an email, or voice message when an outage is detected at your service address? StormCenter will also notify you when the outage is restored as well as cause.

 

Members have expressed appreciation for the enhanced communications when we are working in your area. Using the StormCenter communications system, SECO notifies you of pre-planned outages, upgrades, tree trimming and system improvement projects scheduled to occur in your neighborhood.

 

To check your communications preferences, gather a recent bill to find your account number and zip code – you will need both. Then visit SECO Energy and choose StormCenter on the top menu. On the StormCenter page, select “Manage Notifications,” input your account number and zip code or the phone number on file and zip code associated with the account.

 

Determine your preferred notification whether its email, text or voice message or a combination, add the phone number or contact email. Set “do not disturb” times during the hours you don’t want to be notified. Select notifications for each account if you have multiple accounts.

 

As an incentive, view or update your contact information on both SmartHub and StormCenter and be entered twice into a drawing to win a $300 bill credit. If you don’t have online access, just call us or note your primary phone number on your payment coupon when paying your bill.

 

Good luck! The timeframe for the $300 SECO bill credit drawing runs to September 15. We’ll draw a winner on September 16. Stay in touch with SECO and update your contact information today.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

 

SECO News August 2019 12 Ways to Pay

 

Paying your bill has never been easier! Whether it’s online, by phone or in person, SECO Energy offers 12 convenient ways to pay – most without convenience fees.

 

PAY ONLINE AT SMARTHUB – View and pay your bill, sign up for bank draft, enroll in eBill and compare energy usage by month or year.

 

PAY BY BANK DRAFT – Simplify your life – draft your monthly bill amount from a bank account of your choice. Register for bank draft with SmartHub.

 

PAY IN PERSON – Member Service Centers are located in Eustis, Groveland, Sumterville, Ocala and Inverness with walk-in and drive-thru facilities.

 

PAY AT A KIOSKAvailable 24 hours a day, seven days a week at all Member Service Centers. Kiosks accept cash and most credit cards.

 

PAY BY PHONE1-(877) 371-9382, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pay by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX, debit card or electronic check.

 

PAY NOW – Pay instantly with just your account number and form of payment through SmartHub – no registration required.

 

PAY BY MAIL – SECO Energy (Dept # 3035), PO Box 850001, Orlando, FL 32885-3035

 

MYWAY PREPAY – Pay for energy before you use it with MyWay PrePay. View daily usage and receive phone or text notifications.

 

FIDELITY EXPRESSLocations accept cash, check or money orders. $1.50 processing fee. Not recommended for MyWay PrePay members.

 

MONEYGRAM – Available at many convenient retail locations. MoneyGram is available for MyWay PrePay enrolled members. $1.50 processing fee.

 

WESTERN UNIONIn-person payments received in real time. Convenience fee is $1.50. Maximum amount per transaction is $1,000.

 

BUDGET BILLINGLevels out bills by averaging most recent 12 months usage. Debit/credit balances accumulate based on seasonal usage.

 

 

SECO Energy Insider Second Quarter 2019 StormCenter

 

StormCenter is available on your smartphone or tablet 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bookmark your address on the outage map, view the weather radar, find crew status, outage cause and estimated restoration time. Report a new outage, check the status of an existing outage, manage your communication preferences (email, text or voice message), report an area light outage or contact us.

 

 

SECO News August 2019 SECO Champion Mark Bowling

 

 

MARK BOWLING – T&D LINE SUPERVISOR/ACTING DISTRIBUTION SUPERINTENDENT

LENGTH OF SERVICE – 30 YEARS

“WE LOVE OUR PEOPLE.” SECO Champion Mark Bowling is a T&D Line Supervisor who is currently serving on a rotational assignment as a Distribution Superintendent in the Groveland office. In his Supervisor role, Mark oversees the field crews that respond to outages, construct line and complete work requests in south Lake County. Mark’s family members are life-long residents of Lake County, and he is proud that his children attend the same schools he did growing up. The family enjoys football and baseball games and his children play school sports. Living in Lake County, Mark’s restoration work after the deadly 2007 Groundhog Day tornadoes was especially emotional. He remembers consoling SECO members whose homes were blown away by the destructive tornadoes. Mark describes his crew as “a good group of guys who are dedicated to SECO Energy, the community and safety.”

 

 

SECO News August 2019 Kids' Coloring Contest

 

CALLING ALL CREATIVE KIDDOS – Enter the SECO Energy Kids’ Calendar Coloring Contest. We are looking for 13 creative, colorful drawings depicting Electrical Safety or Energy Efficiency in a fun way to publish in our 2020 SECO Energy Calendar! The 13 chosen artists will have their artwork, photo and name published in next year’s calendar. Even better, the winners will each receive a $100 prize. The artwork submission form is available online look for Calendar Coloring Contest on our Contact Us page. Print the submission form and include it with the artwork. Mail submissions to: SECO Energy P.O. Box 301 Sumterville, FL 33585-0301 or drop it off at one of our five Member Service Centers.

 

Need Electrical Safety or Energy Efficiency ideas? Visit our website to find tips.

 

To be eligible, the child must be between the ages of 5 and 12 and live in a home served by SECO Energy. Artwork submissions must be received by September 30, 2019.

 

Read the full August 2019 SECO News online.

Florida Fauna & Flora – Opossum

Opossums are the only marsupials native to North America. Female marsupials give birth to underdeveloped young that then reside in an external abdomen pouch. In this pouch, up to to 14 young are suckled for about two months after birth. The young opossums begin life smaller than honeybees. Upon leaving the pouch they cling to their mother’s back for several weeks.

 

Mature opossums are larger than a house cat. Opossums have coarse, grayish-white hair, a pig-like snout, sharp claws, large naked ears and a long, hairless, scaly tail which is used to hang from tree branches. Opossums have 50 teeth – more than any other North American mammal – and eat almost any kind of animal or vegetable. When in danger, it lies motionless and pretends to be dead. This behavior gave us the expression “playing possum.”

 

Fun Opossum Fact: An opossum eats about 5,000 ticks during tick season, which according to the National Wildlife Federation helps stop the spread of Lyme Disease.

 

Read the full August 2019 SECO News online.