At SECO Energy, our purpose and our values govern every decision we make. Our purpose is to provide exceptional service to our members, co-workers, and communities. Our values are six-fold and include safety, member commitment, honesty and integrity, strong work ethic, teamwork and open communication. In many instances, our purpose and our values work hand in hand with our members for the best possible relationship. The fact is, SECO Energy cannot do this alone. It takes us working together to be successful.

Safely providing reliable service is very important to your cooperative. Our safety guidelines direct our actions to ensure you receive reliable electricity and that we deliver it to you in the safest manner possible. Part of that process is ensuring that we have the needed clearances around all our electric equipment. Those clearances allow the technicians to safely work in and around our facilities. Another aspect of safely providing reliable service is the ability to access every piece of equipment 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

The clearances for electrical facilities such as transformers and switching cabinets are displayed on a decal attached to the equipment. The decals provide a clear picture of the required safety zone. If there are any obstructions within that area, first and foremost, it creates a safety issue for our technicians. Secondly, obstructions impact how quickly the power will be restored. In many instances, a residential transformer provides service to multiple end-users. In commercial applications, there is the potential to affect an entire plant or portions of the plant that could have a huge impact on your operations.

Summer heat and an abundance of rain prompts vegetation to grow at a rapid pace. Now is a good time to perform a site survey at your location to ensure vegetation has not grown into the safety zone. Your cooperation in providing a safe working environment by keeping vegetation trimmed benefits us both. Better yet, refraining from planting anywhere near electrical facilities is the best option of all. Note, other obstructions besides vegetation also cause safety issues and impede restoration. At home it might be a fence, potted plants, benches, chairs, statues, bird baths or any sort of lawn decorations. At commercial facilities it may be trucks, trailers, pallets of materials and more. We need your help and commitment to ensure that our safety zone stays free and clear. For an example of the safety zone surrounding a transformer, secondary enclosure, meter or pole visit our Keep It Clear page.

Another potential hurdle for a safe and quick restoration of power is not being able to physically get to our equipment. If you have a business or home with locked gates, combination access panels or restricted areas, please take the time to make sure that SECO Energy has the information needed to gain access to our facilities. Otherwise restoration could be delayed. Talk to your Key Account representative if you have places of concern. Together, we will find a solution.

Remember also that SECO Energy needs safe access to the meter just the same as we need safe access to every other piece of our equipment. Clear access allows us to test your electric meter and gain an accurate reading to ensure accurate billing. At the meter, we need three feet of clearance on each side as well as three feet of clearance in the front.

If you are an HOA, developer or community group, give us a call if you need help educating others. We will happily team up with you to help keep everyone safe and compliant. We can send you information for closed circuit channels or printable materials. If you have questions, we can come to your location and address them quickly while still adhering to social distancing guidelines. If you are not comfortable with that, we can video conference with you as well.

Our CEO, Mr. Duncan, addressed the access topic in our October 2019 SECO News publication. In that publication, he addresses the “Keep it Clear-We Work Here” campaign. We implore our members, both commercial and residential, to team up with us and be proactive about this campaign. If you have equipment on your property, please make sure that the safe zone is clear. If this requirement is not met, you will be asked to make corrections – failure to do so could result in service interruption.

As stated in our purpose and values, we are committed to providing exceptional, reliable electric service to our members. We are equally committed to safety, teamwork and open communication with our members. If you have any questions or need assistance with clarifying any issue, feel free to reach out to us and we will be happy to assist you. Visit SECOEnergy.com often for a wealth of information related to SECO Energy products and services.

We have good news to share with our Insider members this month. Beginning October 1, you will see a member-favorable Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) credit to your bill. Look for the adjustment as a line item titled “Hot Bucks.”

The reduction on October 1 will lower your bills by about four percent. The monthly bill’s PCA factor fluctuates based on the amount SECO pays for power purchased from our wholesale provider Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. We work closely with Seminole to ensure the lowest rates possible for members. When the wholesale cost of power decreases, we pass the savings along to you.

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative that operates for our members, we are proud to provide safe, reliable, affordable electric service and offer world-class customer service. It is our privilege to serve as your electric provider.

Read CEO Jim Duncan’s announcement in October SECO News.