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SECO News April 2025

Wynn's Wire

 

2025 Annual Meeting

 

DEAR MEMBER,

 

Thank you to all who tuned in to the 2025 Annual Meeting and those who actively participated in the cooperative’s governance process. As a member of the cooperative, the Annual Meeting is for you. It’s your opportunity to learn about SECO Energy, hear important updates, vote on Annual Meeting business, and ask questions.

 

If you missed our Annual Meeting, I encourage you to watch the video on SECOEnergy.com; you can also watch it on our Facebook page or YouTube channel.

 

Watch the recorded Annual Meeting video at SECOEnergy.com to find answers to the trivia questions.

 

PLAY 2025 ANNUAL MEETING TRIVIA FOR A SECOND CHANCE TO WIN!

Head over to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/SECOEnergy to participate. You can mail your answers to SECOEnergy.com, Attn: Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585. Submit your answers by May 15. Winners will be notified by May 30.

 

HERE’S WHAT YOU COULD WIN:

  • Two (2) $250 SECO Energy bill credits

  • Three (3) $100 SECO Energy bill credits

  • Five (5) $50 SECO Energy bill credits

 

HOW TO PLAY:

Visit the trivia post on SECO Energy’s Facebook page and answer these three questions in the comments section:

1. What topic of interest was ranked number one for members participating in the Cooperative Engagement Forum?

2. What’s SECO Energy’s official online account management platform?

3. What’s the name of SECO Energy’s new program that helps members reduce peak demand using smart thermostats, EV chargers, and battery backup systems?

 

Thank you again for your active participation in our cooperative!

 

 

CURTIS WYNN

Chief Executive Officer

 


 

SECO News April 2025 National Safe Digging Month Sunshine 811

One of the leading causes of underground utility damage nationwide is individuals failing to contact 811 before digging. In Florida, it’s the law to contact 811 before you dig.

STEPS FOR SAFE DIGGING:

 

1. Plan

Consider the scope of your project and whether you’ll need to hire a contractor. If digging in a small area, outline that area with white paint or flags.

 

2. Notify 811

You’ll receive a ticket number and list of utilities that will be notified of your project. Be aware utility companies do not mark private lines.

 

3. Wait

Utility operators have two business days to mark underground lines before you can begin digging.

 

4. Confirm Responses

Track the progress of each utility response code they use to explain your dig site.

 

5. Respect Marks

After you’ve received responses from all relevant utilities, compare the colors of the marks and flags on your property with the utility list on your ticket.

 

6. Dig Carefully

With utilities marked, dig with caution. Florida has a 24-inch tolerance zone from the edges of facilities. Watch for roots and stumps that may entangle utility lines.

 

Approximately 98% of SECO Energy’s new facilities added last year (397 miles) were underground. If you hit a utility line, immediately contact the company – do not attempt to repair it yourself. Hitting an underground line can cause serious injuries.

 

Sunshine 811 is a free service available by calling 8-1-1 or online at Sunshine811.com.

 


 

SECO News April 2025 Right Tree, Right Place

Trees growing too close to power lines are a safety concern, a leading cause of power outages, and create sparks, fires, and shock hazards. To avoid these problems, SECO trims trees regularly and asks members to make good choices when planting trees. A tree placed in the proper spot today can avoid problems tomorrow, especially where power lines are concerned.

 

Plant trees that won’t interfere with power lines when fully grown. Small ornamental trees or shrubs that will not exceed 25 feet in height are best to plant 10 feet away from power lines. Trees that grow to a mature height of more than 40 feet should be planted at least 50 feet away from overhead power lines.

 

When landscaping, keep fences, shrubs, and other obstructions at least 10 feet away from the front of pad-mounted transformers where the lock is located and at least three feet from the rear and sides of the transformer.

 

Call Sunshine One-Call (811) locator service three days before planting to check the location of underground services. This service is free, and in Florida, it’s the law.

 

Note it is the homeowner’s responsibility to locate private underground services such as sprinklers or septic on the property.

 


 

SECO News April 2025 Tree Line USA Recognition

 

Trees around power lines can disrupt electric service, particularly during severe weather events with lightning or high winds. To maintain reliability and community safety, SECO Energy prunes and removes trees near overhead power lines every three years, covering approximately 1,500 miles of lines annually.

 

Recently, SECO Energy was honored with the Tree Line USA Utility designation for the 18th consecutive year. This recognition acknowledges utilities that play a role in contributing to the preservation and enhancement of America’s urban forests.

 

Tree Line USA is a national program supported by a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. This program promotes the coexistence of reliable electricity delivery and thriving tree populations in communities.

 


ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH: Include energy efficiency in your landscaping by planting shade trees around your home. Deciduous trees planted on the south side can lower temperatures by up to six degrees. They provide shade during the summer while allowing sunlight to warm your home in the cooler months after they lose their leaves. Source: energy.gov

 

Read the full April SECO News.

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, February 2019

DUNCAN’S DIGEST

 

SECO Energy is an advocate for members who choose to reduce their utility-supplied power by purchasing their own systems. In fact, as of mid-January, 1,050 SECO members have interconnected with SECO’s facilities by installing a member-owned solar array.

 

SECO News Duncan's Digest 2019

 

SECO members considering a solar investment are often frustrated by the confusion about return on investment, less-than-reputable contractors and dishonest business practices. To help inform and protect our members, SECO has completed an enhancement and redesign of the Solar Power section of our website. Valuable information from a trusted source is now just a click away.

 

Our new online tools like the Solar Estimator can help you determine the reduction in utility-supplied power for a specific system size/orientation. The 10-step process and timeline to interconnect with SECO’s system is outlined. We provide answers to frequently asked questions, an explanation of net metering, a sample bill and other resources. We’ve published a comprehensive checklist and list of resources for vetting and selecting a contractor.

 

When visiting the website, carefully read through “Selecting Your System.” This section explains how to determine system size and the math behind member generation. You’ll find advantages and disadvantages of different panel and inverter types keep reading to find insurance requirements (Florida Administrative Code requires insurance for systems over 10kW).

 

Most important, the interconnection process and agreement is enhanced with an online application. Members and contractors will now establish login credentials and register to begin the process online. Contractors can register and help manage the interconnection process and agreement on behalf of their client.

 

At every step of the process toward interconnection with SECO’s facilities, members and contractors will be notified via email to provide updates. We’re leaping into 21st Century technology by incorporating electronic signatures and communications into our new system.

 

But wait! Before you take another step toward solar, contact SECO for a free solar audit. Our Energy Services Specialists will visit your home and use the Solar Pathfinder to determine the amount of sun your home receives. Our expert will assess your roof, note home orientation and measure obstructions that may block solar power production.

 

Before signing a contract with an installer, do your homework. Let SECO help you research any potential return on investment. The calculation must include the system investment, maintenance and the cost of utility-supplied power used at night, chilly early mornings or cloudy days.

 

Attend SECO’s 81st Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, March 23 for a live demonstration at our Solar Square. Gates open at 8 a.m. – join us for breakfast, snacks, live entertainment, gifts, the potential to win door prizes and top-notch hospitality of our local employees.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

SECO News Champion Tony Shaw February 2019
Meet SECO Champion Tony Shaw – an example of our 400+ SECO Champion employees. Tony is dedicated to providing exceptional service to members, co-workers and communities.

 

TONY SHAW – ENERGY SERVICES SPECIALIST

 

LENGTH OF SERVICE – 19 YEARS

 

“I make a difference.”

 

 

SECO Champion Tony Shaw is an Energy Services Specialist who is a subject matter expert on member-owned solar systems and energy-efficiency measures. As a Citrus County resident, he is often the SECO contact stationed in the Citrus County Emergency Operations Center during emergencies such as Hurricanes Irma and Matthew. Tony’s family has called Central Florida home for generations. He and his family enjoy fishing and golf, and he loves to spend time with his young grandson. Tony is proud that he helps members save money and reduce energy usage by conducting energy and solar audits. Tony is often out and about in the community offering energy-efficiency tips, providing money-saving ideas and sharing his knowledge of solar generation. Tony states, “People really trust and believe in SECO Energy as a company.”

 

 

 

SECO News FL Special Needs Registry February 2019

FLORIDA SPECIAL NEEDS REGISTRY

The Florida Division of Emergency Management has developed the Florida Special Needs Registry to allow residents with special needs to register with their local emergency management agency to receive assistance during a disaster. The statewide registry provides first responders with valuable information to prepare for disasters or other emergencies. The Special Needs Registry may help save your life. Visit the Florida Disaster website to locate your county and register.

 

 

 

SECO News ACSI February 2019

SECO IS TOPS!

Thank you, SECO Members, for rating your not-for-profit electric cooperative top in customer satisfaction. SECO received an outstanding ACSI score of 89 in 2018! When comparing SECO to average ACSI scores in the energy industry – SECO is a clear Florida and national frontrunner. Nationally, cooperative utilities averaged 77 in 2018. Scores for municipal and investor-owned utilities both averaged slightly lower at 75.

 

 

 

SECO News Move Over February 2019

MOVE OVER FOR SAFETY

 

Did you know that Florida law requires drivers to Move Over a lane – safely – for law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility vehicles, tow trucks and wreckers that are stopped on the roadside? Heed the law or pay a hefty fine – $100 to $500 (dependent on the county where cited) – and three points on your driving record.

 

If you can’t safely move over a lane – Slow Down to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.

 

In 2017, over 17,000 Move Over citations were issued in Florida– this includes 1,756 logged in SECO’s service area. There were 212 Move Over crashes in the state and 16 Move Over crashes in our area.

 

The fine will lighten your wallet and the points will damage your driving record. But the law is designed to protect defenseless roadside workers including SECO‘s line technicians. Let’s all Move Over and allow these folks to return home safely to their loved ones after a hard day’s work.

 

 

SECO News February 2019 Right Tree Right Place

RIGHT TREE – RIGHT PLACE

 

Spring is just around the corner and many of us are looking forward to planting a new landscape. For energy efficiency and safety, plant the right tree in the right place and always call 811 Sunshine One-call (it’s free!) before you dig. 811 will arrange for the free service of locating and marking underground utilities.

 

Did you know the right landscape plan can greatly reduce your annual energy costs? Deciduous trees planted to the south, southwest or west side of buildings can provide shade that helps reduce cooling costs. Evergreen trees planted on the north and west sides help to block winter winds and reduce heating costs.

 

When planning, consider the tree’s height when fully grown. Trees growing too close to lines are a safety hazard to SECO field employees and the public. Trees touching lines can cause sparks, fires, power outages and shock hazards. Never plant tall oak, pine, sycamore or palm trees near power lines.

 

Planning the right landscape today can avoid problems in the future, especially where power lines are concerned.

 

Read the full February 2019 SECO News online.