SECO Energy is preparing for the possibility that Tropical Storm Dorian will affect parts of its service territory. Forecasters predict Tropical Storm Dorian could make an east coast Florida landfall as early as late Sunday night and reach hurricane strength while traveling through the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Dorian’s current wind speeds are 60 mph and the system is moving northwest at 13 mph. The storm’s eye is predicted to travel across Puerto Rico on Thursday.
The models remain uncertain as to Dorian’s track as it approaches Florida. Current modeling suggests Dorian will remain on a northwestern path, drifting north along the coast before turning into Florida to make landfall near Daytona Beach or Jacksonville late Sunday night into early Monday morning. Tropical Storm Dorian could strengthen to a Category 2 or 3 hurricane before landfall. Predictions will continue to change after Dorian exits Puerto Rico on Friday.
SECO members will likely feel the effects of Tropical Storm Dorian Sunday evening into Monday. If Dorian strengthens over the warm Atlantic waters and takes a Florida turn, SECO members could experience tropical storm force winds and rain on Sunday and Monday. Tornadoes brewing from the tropical storm or hurricane force winds is a threat as well.
CEO Jim Duncan urges members to prepare for Dorian. Duncan stated, “Tropical Storm Dorian could impact SECO members as early as Sunday evening. Even though the models are still uncertain of Dorian’s ultimate path, take the time today and tomorrow to prepare your family and home for this storm. Watch the weather reports, prepare in advance for Dorian to make landfall in Florida and possibly strengthen to a hurricane.”
StormCenter is SECO Energy’s outage and communications platform for members to report outages, check the status of an existing outage and enroll in outage communications and alerts via email, text, voice or all three. Visit StormCenter today and bookmark on your smartphone or tablet to report outages quickly and easily.
SECO has designed a new Hurricane Handbook to help members prepare before, during and after a storm. The Hurricane Handbook is available online.
Stay up to date on weather affecting SECO Energy’s service area, the latest news releases and cooperative updates by “liking” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter.
SECO Energy’s back-to-school program allocated Citrus County public school students with $1,000 to the county’s Education Foundation. As a not-for-profit local electric cooperative, SECO believes in supporting the communities it serves.
The mission of the Citrus County Education Foundation is to provide resources to support the Citrus County School District to enhance the quality of education for present and future generations. The Foundation encourages business and community involvement, promotes creative and innovative educational programs and recognizes outstanding achievements of students and staff. Over 15,000 or 93 percent of Citrus County K-12 students benefit from the Foundation’s efforts.
The Education Foundation’s Executive Director Shaunda Burdette is thankful for SECO Energy’s community involvement. Burdette stated, “We are so grateful for the partnership of SECO Energy. Through its support, the Citrus County Education Foundation is able to assist in providing students with the tools they need to succeed. SECO’s generosity is truly making an impact in the lives of our children and our future.”
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO Energy is honored to support Citrus County students through its back-to-school program’s contribution to the Citrus County Education Foundation. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes an investment in education is a benefit to all of our members. In Citrus County, we serve over 15,000 homes and businesses. Teachers are an invaluable community asset, they enrich our communities by educating our future leaders and as a benefit to SECO, possibly our future employees.”
Learn more about SECO Energy and its efforts to support education and local communities on our Community page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
SECO Energy’s back-to-school program allocated Lake County public school students with $3,500 to the county’s Educational Foundation. As a not-for-profit local electric cooperative, SECO believes in supporting the communities it serves. The Foundation will use the funds for its ACT Prep Program.
The Educational Foundation of Lake County piloted the ACT Prep Program at Leesburg High School six years ago and it is now funded at six Lake County high schools. To graduate, high school students must pass the state-mandated tenth grade reading assessment. 413 students in the 2020 class are in jeopardy of not graduating because they did not pass the assessment. The ACT program helps these students bolster their reading skills. Students have a second chance to graduate by earning an acceptable concordance score on the ACT or SAT.
The ACT program is incredibly successful. 76 to 83 percent of students who complete the program are able to graduate on time. Two years ago, the graduation rate in Lake County was 74 percent. School administrators believe the 2020 graduating percentage will increase to 88 percent. Much of this increase is attributed to the ACT Reading Prep Program.
The Education Foundation’s Community Outreach Liaison Audra Dick is thankful for SECO’s valued partnership. Dick stated, “SECO Energy’s investment in the Educational Foundation of Lake County’s ACT Prep Program will give 413 students a chance to walk across the stage in May of 2020, diploma in hand.”
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO Energy is honored to support Lake County students through its back-to-school program’s contribution to the Educational Foundation of Lake County. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes an investment in education is a benefit to all of our members. In Lake County, we serve over 65,000 homes and businesses. Teachers are an invaluable community asset, they enrich our communities by educating our future leaders and as a benefit to SECO, possibly our future employees.”
Learn more about SECO Energy and its efforts to support education and local communities on our Community page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
SECO Energy’s back-to-school program allocated Marion County public school students with $3,000 to the county’s Public Education Foundation. As a not-for-profit local electric cooperative, SECO believes in supporting the communities it serves. The Foundation will use the funds to purchase school supplies for the Tools 4 Teaching program.
Tools 4 Teaching provides much-needed school supplies to Marion County public school students and teachers. Since 2009, Tools 4 Teaching has accepted unused school supplies from local businesses and organizations and put them to good use in Marion County classrooms. Teachers can shop once a month for paper, pens, pencils and other supplies needed for their classrooms.
The Public Education Foundation’s Executive Director Judi Zanetti is thankful for SECO Energy’s contribution. Zanetti stated, “Nearly 75% of Marion County students cannot afford lunch, let alone school supplies. During the 2018-2019 school year, Tools 4 Teaching had 7,079 teacher shopping visits and provided over $900,000 in free school supplies to teachers for their students in need. It is only with the support of organizations such as SECO Energy that the shelves are able to stay stocked with supplies. Together we can make sure all students have the tools necessary for success.”
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO Energy is honored to support Marion County students through its back-to-school program’s contribution to the Public Education Foundation of Marion County. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes an investment in education is a benefit to all of our members. In Marion County, we serve over 60,000 homes and businesses. Teachers are an invaluable community asset, they enrich our communities by educating our future leaders and as a benefit to SECO, possibly our future employees.”
Tools 4 Teaching accepts donated school supplies and monetary funding. Donate to the Public Education Foundation of Marion County online.
Learn more about SECO Energy and its efforts to support education and local communities on our Community page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
SECO Energy is calling for artwork submissions for its Kids’ Coloring Contest to be featured in the cooperative’s 2020 SECO Energy Calendar. SECO will choose 13 creative, colorful drawings that depict Electrical Safety or Energy Efficiency.
The 13 chosen artists will have his or her artwork, photo and name published in next year’s calendar. Each winner will be awarded a $100 prize. The artwork submission form is available on our Contact Us page. Look for the Kids’ Coloring Contest submission form link. Print and complete the submission form to include with the artwork.
Artwork submissions can be mailed to SECO Energy P.O. Box 301 Sumterville, FL 33585. Submissions can also be dropped off at one of our five Member Service Centers in Eustis, Groveland, Inverness, Ocala or Sumterville. Find a Service Center address.
To be eligible, the child must be between the ages of 5 and 12 and live in a home served by SECO Energy. Submissions must be received by September 30, 2019. For ideas on Electrical Safety or Energy Efficiency, visit our website and select Safety or Energy Solutions.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “I’m looking forward to viewing the submissions for the 2020 SECO Energy Calendar Kids’ Coloring Contest. The Contest is a fun idea that fosters our youngest members’ involvement in the cooperative. Displaying children’s ideas about electrical safety and energy efficiency is a creative teaching tool for SECO members and the public. The Coloring Contest ties into the key cooperative principles of Concern for Community and Education, Training and Information.”
Learn more about SECO Energy and its Concern for Community. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
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.
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
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 KIOSK – Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at all Member Service Centers. Kiosks accept cash and most credit cards.
PAY BY PHONE – 1-(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 EXPRESS – Locations 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 UNION – In-person payments received in real time. Convenience fee is $1.50. Maximum amount per transaction is $1,000.
BUDGET BILLING – Levels out bills by averaging most recent 12 months usage. Debit/credit balances accumulate based on seasonal usage.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
On June 20 and 21, SECO Energy along with Duke Energy and Ocala Electric Utilities partnered to bring the Fifth Annual Youth Energy Academy to Marion County teens. Industry experts created an environment for students to explore and discover careers in the energy industry. The event was held at the College of Central Florida’s Hampton Center and Ocala Electric Services.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 40 percent of the current workforce in the electric and natural gas utilities will retire within five years. The average age of energy industry employees is over 50. Marion County Schools, the CEP, SECO Energy, Ocala Electric Utilities, Duke Energy and Clay Electric realizing the need for future energy industry employees assisted in forming the Power Generation Academy (PGA) at Dunnellon High School. PGA Instructor Don Slocum dropped by the Youth Energy Academy to provide the students’ enrollment and program information.
Employees from SECO, Duke and Ocala Electric volunteered countless hours teaching, presenting and sharing their knowledge and experience with this year’s Youth Energy Academy students. Representatives from Siemens, College of Central Florida, Boys & Girls Club, CLM CareerSource, Lockheed Martin, Cheney Brothers and the three electric utility providers worked together to make this event an education success for attendees.
At this year’s two-day event, students gained essential knowledge related to the array of jobs, careers and occupational requirements in the energy field. Student activities covered a variety of subjects such as how electricity travels from the generation plant to homes demonstrated by Duke Energy’s Engineer Derick Farfan, and a live demonstration by Duke Energy’s Ronnie Bailey of restoring power during an outage. Students learned the difference between soft and hard skills via a presentation from Heaven Colon, CLM CareerSource, and delved into high-skill, high-wage careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by taking a closer look at robotics. Students also met Forest High School EMIT program students – EMIT stands for Engineering and Manufacturing Institute of Technology.
The students were mesmerized by the Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle (EV) driven to the Academy by a Southern Alliance of Clean Energy (SACE) representative. A surprise visit from NFL Steelers draft pick Ulysees Gilbert III, his brother Uriah Gilbert who plays for Bethune Cookman University, and a previous youth energy academy student, Maurice Gilbert, who is currently a student at Florida A&M University provided the teens with substantial life coaching skills and drove home the importance of time management skills. The Gilberts reminded the participants that attending the Academy is a valuable investment in themselves.
On day two, attendees toured the City of Ocala electric utility operation center and water treatment plant. Utility Director Mike Poucher demonstrated the effects of texting while driving through a presentation of car accidents that involve utility poles and how to exit a vehicle safely after an accident. Participants also rode in bucket trucks and learned about Ocala’s fiber-optic internet system. Finally, participants learned about drones and how they are used in the energy industry.
As a supporter of STEM-based projects, SECO was an event sponsor and also provided funding for transportation expenses to the Boys and Girls Club that bussed the students for their exploration tours. SECO Energy CEO Jim Duncan stated, “The Youth Academy aligns with two key cooperative principles – Education, Training and Information and Concern for Community. The energy field offers a multitude of diverse careers just waiting for talented candidates to apply. Participating in youth education programs gives SECO a hand in crafting its future workforce and offers local, talented youngsters employment opportunities close to home and family.”
The Florida Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) incorporated a Youth Energy Academy model focused on, but not limited to, minority students in St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Ocala. “Each year, we gain the interest of our emerging workforce by proving new career paths and sessions to let students know what the energy industry offers and how they can create career paths of their own. In 2012, we established Youth Energy Academy programs in the Northeast and Central regions of the AABE Florida Chapter with the intent of beginning programs in the Southeast and Northwest regions in 2020. We won’t be able to solve the energy industry workforce shortage overnight, but since inception, more than 1,500 students have been exposed to the energy industry through the Youth Energy Academy,” stated Kathy Judkins, AABE Florida Chapter President. The AABE Florida Chapter is led by members from seven Florida energy providers, as well as several entrepreneurs and business partners.
Learn more about SECO Energy and its Concern for Community online. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
The dog days of summer have arrived. With warmer temperatures and increased humidity, your home’s HVAC works overtime to keep you cool. Pool pumps run for extended hours to prevent algae growth. These factors add up to increased kilowatt-hour use and higher electric bills.
SECO is your local not-for-profit electric cooperative committed to serving as your energy-efficiency partner. To help members reduce energy use, we’ve created energy-efficiency tools on our Energy Solutions menu.
Visit Energy Solutions today and complete our Home Energy Assessment. SECO designed this tool as an online audit that provides specialized energy-efficiency advice tailored to your home and lifestyle. The Home Energy Assessment is available to members 24/7. No need to wait for an appointment for an in-home audit.
To get started, input the characteristics of your home including age, construction, insulation and roof type. Include details about occupancy, type and number of windows, and exterior doors. The Home Energy Assessment will also query about completed energy-efficiency upgrades such as additional insulation, window tint, weather stripping and caulking.
After entering your home’s details, provide your email address to receive your energy-efficiency report based on your home’s specifics. It will provide low-cost ways to decrease your energy usage and your bill.
Win a prize! 1) Nest Wi-Fi Thermostat 2) Honeywell Wi-Fi Thermostat or 3) Ecobee Wi-Fi Thermostat. Members who complete the Home Energy Assessment will be entered in a drawing for the high-tech programmable thermostats listed above. Three winners will be drawn August 15.
ENERGY STAR recommends using your programmable thermostat’s energy-efficiency settings to save as much as $180 per year.
Browse the Energy Solutions tab for other energy-efficiency tools. Our Energy Estimator calculates the amount of energy and cost for electronics and appliances.
It’s pretty handy if you’re thinking of adding a pool, charging a golf cart or installing a refrigerator in the garage or lanai.
SECO is proud to serve as your energy-efficiency partner.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
SECO Energy is a strong corporate citizen. Our cooperative supports programs based on commitment to the key cooperative principle “Concern for Community.” SECO Energy is also a not-for-profit utility. We do not have the deep pockets of investor-owned, for-profit organizations. Thus, we partner with organizations whose culture and programs align with our core values and purpose.
Annually, we ally with United Way chapters to facilitate employee pledging. Over the years, employees have donated $860,000. In addition, SECO provides quarterly allocations from our Pennies from Heaven program to fund local agencies for bill payment assistance for members in need.
Over the holidays, we sponsor a Toys for Tots drive, and our Member Service Centers are designated drop off locations. Our employees are annual, generous supporters of the program, donating hundreds of bikes, trikes and toys over the years.
SECO is also a strong corporate participant in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life events raising $132,000 over the last decade. Based on our headquarters’ location, we belong to the Sumter County Relay program but we also provide funding to other counties’ Relay programs on a pro-rata basis.
To request that SECO sponsor or donate to your organization, please use our new Contact Us form. Submissions based on these focuses will be considered:
Please note SECO does not sponsor individual sports teams or booster club initiatives, as there are thousands across our service territory. SECO participates in golf tournaments selectively if we can set up a booth to engage with members. We fund initiatives in our seven-county footprint of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco and Sumter.
Individual bill payment, basic need or job training assistance is offered by Florida 211 and funded by our Pennies from Heaven program. Members can call or text 211 to request assistance.
Take the bite out of damaging power surges and spikes with SECO Energy’s “Made in the USA” Surge MitiGator. Power surges are sudden, powerful increases in voltage which can damage or destroy household appliances and electronic devices. The most obvious cause of surges is lightning, but birds, small animals, trees or vehicles crashing into power poles are culprits as well.
Protect your home’s large appliances by leasing or purchasing SECO’s Surge MitiGator. Enroll online through August 30th and installation (a $25 value) is free. Lease the Surge MitiGator for $5.95 per month or purchase for $349 (standard 200-amp service). For residential services greater than 200 amps, the purchase price is $399 with $75 installation. Studies indicate that more than half of all surges actually originate from inside the home so be sure to also purchase point-of-use devices at your local hardware or big box store to protect your electronics.
Learn more about SECO Energy’s Surge MitiGator online. Protect your home’s appliances from surges – lease or purchase the Surge MitiGator today.
DUSTIN MERRITT – SURGE PROGRAM SUPERVISOR
LENGTH OF SERVICE – 15 YEARS
“SECO HELPS MEMBERS.” A Central Florida native raising four children in Webster with his wife Kimberly, Dustin has worked for SECO for 15 years. His SECO career began as a meter reader, and he eventually worked his way into Energy Services. Dustin was promoted to Supervisor of the Surge Protection Program in 2018. He is responsible for oversight of his team and SECO’s surge protection contractor. Dustin enjoys the opportunity to help and educate members. He and his team advocate the Surge MitiGator™ as protection against surges that may enter a home through power lines. Surges may occur due to downed lines, car accidents, animal contact or lightning strikes, and our surge protection ring installed at the meter base provides a layer of protection for large motor driven appliances in the home. Visit with Dustin or one of his team members by emailing Surge.
Congratulations to Norma Jean Bottoms from Paisley who is the winner of the Microsoft Surface Go! Ms. Bottoms registered to join America’s electric cooperatives’ advocacy hub the Cooperative Action Network. You too can become a key voice for electric co-ops to protect affordable, reliable energy in Florida. Visit www.action.coop to learn more.
Hundreds of members played 2018 Annual Report trivia with SECO on our Facebook page. Our three winners are: Jonathan Dove from Clermont won the Apple iPad; the $200 bill credit went to Rosalie Wilke from Ocala; and Carolyn Wheelis from Sorrento won the Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat. Congratulations, winners!
CEO Jim Duncan is celebrating 40 years with SECO Energy. On June 10, 1979, Duncan joined SECO (then referred to as Sumter Electric Cooperative, Inc.) in the position of Director of Accounting and Finance. He held this position until March of 1990 when he accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). As the leader of a not-for-profit utility, Duncan’s priorities focus on maintaining affordable, reliable service for the cooperative’s member-owners.
Over the years, Duncan has seen a lot of positive change, tremendous economic growth and vast system expansion. In 1990 before Duncan became CEO, the cooperative served 66,600 members. Today it provides service to more than 205,000 homes and businesses. Revenue has grown from $74.4 million to $293.7 million. Total utility plant has increased from $143.5 million to $878.7 million. Member equity has matured from 22 percent to 31 percent. The co-op regularly retires capital credits to members with a $5.5 million retirement last year and a $63.3 million returned since inception.
Duncan is humble about his role in leading the cooperative through some tough times and building the organization’s financial strength. He stated, “Our Board of Trustees are the people who are ultimately tasked with reviewing and approving budgets that keep our cooperative fiscally healthy. I credit the Trustees with exercising sound judgement and responsible governance over the years that has allowed SECO to become the third largest cooperative in Florida and the seventh largest in the nation.”
Another of Duncan’s key accomplishments is the significant reduction in outage duration for members. In 1989, members experienced 348 minutes of average outage time annually. Today, that number is only 66 minutes. Duncan attributes the improvement to the development of a robust vegetation management program, system improvement projects that increase reliability, a comprehensive storm hardening program and a workforce that cares deeply about its member-owners’ satisfaction. Duncan states, “Our current senior staff deserves the recognition for ensuring that the delivery of electric service is safe, affordable and reliable and that our members receive the highest level of customer service in the industry.”
Surveys show that SECO Energy members are very satisfied with SECO Energy. In 2018, members again rated the not-for-profit electric cooperative top in customer satisfaction. SECO received an outstanding ACSI score of 89. When comparing SECO to the ACSI Utility Sector scores SECO is a clear national frontrunner. Nationally, cooperative utilities scored a 77 in 2018. Scores for municipal and investor-owned utilities were both slightly lower at 75.
Members also rank SECO high in J.D. Power surveys as well. In 2015, SECO Energy was ranked highest in satisfaction among mid-sized utilities in the south, and in 2016 and 2017, SECO was ranked highest in satisfaction among cooperatives nationally.
Visit About SECO to learn more about the cooperative’s history. Like SECO Energy on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on company news, to play trivia and to enter prize drawings.
Atlantic hurricane season makes its formal appearance on June 1 and ends November 30. In early May, however, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) was already tracking its first tropical disturbance in the Atlantic. NHC, a part of NOAA, at the time this publication went to print, had not released its official forecast.
The Weather Channel 2019 outlook calls for a total of 14 named Atlantic storms, seven hurricanes and three “major” hurricanes. That forecast is slightly above the 30-year average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. A major hurricane is a Category 3 or stronger which means winds greater than 111 mph.
Unfortunately, no forecast can accurately predict the future. The lifesaving approach is to expect the unexpected and prepare in advance for the possibility of a power outage. Gather your hurricane supplies now. Water and plywood sell out when storms threaten. It’s essential to stock non-perishable food to sustain each family member for at least three days. If you need guidance, view SECO’s Emergency Preparation Checklist online.
Whether you plan to evacuate or stay put during a major event, enroll in outage notifications through StormCenter. Choose email, voice or text message – or all three. Take a tour of the outage map. Search for and bookmark your address. Create a SECO Energy StormCenter icon on the home screen of your smartphone or tablet.
We’ve added a new StormCenter feature. You can now check the status of a reported power outage. Visit StormCenter, click on “Check Status.” Input your last name and house number, account number or phone number on record.
StormCenter provides updates that include the time the outage began, estimated restoration time, crew status, cause if identified and when the outage was restored.
SECO has developed one of the nation’s most comprehensive Emergency Restoration Plans to respond to major storm damage. Restoring service to the largest number of members in the quickest amount of time is our goal, but with required priorities for shelters, schools, hospitals and government buildings.
If you or a family member have special needs, visit www.FloridaDisaster.org to locate your county and join the statewide Special Needs Registry. Other valuable resources for emergency planning are the National Weather Service and the American Red Cross.
Don’t be caught unprepared for the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. SECO Energy is StormReady and equipped to respond quickly to outages affecting members. We are here for you. It is our privilege to serve your family’s energy needs.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
Meet SECO Champion Jerry Bolduc – an example of our 400+ SECO Champion employees. Jerry is dedicated to providing exceptional service to members, co-workers and communities.
JERRY BOLDUC – LEAD PROJECT ENGINEER
LENGTH OF SERVICE – 14 YEARS
“SECO is amazing.”
SECO Champion Jerry Bolduc is a Lead Project Engineer at our SECO Headquarters. Before working at SECO, Jerry was employed by a large investor-owned utility. As a SECO member and an employee, he appreciates the cooperative difference in service that SECO offers members. During the three back-to-back hurricanes in 2004, Jerry assessed damaged areas and directed contract crews across the service territory. He was amazed by SECO’s storm response and the efficiency and organization shown during major restoration efforts. Originally from Canada, Jerry moved to Central Florida 20 years ago. He has participated in Ironman Triathlon Events including Escape from Alcatraz where he swam with sharks in San Francisco Bay. Jerry enjoys working in the field in sunny Florida (no snow) and is proud to be a SECO member, too.
HVAC TUNE-UP AND FILTER CHANGE
Summer heat is quickly approaching. Weather.com predicts June through August temperatures will be above average in our area. Before your HVAC system begins its summer workout, schedule a tune-up with a reputable HVAC technician.
The technician should thoroughly inspect your HVAC to ensure it’s in good running condition. The system may need to be cleaned or serviced. Preventative maintenance is easier on the wallet than major repairs down the road. A well-tuned HVAC runs more efficiently, uses less energy and saves on cooling and heating costs.
Is it time to change your HVAC filter? A clean HVAC filter also helps your system run efficiently. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and change filters as recommended.
POWER LINE SAFETY
Downed power lines are a safety hazard. Car accidents involving power poles, trees taking down a line or poles broken by heavy wind or rain have the potential to bring us too close to electric lines.
Electric energy can burn, shock, injure or kill you. Never assume a power line is safe to touch. Always assume a power line is live and has the ability to harm you. Children are especially curious and may knowingly or unknowingly approach a downed line. Talk with your kids and grandkids about the dangers of downed power lines.
Warn children to never play near or on substation fencing. Do not climb trees near power lines or allow kites, toy planes or balloons to touch power lines. Don’t release helium balloons at a birthday party or other celebration. These can tangle in lines or become deadly for Florida wildlife.
If you see a downed line, stay away and warn others away as well. Call 911 immediately to report the downed line.
RELAY FOR LIFE – 6TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Thank you to all players, sponsors and employees who participated in SECO Energy’s 6th Annual Relay For Life Golf Tournament “Tee-Up for a Cure” at Arlington Ridge Golf Club in Leesburg on Saturday, May 4th. Players enjoyed 18-holes of golf, chance to win door prizes and fellowship.
The Relay For Life Golf Tournament sponsored by SECO raised $16,600 for the American Cancer Society.
SECO and its employees are long-time supporters of the American Cancer Society and its premier annual Relay For Life events. Join SECO and its Commitment to Community by partnering with your not-for-profit cooperative on a virtual SECO Relay For Life team.
Join a SECO Energy team by visiting Relay.ACSevents.org and look for “Find a Participant or Team” and choose “Team.” Enter team name: “SECO Energy” and click “Search.” Choose a local Relay event and virtually join Team SECO and the American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer.
