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Tag: Chief Executive Officer Curtis Wynn

SECO Energy Crews Work Overnight Through Hurricane Debby 

SECO Energy experienced widespread outages overnight, leaving over 10,000 accounts without power across Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter counties as Hurricane Debby moved through the Gulf of Mexico. SECO Energy is calling in outside contractors and fellow cooperative personnel to assist in restoration from Hurricane Debby.

 

SECO Energy crews worked overnight Sunday to restore electric service to homes and businesses that lost power but were forced to temporarily delay restoration efforts due to high winds as formerly Tropical Storm Debby strengthened to hurricane status. It is unsafe to raise truck buckets in winds higher than 35 mph. Fortunately, restoration work has now resumed with subsiding winds. 

 

The eyewall of Hurricane Debby made landfall early this morning in the Big Bend area near Steinhatchee as a Category 1 storm. As of 5 a.m. Monday, Hurricane Debby had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and is moving north-northeast at 10 mph. SECO crews are still battling tropical wind conditions, flooding, and high-water areas. The NHC forecast indicates rain and gusty winds will continue in SECO’s service area for most of Monday and into Tuesday. The possibility of tornadoes and flash floods continues. The current National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast predicts Debby will rapidly weaken as it moves inland across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia later today through Tuesday.

 

CEO Curtis Wynn encourages members to practice safety as Hurricane Debby linger. Wynn stated, “During storms and power outages, it’s crucial to exercise extreme caution around downed power lines and trees in our area. Always treat any fallen line as if it’s energized and dangerous. To keep your family safe, ensure children stay indoors and away from potential hazards. If you’re without power and decide to use a generator, follow the manufacturer’s safety guidelines. If you experience a medical emergency or other life-threatening hazard, call 911 right away.” 

 

 

SECO’s Emergency Restoration Plan determines the system’s restoration priority for each affected feeder. Essential services such as hospitals, shelters, schools, and government agencies are the highest priority. Line repairs that will restore power to large groups of members are next, feeders that serve large commercial services and then individual electric services in less populated areas. 

 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency for 54 Florida counties on Thursday, August 1, and added seven additional counties on Friday, August 2. County Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in Central Florida are monitoring Hurricane Debby’s impact. For a list of shelters, including general, pet-friendly, and special needs, visit FloridaDisaster.org. SECO members who require continuous electric service to power life-sustaining medical equipment should have a backup power source or relocate to a shelter. Special needs shelters are open in every county SECO serves.   

 

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 it on your smartphone or tablet to report outages quickly and easily. 

 

Major weather events can cause extended power outages. SECO Energy reminds members to follow safety protocols when using a generator during a power outage. Generators emit deadly carbon monoxide (CO) that is odorless and colorless. Thousands of people die each year from CO poisoning. Never operate a generator in an enclosed space, including a garage. Always place the generator at least 15 to 20 feet away from your home and never near open windows. 

  

Before operating a generator, thoroughly read and review the owner’s manual. Never plug a generator directly into an electrical outlet. This current flow is deadly for utility personnel. Keep children away from an operating generator and store fuel in approved containers. Do not smoke while fueling a generator. Always operate a generator in a dry space. If it is raining, use a canopy or cover. SECO Energy’s Hurricane Handbook includes generator safety tips and instructions on preparing before, during, and after a storm. 

 

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on X for prize drawings, news releases, and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Manage your outage notification preferences at StormCenter. To see when SECO Energy crews/contractors are working in your area, visit our new System Improvement map. To learn more about SECO Energy as a not-for-profit cooperative, visit SECOEnergy.com>Your Co-op>About. 

SECO News August 2024

 

Wynn's Wire

 

 

DEAR MEMBERS,

 

At SECO Energy, our goal goes beyond keeping the lights on. We strive to provide you with the most reliable and trustworthy service possible. The Oxford English Dictionary defines reliability as “the quality of being able to be trusted to do what somebody wants or needs.” Trustworthiness is essential to steering our responsibility to you, our valued members.

 

Our teams works diligently every day, proactively planning to ensure your homes and businesses have the power they need to thrive. While we strive to maintain uninterrupted power, sometimes factors out of our control, such as severe weather, wildlife interference, or other events, may cause temporary outages. In such cases, you can rest assured that our teams are swiftly dispatched to restore power quickly and safely. Our local Call Center is available for questions and concerns, and a whole cast of employees supports restoration efforts behind the scenes.

 

We recognize that transparent communication and exceptional member service are fundamental to reinforcing your confidence in us. That’s why we actively seek your feedback to continually enhance our service’s efficiency and ensure we meet and exceed expectations.

 

Looking ahead, SECO Energy is enthusiastic about the future. Our Strategic and Smart Grid Technology Roadmaps prioritize ongoing investments in cutting-edge technology, infrastructure enhancements, and innovative energy solutions to meet the evolving needs of the rapidly growing communities we serve. Our focus on reliability and trustworthiness remains steadfast, ensuring that you can count on us every step of the way. 

 

Sincerely,

 

CURTIS WYNN

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

SECO News August 2024 What Does Reliability Mean to SECO Energy

 

Reliability to SECO Energy means consistent, dependable service and being a trusted energy provider that invests in grid-hardening strategies, technological advancements, and services to assist our members to prevent outages, and maintain a stable energy supply to enhance service delivery.

 

GRID HARDENING STRATEGIES

  • Strategic vegetation management schedules
  • Overhead and underground facility inspections
  • Conversion to underground facilities in areas with frequent vegetation and reliability issues due to storms
  • Approximately 90% of new lines installed underground
  • Balanced and diversified energy portfolio
  • Routine maintenance to replace damaged and outdated poles and equipment
  • Upgrading transmission poles to concrete

 

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

  • Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
  • Transition from high-pressure sodium (HPS) area lighting to light-emitting diode (LED) area lighting
  • Conservation Voltage Reduction strategies that reduce demand and energy while lowering wholesale power costs
  • Utilization of drones for infrared inspections of lines, poles, and structures

 

SERVICES

  • Local call center to serve over 500,000 consumers
  • Immediate response to power outages and 24-hour response to area lighting outages
  • SmartHub for monitoring and managing your home’s energy use
  • StormCenter for quickly reporting outages and checking outage status online
  • Emails, texts, and voice alerts with outage updates and community alerts
  • Monthly SECO News with the latest cooperative developments
  • Regular updates on social media

 

Stay Connected with SECO Energy! Like us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, and LinkedIn for the latest updates.

 

 

 

 

SECO News August 2024 World Class Outage Response

 

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO Energy understands that our members count on us to supply reliable, safe, and affordable electric service. Utilities use three metrics to measure their success in providing an uninterrupted power supply.

 

 

 

SYSTEM AVERAGE INTERRUPTION DURATION INDEX (SAIDI)

 

 

 

SYSTEM AVERAGE INTERRUPTION FREQUENCY INDEX (SAIFI)

 

 

CUSTOMER AVERAGE INTERRUPTION DURATION INDEX (CAIDI)

 

*The national average is based on 2022 utility data using the latest information available.

 

 

 

SECO News August 2024 A Message from Joyce Anderson District 2 Trustee The Cooperative Difference

 

As a member of SECO Energy, I want to share with you the significant differences between our cooperative and investor-owned utilities. SECO Energy is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative that operates under a cooperatives business model that uniquely benefits you and our fellow members.

 

Here are a few differences that make SECO Energy and other cooperatives exceptional.

 

INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES PROVIDE ELECTRIC SERVICE TO “CUSTOMERS”

  • Privately owned and operated for profit, primarily focusing on maximizing shareholder returns
  • Decisions are often centralized and made by corporate executives or distant shareholders
  • Accountable to shareholders, and financial targets take precedence
  • Rates designed to not only cover costs of operation but to generate profits for shareholders
  • Profits are distributed to shareholders outside the local community

 

SECO ENERGY PROVIDES ELECTRIC SERVICE TO “MEMBERS”

  • Owned and governed by members; not-for-profit
  • Decisions made locally by members elected to serve on the Board of Trustees, ensuring member voices are heard and needs are met
  • Accountability directly related to membership, fostering transparency and responsiveness
  • Rates are designed to meet local needs and cover operating expenses and purchased power costs
  • Profits returned to members in the form of capital credits

 

 

Read the full August SECO News.

 

 

SECO News September 2024

Wynn's Wire

 

DEAR MEMBERS,

 

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. When this edition of SECO News was printed, our region was fortunate to only be affected by Hurricane Debby beginning Sunday, August 4. As we know, it is essential to stay vigilant.

 

Initial forecasts predicted a well above-average hurricane season. The forecast slightly increased in July, continuing to call for a highly active season. Sea surface temperatures across the hurricane Main Development Region in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean are near record highs, creating a favorable environment for hurricane formation and intensification. The Colorado State University (CSU) Weather & Climate Research Team now expects 25 named storms and six major hurricanes, surpassing the 1991-2020 averages of 14.4 storms and 3.2 major hurricanes.

 

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), hurricanes typically peak in September. If you still need to refresh your emergency hurricane supplies, now is a good time. Don’t be the last person in line when supplies are running short.

 

Please review your hurricane preparedness plans and ensure you have the necessary supplies on hand for your loved ones. Stay informed through reliable sources and heed any warnings or evacuation orders from local authorities. Remember, one powerful storm could cause significant damage and impact our communities.

 

The SECO Energy Hurricane Handbook is your one-stop guide to being StormReady before, during, and after a storm. Read our Hurricane Handbook at SECOEnergy.com > Safety > Hurricane Handbook to learn more.

 

Sincerely,

 

CURTIS WYNN

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

SECO News September 2024 Outage Restoration Priorities

 

SAFETY FIRST

The safety of our members and crews is always our top priority. Before restoration efforts begin, our teams assess the situation to ensure it is safe to work in affected areas.

 

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

During emergency restoration with widespread damage, shelters, hospitals, schools, and emergency services (i.e., emergency ops centers, fire stations, and law enforcement facilities) are prioritized to minimize the impact on public safety and health services.

 

 

LARGE-SCALE OUTAGES

We restore power to feeders with the largest number of accounts affected first, bringing the highest number of members back online safely in the shortest time. Our team works until power is restored to every member.

 

COMMUNICATION

Clear communication is vital. SECO Energy provides timely updates through various channels to inform members about progress and expected restoration times. Enroll in StormCenter outage notifications at SECOEnergy.com > StormCenter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X for the latest updates.

 

 

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

We continuously review and enhance our outage restoration strategies to adapt to new challenges and improve response times, ensuring reliable service for our members.

 

Restoring power means returning to normalcy and boosting community resilience. If you or a loved one require electric service for life-sustaining medical equipment, invest in a backup power source or prepare to go to a shelter if a named storm heads our way.

 

SECO News September 2024 Emergency Food Safety

Refrigerated or frozen foods may be unsafe to eat after a lengthy power outage. Use these tips to minimize food loss and reduce the risk of illness.

 

BEFORE A STORM

  • Stock an Emergency Kit: Include nonperishable foods such as bottled water, powdered milk, canned goods, cereal, and protein bars.
  • Prepare a Cooler: If an outage is anticipated, fi ll a cooler with ice to help preserve perishable items for several hours.

 

DURING A STORM

  • Minimize Fridge and Freezer Openings: Keep the refrigerator or freezer closed as much as possible.
  • Know Your Time Limits: An unopened refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours. A half-full freezer stays frozen for about 24 hours, and a full freezer for about 48 hours.
  • Use a Cooler: If the outage is expected to last over four hours, transfer perishable items to an ice-filled cooler.

 

AFTER A STORM

  • Check Temperatures: Discard refrigerated foods that have been exposed to temperatures above 40°F for more than two hours.
  • Inspect Foods: Dispose of food with unusual color, odor, or texture. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Know Safe Foods: Certain items are safe to consume after exposure to temperatures above 40°F for two hours, including:
    • Hard cheeses (properly wrapped)
    • Butter or margarine (properly wrapped)
    • Taco, barbecue, and soy sauces
    • Peanut butter, jelly, mustard, ketchup, and relish

 

To learn more about food safety after an emergency, visit: Ready.gov/food

 

 

SECO News September 2024 A Message From Marty Proctor District 8 Trustee, Daily Restoration Plan Map

 

Major weather events can cause extended power outages. When SECO Energy activates its Emergency Response Plan during a major weather event, members can access SECO Energy’s interactive Daily Restoration Plan Map.

 

If you want to see if the map has been activated at any time, visit www.SECOEnergy.com and hover over “Contact Us” in the top right corner. Select “Daily Restoration Plan.” If activated, you can input your service address and determine if your area is included in the present-day restoration plan. Substations are labeled as a reference, and feeders are outlined in polygons.

 

 

 

 

 

Read the full September SECO News