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SECO News February-March 2025

Wynn's Wire

Strengthening Rural Communities

 

DEAR MEMBER,

 

The United Nations has proclaimed 2025 the “International Year of Cooperatives,” recognizing how cooperatives support local economies and community development. Guided by the principle of Concern for Community, SECO Energy focuses on improving the lives of our members across Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter Counties.

 

This past year, SECO Energy explored community solar and microgrids to improve energy resilience and sustainability, particularly in rural areas. We held a series of meetings with local officials and key community leaders to identify ways to enhance life in Central Florida, resulting in the formation of a committee to address community needs and plan future projects that will directly benefit our rural communities.

 

As your trusted community partner, we’ve begun replacing older high-pressure sodium (HPS) area lights with LED communal lighting to improve energy efficiency and safety. At the same time, we’ve continued to convert overhead power lines to underground construction that helps reduce weather-related disruptions in electric service. We have completed system improvement projects across the service area, including new substations and upgrades that increase capacity at some of our existing substations. Our Expansion and Improvement Plan continues to move forward to ensure services remain reliable and sustainable to meet the ever-increasing demand for safe and affordable energy.

 

Through educational opportunities and community programs like Youth Tour and scholarships for high school students, we hope to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in the energy industry, contributing to a future of safe, efficient, and innovative energy solutions to strengthen our communities.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

CURTIS WYNN

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

SECO Energy completed its annual member-wide customer satisfaction survey, where over 1,200 members were asked to participate. The member responses were sent to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®), a company that measures customer satisfaction across multiple industries throughout the entire United States. For 2024, SECO Energy received an ACSI score of 91 on a 100-point scale.[1]

 

SECO Energy’s score is higher when compared to publicly measured investor-owned utility scores and municipal utility scores reported in the syndicated 2024 ACSI Energy Utility Study and places SECO Energy 17 points higher than the average investor-owned utility score of 74, as well as 16 points higher than the average municipal utility score of 75, per the industry ratings.

 

ACSI® is one of the oldest and most highly regarded industry satisfaction studies which publishes annual customer satisfaction results for approximately 400 companies across about 40 industries and 10 economic sectors based on roughly 200,000 customer interviews.

 

For more information, please visit theacsi.org/industries/energy-utilities/

 

[1] Compared to publicly measured energy utilities in the ACSI® survey of customers rating their own energy utility. Results based on data provided by SECO Energy, collected between December 2 and 9, 2024. ACSI did not regulate the survey administration or sample size. ACSI and its logo are registered trademarks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC. For more about the ACSI, visit www.theacsi.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECO Energy is pleased to announce the following students have been selected as this year’s Tallahassee Youth Tour Delegates:

 

  • Ryan Allen, Eustis
  • Thomas Astacio, Dunnellon
  • Lillian Brogan, Fruitland Park
  • Allister Clarke, Lake Panasoffkee
  • Molly Flynn, Clermont
  • Ranaijha Hepburn, Ocala
  • Sariah King, Bushnell
  • Kaiming Lei, Middleton
  • Jayley Lewis, Bushnell
  • Bella Maurice, Belleview

Please join us in congratulating these students as they embark on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a leadership conference in Tallahassee, where they will tour Florida’s capital, learn about the Cooperative Business Model, and meet local representatives.

 

 

 

 

The SECO Energy Foundation is dedicated to uplifting and strengthening communities in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter Counties to improve quality of life. Through grants and partnerships, the Foundation supports a wide variety of local nonprofits.

 

SECO Energy members who round up their monthly utility bills are making a meaningful difference in our local communities, and we are grateful for your support. See how those small contributions are making a big impact:

 

OVERVIEW OF FOUNDATION FUNDING FOR 2024

STEM Projects – $50,000

Environmental Projects – $10,000

Energy-Related Projects – $40,000

Veterans Initiatives – $105,000

Public Safety and Education Programs – $75,000

Health/Human Services – $365,475

 

The SECO Energy Foundation operates as a tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3), and contributions are tax-deductible. To learn more about the Foundation, view awarded grants, and explore funding guidelines, visit SECOFoundation.org.

 


If you have a home office, look for opportunities to save energy in your workspace. ENERGY STAR® rated equipment consumes up to 50% less energy than standard models. Avoid phantom load by plugging equipment like computers, printers, and scanners into a power strip, then turning the power strip off once your workday is done. These types of equipment still use small amounts of power even when switched “off.” You can also save energy in your home office by replacing older bulbs with energy-saving LEDs.

Source: energy.gov

 

 

 

Read the full February-March SECO News.

SECO Energy Foundation $10,000 Grant Supports United Way of Citrus County

The SECO Energy Foundation awarded the United Way of Citrus County a $10,000 community grant. The United Way of Citrus County has earmarked the grant funds to support The Grow Initiative: Financial Literacy; participants learn about financial literacy through classes that teach clients how to budget, manage and build credit, create a résumé, interview for jobs, and other skills to prepare them for financial success.

 

The GROW Initiative provides an opportunity to improve lives by teaching skills essential to long-term stability, which is an unknown concept to many people. The SECO Energy Foundation grant, with contributions from other community partners, will enable the organization to improve lives, create sustainable change, and assist Citrus County residents.

 

United Way of Citrus County CEO, George Schmalstig, described how the funding from SECO Energy Foundation would extend beyond supporting just the courses. Schmalstig stated, “This community grant from the SECO Energy Foundation will also be used to provide emergency assistance to participants attending the financial literacy courses. We want to be sure each person has the support to complete the training, so we will step in if needs arise.”

 

SECO Energy Foundation Board member, Mary Pericht, endorsed the approval of the grant’s potential impact, saying, “We respect the history of the United Way of Citrus County and their past achievements. Supporting this program made sense from the standpoint of its potential to radically improve the lives of Citrus County residents.”

 

Examples of emergency assistance could be eviction mitigation, rent/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, and car repairs, to name a few.

 

SECO Energy Foundation Executive Director, Mariah Delgado was confident the initiative would result in a positive outcome, stating, “I am so happy our Board chose to approve this grant, and I believe this team at United Way of Citrus County can execute The GROW Initiative successfully.”

 

The grant was one of five grants approved by the SECO Energy Foundation Board at their first quarterly meeting in 2024. The funded grants will be used to support charitable organizations that assist residents in need and improve the quality of life in communities served by SECO Energy. SECO serves over 240,000 homes and businesses in Central Florida’s Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter Counties.

 

The SECO Energy Foundation is a charitable organization operating as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3). Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible.

 

The SECO Energy Foundation aims to support charitable organizations that assist residents in need and improve the quality of life in communities served by SECO Energy, which include the Central Florida counties of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter. To learn more about the SECO Energy Foundation, visit SECOFoundation.org.

SECO Energy Foundation $50,000 Grant Supports United Way of Marion County

The SECO Energy Foundation awarded a $50,000 community grant to United Way of Marion County. The SECO Energy Foundation presented the grant funds to the organization in support of both the 2-1-1 helpline and the Strong Families program that addresses homelessness and promotes debt reduction with one-on-one success coaching. 

 

The United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline connects individuals with essential community resources, such as healthcare referrals, assistance with housing, food, and mental health resources, which are directly related to the health and well-being of the community. The Strong Families initiative aims to end generational poverty by pairing participants with success coaches who will concentrate on providing guidance in managing debt, increasing personal income, and furthering their education. During this year-long program, participants will advance their long-term financial stability. 

 

The United Way of Marion County’s VP of Community Impact, Beth Nelson expressed gratitude for the SECO Energy Foundation grant, saying, “We are very grateful to the SECO Energy Foundation for this support. Our 2-1-1 helpline is very well-utilized and our ability to support it is strengthened by this grant.” She continued, “We believe teaching financial concepts to less-fortunate individuals through the Strong Families program will truly change lives and offer a brighter outlook for future generations. There really is nothing else like this available locally.” 

 

The grant was one of five grants approved by the SECO Energy Foundation Board at their first quarterly meeting in 2024. The funded grants will be used to support charitable organizations that assist residents in need and improve the quality of life in communities served by SECO Energy. SECO serves over 240,000 homes and businesses in Central Florida’s Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter Counties.  

 

The SECO Energy Foundation Executive Director Mariah Delgado was supportive of the organization’s plans for the funds. Delgado shared, “The grant to the United Way of Marion County is going to make a difference, I believe. Changing lives with education is a terrific long-term approach to improving the lives of the homeless population that truly wants to succeed in life, and the 2-1-1 program has been a valuable source of community support for years. This grant should help each initiative and the SECO Energy Foundation is happy to provide it.” 

 

The SECO Energy Foundation is a charitable organization operating as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3). Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible. 

 

The SECO Energy Foundation aims to support charitable organizations that assist residents in need and improve the quality of life in communities served by SECO Energy, which include the Central Florida counties of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, and Sumter. To learn more about the SECO Energy Foundation, visit SECOFoundation.org.