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SECO Energy Board of Trustees Elects 2022 Officers

The SECO Energy Board of Trustees elected 2022 Officers at its Trustees’ Meeting on Monday, March 28. District 3 Trustee Gerald Anderson was elected as Board President. District 1 Trustee Scott Boyatt was elected as Board Vice President. District 2 Trustee Joyce Anderson was elected to serve another term as Board Secretary/Treasurer.

 

Newly elected Board of Trustees President Gerald Anderson lives in The Villages and formerly served as Board Vice President. A SECO Energy member since 2013, Trustee Anderson was first elected to the Board of Trustees in May 2019.

 

Newly elected Board of Trustees Vice President Scott Boyatt lives in Clermont. Trustee Boyatt has been a SECO Energy member since 2004 and represents the members of District 1. Mr. Boyatt was first elected to the SECO Energy Board of Trustees in 2013.

 

Current Board of Trustees Secretary/Treasurer and District 2 Trustee Joyce Anderson resides in Sumterville. Mrs. Anderson was elected to the Board in February 2020 and has been a SECO member since 2017.

 

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn congratulated the 2022 Board of Trustees officers. Mr. Wynn stated, “Congratulations, Mr. Anderson and Mr. Boyatt on your new positions as Board President and Vice President respectively, and congratulations, Mrs. Anderson on your re-election as Board Secretary/Treasurer. I thank you and your Board peers for your collective service to the SECO Energy membership. I look forward to working with each of you to continue the success of our not-for-profit electric cooperative as SECO embraces new technologies to lead us into the future.”

 

The SECO Energy Board of Trustees welcomed Shannon Wright as the newly elected District 5 Trustee. Mrs. Wright lives in Lake Panasoffkee and was elected in February. She has been a SECO member since 2014.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter for member contests, news releases, cooperative updates and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. To learn more about SECO Energy, visit our About SECO website section.

SECO News April 2022

 

Dear Members,

 

Whether you’re a new member or a longtime member, SECOEnergy.com offers interactive tools for a variety of needs from reliability/expansion project maps to energy-efficiency and solar calculators to the bill payment assistance map and more.

 

I’m proud to announce the launch of our newest interactive tool that displays when SECO crews and/or contractors are working in your area to improve existing electric facilities and to build new infrastructure to support growth in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors of our service territory. The System Improvement Map displays both Reliability Projects and Expansion Projects built on a platform that allows members to enter their service address and view events occurring in their area that improve reliability and expand the growing electric system. The map also provides a broad view of planned work underway across SECO Energy’s service territory. You’ll find these brand new tools at SECOEnergy.com > Contact Us > System Improvement Map.

 

 

RELIABILITY PROJECTS MAP

The first tab on the map is Reliability Projects which includes vegetation management assessments and trimming, facilities inspections, pole replacements, voltage conversions, substation maintenance, area light and underground equipment maintenance and many more projects that improve the quality of electric service. Each reliability project type is represented by an icon. Click on the icon for an explanation of the work, status and project duration dates. The “Additional Info” hyperlink provides more details including possible associated planned outages for crews to work safely.

 

But it’s more than just an online, interactive map. It is complemented by a communications system that generates emails, text and/or voice notifications to members proactively letting them know about the work scheduled to occur in their vicinity.

 

The Reliability Map is searchable by clicking the icons to display greater detail about a particular project. Or input your service address in the search bar in the top left corner of the map. Click on your address when it appears and the map zooms to your location. Zoom out using the minus button on the map to view project work boundaries in or near your service address.

 

 

EXPANSION PROJECTS MAP

At yearend 2021, SECO’s investment in electric facilities topped $1 billion. Currently, we are investing more than $6 million per month to maintain our current facilities and build new infrastructure to support growth. The Expansion Projects tab on the map displays where these dollars are spent on building new infrastructure. Work types include new substations, new towers for radio communications, substation upgrades and tower/radio upgrades.

 

You will notice on the Expansion Projects map that five SECO substations are currently undergoing significant upgrades: Astatula (Lake County), Dallas (Sumter/Marion Counties), Gospel Island (Citrus County), Lake Ella (Sumter/Lake County) and Timberwood (Marion County). You can search using your address on this map also or filter by county.

 

If you have questions about Reliability or Expansion Projects, click the FAQ tab or use the Contact Us tab to drop us a line. We typically respond within two business days. You can also reach out to us using the links to SECO’s Facebook and Twitter platforms. Follow us on social media for cooperative events, promotions, prize drawings and news releases.

 

 

SERVICE TERRITORY MAP

As a returning Florida resident, I’ve been shopping for a home in SECO’s service area. Another online, interactive SECO tool that has been a tremendous help to me personally is our Service Territory Map. It helped me determine if a home I was interested in was within the service territory. I’ve even shared the link with my realtor. If you’re relocating and want to live in our service area, visit our Service Territory Map to verify SECO serves the property you’re considering.

 

 

FIND BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE

Members who need a little help paying their bill will quickly find local social service agencies that have funding specifically allocated for SECO members. Visit SECOEnergy.com > Contact Us > Find Bill Payment Help to locate the map and resources. You’ll find local agencies across the counties we serve that receive funds from our Pennies from Heaven charitable program, along with funding from other resources such as LIHEAP, EHEAP and more. You can search for an agency by county, service address or scroll through the list on the left-hand side of the map. Agency phone numbers, locations and website addresses are listed for easy access to bill payment assistance contacts.

 

We’re proud of our beginning as a small rural electric cooperative. Over the last 84 years, SECO Energy has become one of the largest and fastest-growing cooperatives in the nation. We’re also an innovative not-for-profit cooperative that is preparing for a challenging future. I hope you give our new interactive tools a try. Read next month’s SECO News to learn more about online energy efficiency tools like the Home Energy Assessment and the Energy Estimator.

 

Exciting things are happening at SECO Energy, and it is our privilege to provide reliable, affordable, and innovative energy services to our members and communities.

 

Best regards,

 

 

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

SECO News April 2022 Contractors TRC, Charter and Lumens/CenturyLink Completing Broadband Projects in SECO's Service Area

Contractors TRC, Charter and Lumens/CenturyLink Completing Broadband Projects in SECO’s Service Area

 

You will likely see three new broadband contractors out and about in your neighborhoods. This is not a SECO Energy project. The three contractors TRC, Charter and Lumens/CenturyLink are using SECO’s existing utility poles to attach broadband communication lines to expand broadband in Central Florida. We collect a rental fee from them and other utilities for attaching to our utility poles.

 

This work is funded by the $20 billion Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) intended to spread and increase broadband speeds to underserved areas. This massive broadband project will be ongoing for three years.

 

TRC is working in conjunction with SECO to obtain and process permits for the pole attachments so that Charter and Lumens/CenturyLink can begin the work of adding broadband fiber and cable.

 

All contractor vehicles display a SECO Authorized Contractor logo and carry company identification. We have a list of authorized SECO contractors online at SECOEnergy.com >Your Co-op > Contractors. If you have questions about RDOF, visit www.RDOF.com.

 

 

SECO News April 2022 PCA Adjustments

Power Cost Adjustment

 

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (eia.gov) Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot tracker, the price for natural gas has risen from $2.71/MM per BTU in January 2021 to $4.38/MM per BTU in January 2022. This is an almost 62% increase. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that the price for natural gas will reduce anytime soon.

 

The natural gas price peak was $5.51/MM BTU in October 2021 and SECO Energy held its Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) factor stable. With the current volatility of the natural gas market, it is time to make a change. The EIA estimates that the wholesale spot price of natural gas in 2022 will reach an eight-year high. Market unpredictability will affect the cost of power we purchase from our wholesale power producer, Seminole Electric Cooperative and ultimately will reflect on member bills.

 

As of April 1, 2022, the PCA credit will decrease raising the cost for 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) to $128.05. This is a total increase of 5.8%. We will keep you informed of future pricing changes.

 

 

SECO News April 2022 Thank A Lineman

Thank a Lineman License Plate

 

Members can show their support for the thousands of Florida lineworkers and utility personnel who restore power to millions of Floridians after devastating natural disasters by ordering a “Thank a Lineman” license plate. The 2020 Florida Legislature approved the plate after Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1135 into law.

 

This cause is local and benefits a key SECO Energy employee recruitment partner. For every “Thank a Lineman” plate sold, $25 goes to Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) to support their Electric Utility programs. According to LSSC’s website (www.lssc.edu), the college is ranked in the top 150 Community Colleges nationally. Their student job placement or continuing education rate is 97%. The scholarship boost is an exciting opportunity for LSSC, utility personnel across the state and cooperative members.

Reserve your plate today by purchasing a pre-sale voucher. Purchase avenues vary from county to county. Contact your local county tax collector’s office for guidance or visit myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/lineman-order.html, where you can pay for the pre-sale voucher and process your order online. Learn more at www.thankalineworker.com.

 

The actual “Thank a Lineman” license plates will be available once the pre-sale threshold is met.

 

Read the full April 2022 SECO News online.

 

SECO Energy Celebrates 84th Annual Meeting Virtually

SECO Energy held its 84th Annual Meeting of the Membership on March 24, at 4:30 p.m. for a virtual crowd of members and guests. This is the third virtual meeting since 2020 when COVID restrictions cautioned against holding large gatherings. The cooperative’s exceptional member growth has resulted in what could potentially become an unmanageable situation if a small percentage of the 500,000 SECO members and their guests accepted our invitation to come and enjoy the traditional festivities hosted on our campus, which only has an 8,000-to-10,000-person meeting capacity.

 

Hundreds of members tuned in via live webcast, Facebook live and YouTube to watch the cooperative’s Virtual Business Only Annual Meeting. Since the meeting content remains available on SECOEnergy.com, even more are viewing the meeting after-the-fact at their leisure.

 

Board of Trustees President and District 4 Trustee Richard Dennison called the Meeting to order and closed the voting platform at 4:30 p.m. Board of Trustees Vice President and District 3 Trustee Gerald Anderson led the virtual audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. SECO’s VP of Corporate Communications and Energy Services Kathryn Gloria led the invocation, introduced the Trustees, and welcomed District 5 Trustee-elect Shannon Wright, who will begin her duties at the Trustees’ Meeting on Monday, March 28. Ms. Gloria also introduced CEO Curtis Wynn and Cooperative Attorney Scott Gerken. Board of Trustees Secretary/Treasurer and District 2 Trustee Joyce Anderson certified the Official Annual Meeting Notice that was delivered timely to all cooperative members per the terms of the Bylaws.

 

Mr. Dennison’s President’s Report opened with a welcome to the virtual audience. He thanked the members who voted electronically, in person, by phone or by mail, and announced that SECO achieved a quorum by virtue of votes cast on Annual Meeting business. Mr. Dennison stated, “Florida cooperatives are required by statute to hold an Annual Meeting and must achieve a quorum to conduct official business. I am happy to announce that member voting participation has indeed helped us achieve a quorum this year. Thank you so much to all who cast a vote this year.”

 

Mr. Dennison also introduced SECO Energy’s new CEO Curtis Wynn. President Dennison stated, “Mr. Wynn was hired by the board last year and joined us in December. His energy industry career is rooted in Florida. From 1981 to 1997, he worked at West Florida Electric Cooperative. Mr. Wynn also served for 24 years as President and CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative in North Carolina. Mr. Wynn’s resume reflects a long list of awards and accomplishments showing a history of supporting creative solutions that are turning the challenges of the energy industry evolution into major opportunities.”

 

Following the President’s Report, CEO Curtis Wynn began his report. Wynn provided the membership an impressive list of recently completed and upcoming projects under consideration at SECO Energy.

 

Mr. Wynn also expressed SECO’s commitment to maintaining and upgrading its existing electric facilities to serve current members while constructing new electric infrastructure to fulfill new growth and development needs.

 

Mr. Wynn stated, “With growth rates averaging nearly 40% in our three largest counties (Sumter, Lake and Marion), we must have the following five elements in place to viably keep pace with the growth in SECO Energy’s service territory: 1) the financial capability, 2) SECO staffing, 3) stable contract labor, 4) material & equipment supply chain consistency and 5) competitive wholesale power costs.”

 

Wynn continued, “SECO’s financial position is strong but the growth we are experiencing and the major investments that come with this growth challenge our commitment to preserve reliable and affordable service. At yearend 2021, SECO Energy added 5,770 new meters, which brings our total active meter or service count to 222,188. To support the growth in our area and increasing demand for energy, our investment in facilities topped over $1 billion. This ongoing facilities investment averages over $6 million per month.”

 

The CEO Report also mentioned being challenged by supply-chain shortages and talked about the wholesale power provider’s (Seminole Electric Cooperative’s) shift to a larger portion of its portfolio generating from natural gas and renewables. He continued by emphasizing that the natural gas market is affected like the oil market. The Energy Information Administration estimates that the wholesale spot price of natural gas in 2022, will reach an eight-year high. That market volatility will affect the cost of Seminole’s production of power and ultimately will reflect on members’ bills through the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) factor as of April 1.

 

Wynn announced the SECO Energy Board of Trustees has approved taking steps to implement an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project. Wynn stated, “SECO is one of a very few large, fast-growing utilities in the state or in the nation for that matter that has not deployed AMI throughout our system. We are in the midst of two pilot projects to test the viability of deploying AMI in our service territory. As we move to the completion of these, we are now preparing to decide on a vendor with whom we will work to deploy the AMI technology that will help us improve our operations in a variety of ways.” Wynn concluded his remarks by acknowledging the Board of Trustees’ service, his staff’s unwavering support and the 400+ SECO Energy employees’ commitment to serving the members and surrounding communities in a safe and professional manner.

 

Cooperative Attorney Scott Gerken certified the 2022 Annual Meeting voting results. In total, 8,952 members voted on 2022 Annual Meeting business which was approval of the 2021 Annual Meeting Minutes, which entailed 8,635 members voting “Yes,” 39 members voting “No,” and 278 members abstaining. Mr. Gerken announced, “The membership clearly approves the 2021 Annual Meeting Minutes.”

 

SECO Energy established a special phone number, email address and social media presence for the Virtual Annual Meeting. A panel of SECO employees interacted with members who posed questions and comments that were read and answered during the meeting by CEO Curtis Wynn and members of the senior staff.

 

The meeting ended with the announcement of prize winners. All members who voted on Annual Meeting Business were entered into the random drawing for one of 100 prizes. Shawn Matthew from The Villages won the 2012 Chevy Colorado Extended Cab. Geoffrey White from The Villages won the 2019 EZGO golf cart. The three $1,000 winners are Susan Roberts from Deland, Beverly Dearden from Inverness, and Morton Finkelstein from Ocala. Elizabeth Estavanko from The Villages won the Generac generator. Other prizes including SECO bill credits, Nest learning thermostats, energy-efficiency kits, HoneyWell smart thermostats and more will be shipped directly to winners. SECO will arrange for delivery of grand prizes. View the complete list of prize winners.

 

A complete video of the program is available at SECOEnergy.com, Facebook and YouTube.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for member contests, news releases, cooperative updates and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Visit SECOEnergy.com>Your Co-op>About SECO to learn more about SECO Energy.

 

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn Honored with Clyde T. Ellis Award from the NRECA

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn has been honored with the Clyde T. Ellis Award at this year’s PowerXchange in Nashville, Tennessee. PowerXchange is the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association’s (NRECA) annual meeting.

 

The Clyde T. Ellis Award is the preeminent electric cooperative award. According to the NRECA, the Clyde T. Ellis Award pays tribute to the NRECA’s first general manager/CEO. NRECA’s Board of Directors awards individuals whose contributions promote the seven cooperative principles and progress rural electrification while developing and using national resources.

 

CEO Curtis Wynn is a 40-year energy-industry veteran. He joined SECO Energy on December 15, 2021. Previously, Mr. Wynn served as President and CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative beginning in 1997. He began his career at West Florida Electric Cooperative in 1981. His tenure culminated there as Vice President of Member Services, Information Technology, Marketing and Economic Development. Mr. Wynn holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management Information Systems from Troy University.

 

Mr. Wynn is honored to receive the Clyde T. Ellis Award from the NRECA. Wynn stated, “I want to express my thanks to the NRECA Board of Directors for honoring me with this year’s Clyde T. Ellis Award for exceptional cooperative service. I am truly humbled to receive one of our electric cooperative communities’ highest honors. This honor ranks as among the highest that I’ve had in my years of service.”

 

Wynn continued, “To be recognized by peers to be deserving of this award is a highlight of my tenure in the cooperative program. To be presented with the award in front of so many cooperators just puts the icing on the cake.”

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative that serves over 220,000 homes and businesses in seven counties in Central Florida. SECO is the third-largest electric cooperative in Florida and the seventh largest in the nation. The Cooperative has received national attention and three J.D. Power trophies for its exceptional customer satisfaction rankings. In the 2015 J.D. Power study, SECO Energy was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Midsize Utilities in the South.” And in 2016 and 2017, SECO was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Cooperatives.” SECO Energy’s 2021 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) score is 91.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter for member contests, news releases, cooperative updates and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Visit SECOEnergy.com>Your Co-op>About SECO to learn more about the Central Florida not-for-profit electric cooperative. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

SECO News March 2022

 

Dear Members,

 

SECO Energy is experiencing accelerated growth in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors while operating with strong fiscal responsibility. Florida is amid a population uptick. We expect the expansion potential and increasing energy demand to be our norm for a time.

 

In 2021, we added upwards of 5,700 new active services systemwide. This level of growth in our service area and Central Florida is exciting, challenging and has a positive effect on our financial position. SECO must meet the increasing demand for energy, maintain existing infrastructure and preserve reliability. SECO is very busy keeping up with our growing region and maintaining our existing infrastructure to serve you.

 

As a not-for-profit cooperative, significant financial investments are made to serve new members and improve your service reliability. At yearend 2021, SECO’s investment in facilities topped over $1 billion and continues to grow. This ongoing facilities’ investment averages over $6 million per month.

 

We have retained our position as the third-largest Florida electric cooperative and seventh largest nationally out of about 800 distribution co-ops. Among our co-op peers, a growing infrastructure supporting more than 220,000 metered accounts is extraordinary. Our facilities include 48 substations and 13,000 miles of line to reliably serve members.

 

This past year, with Board of Trustees approval, SECO returned $6.46 million in Capital Credits to current and former members. Since inception, SECO has returned over $80 million in Capital Credits. Assigning and returning margins to our members makes us different from other electric utilities. This is what we like to call “the cooperative
difference.”

 

We control costs, maintain healthy equity, return excess margins like a true co-op should, and provide competitive rates. It is clear there is a difference when serving members in a not-for-profit environment. And that’s the cooperative difference.

 

We pledge to provide you with the most reliable and lowest cost electricity possible while not losing sight of the high premium you place on customer service.

 

Best regards,

 

 

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

SECO News MARCH 2022 Virtual Business Only! 2022 Virtual Annual Meeting

Virtual Business Only 2022 Annual Virtual Meeting

 

Members, tune in to watch our 84th Annual Meeting live via virtual webcast on Thursday, March 24, at 4:30 p.m. To access the meeting, click on the Virtual Business Meeting homepage banner on SECOEnergy.com. Links to the webcast will also be published on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

 

Though this year’s meeting is a virtual business-only Annual Business Meeting, we need your vote to approve the 2021 Annual Meeting Minutes. You can vote on Annual Meeting business by mail, electronically or by phone. All members who cast a vote are counted as present in person for determination of quorum as stated in the Bylaws Article III, Section E, #4.

 

We have 100 great prizes up for grabs! All members who vote on Annual Meeting Business (2021 Annual Meeting Minutes) are eligible to win a prize. The grand prizes are a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab truck, a 2019 EZGO TXT gas-powered golf cart and three $1,000 cash prizes. Other prizes include SECO Energy electric bill credits, Wi-Fi programmable thermostats, energy savings kits and more!

 

Review the list of prizes on page three. To cast your vote electronically, visit SECOEnergy.com and click on the 2022 Virtual Business Meeting Vote homepage banner or text VOTE to (352) 320-2200 and follow the link. To vote by mail, fill out the ballot in your 2022 Official Annual Meeting Notice and enclose it with your electric bill payment.

 

To vote by phone, call (352) 793-3801 and an agent will assist. Do you have a comment or question for us? Engage with SECO Energy during the 2022 Annual Business Meeting, and your question or comment may be addressed live. Drop us a note via email at SECO2022AM@SECOEnergy.com, give us a call at (352) 329-MEET (answered on March 24 only) or send a message on Facebook or Twitter starting at 3:30 on March 24.

 

Good luck, and thank you for voting! We’ll see you virtually on Thursday, March 24, at 4:30 for our 84th Annual Meeting.

 

 

SECO News MARCH 2022 Annual Meeting Prize List

2022 Annual Business Meeting Prize List

 

2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO EXTENDED CAB TRUCK
2019 EZGO TXT GAS-POWERED GOLF CART
$1,000 CHECKS (3)
GENERAC GENERATOR
$250 SECO ELECTRIC BILL CREDITS (5)
NEST LEARNING THERMOSTATS (10)
HONEYWELL SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
PREMIUM ENERGY SAVINGS KITS (5)
SENSI SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
$100 SECO ELECTRIC BILL CREDITS (5)
LUX SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
SURGE MITIGATOR SURGE PROTECTION 1-YEAR LEASE (5)
RADIO SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
SMART POWER STRIPS (5)
ENERGY SAVINGS KITS PLUS (5)
AMAZON ECHO DOTS (4)
12-PACK LED LIGHT BULBS (5)
STARTER ENERGY-EFFICIENCY KITS (5)

 

 

SECO News MARCH 2022 Celebrate 25 Years of Our Surge Protection Program with Free Installation

Celebrate 25 Years of our Surge Protection Program with Free Installation

 

SECO Energy is celebrating 25 years of its Surge Protection Program with savings for you! We’re offering free installation for all new Surge MitiGator enrollments until May 31. That’s a $25 savings for you during our 25th Surge Protection Anniversary.

 

SECO’s made in the USA meter-based surge arrester has proven reliable over the past 25 years by reducing or eliminating surges BEFORE they enter your home through the meter. More than 40,000 members are already enrolled in the program.

 

The Surge MitiGator has a beastly 15-year warranty and is designed to protect your home’s large-motor appliances. Household appliances and sensitive electronics such as televisions and computers can be damaged or destroyed by power surges. These also require point-of-use devices that can be purchased at hardware or big-box retailers for adequate coverage.

 

Start at the meter base with the Surge MitiGator for the best protection. You can lease the MitiGator for only $5.95 plus tax per month with free installation – a $25 savings. The purchase price ranges from $349 to $399 plus tax – and this includes free installation. Visit SECOEnergy.com > Surge MitiGator and complete the webform to learn more or enroll during this limited free installation promotion.

 

Read the full March 2022 SECO News online.

 

SECO Energy Scores 91 in 2021 American Customer Satisfaction Index

SECO Energy has scored an impressive 91 in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) for 2021. SECO’s 91 score was measured as part of the not-for-profit electric cooperative’s member satisfaction survey and calculated by ACSI. SECO has scored a 91 in the ACSI for two years in a row.

 

The American Customer Satisfaction Index provides a one-of-a-kind, cross-industry measurement of customer satisfaction in the United States. Each year, the ACSI uses data from interviews with roughly 300,000 customers as inputs to an econometric model for analyzing customer satisfaction with more than 400 companies in 46 industries and 10 economic sectors. ACSI data has proven to be strongly related to several essential micro and macroeconomic performance indicators.

 

At the end of 2021, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) conducted the membership survey on SECO Energy’s behalf, including the ACSI metrics. The NRECA contacted a member sampling by email to ask about their unique experience with the cooperative. Members rated SECO with an impressive ACSI score of 91, maintaining its high score for two years.

 

SECO Energy’s ACSI score is impressive when compared to average ACSI scores in the Energy Utilities Sector. The average ACSI score for energy utilities as an industry ties its 2020 score at 72. Nationally, cooperative utilities averaged 73 in 2021 – the same as 2020. Investor-owned utilities averaged 72 while municipal utilities averaged 71.

 

CEO Curtis Wynn is proud of SECO’s continued high customer satisfaction scores. Wynn stated, “We are honored to learn that SECO Energy members surveyed by the ACSI rated SECO with a customer satisfaction score of 91. Our score of 91 shows that SECO is both a state and national frontrunner when compared to investor-owned and municipal utilities as well as our cooperative peers. On behalf of our 400+ employees who strive to provide exceptional customer satisfaction every day, we thank the members who rated us highly.”

 

SECO Energy has received national attention and three J.D. Power trophies for its exceptional customer satisfaction rankings. In the 2015 J.D. Power study, SECO Energy was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Midsize Utilities in the South.” And in 2016 and 2017, SECO was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Cooperatives.”

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

SECO Energy District 3 Members Re-elect Gerald Anderson as Trustee

SECO Energy members who reside in District 3 re-elected Gerald Anderson as the District 3 Trustee on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. The meeting was held in the District on Tuesday, February 8, at the Savannah Center in Sumter County for the purpose of electing a Trustee to represent District 3 on SECO’s Board of Trustees.

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO’s service area is geographically divided into nine Districts. One Trustee is elected from each of the nine Districts to represent their fellow members on SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large.

 

Along with Gerald Anderson, Hamilton McLean of The Villages submitted a letter of intent to run for Trustee. SECO’s Bylaws currently require that the cooperative hold District Meetings. Subsequently, Florida Statute requires SECO to hold in-person elections; therefore, the cooperative continues to hold District Meetings as a means of electing Trustees. A drive-thru voting option was available for members for added convenience, to encourage participation, to practice social distancing and to reduce the size of the indoor meeting.

 

A SECO member since 2013, Trustee Anderson was first elected to SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees in 2019. Mr. Anderson currently serves as Board of Trustees Vice President and has completed the educational requirements from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to earn the Director Gold Credential – the highest Trustee accreditation from the NRECA.

 

Trustee Anderson is eager to continue his Board service. Mr. Anderson stated, “I want first to thank all of the District 3 members who attended the District Meeting and cast a vote. Serving on SECO’s Board of Trustees and as Vice President is an honor, and I am looking forward to continuing to serve SECO Energy’s membership as a Trustee. Thank you to all District 3 members who placed their trust in me as their District representative.”

 

Board president Richard Dennison stated, “Congratulations, Mr. Anderson, on your re-election as District 3 Trustee. On behalf of my fellow Board officers and peers, we are excited to continue working with you to ensure SECO Energy’s future success. In addition, I want to thank Mr. McLean for his willingness to serve and also thank the members who attended the District 3 Meeting and participated in the cooperative business model’s governance practices.”

 

Curtis Wynn CEO stated, “Mr. Anderson, thank you for your willingness to continue your SECO Energy Board service as District 3 Trustee, and congratulations on your successful re-election as well. I am grateful to all who participated in our not-for-profit cooperative’s democratic process. I look forward to working with you and the rest of the SECO Energy Board of Trustees.”

 

SECO Energy will post a video of the meeting later this week along with the Q&A session for member viewing.

 

To view a brief bio of SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees and a District boundaries map, visit our Board of Trustees website section. “Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

SECO Energy Members Win Prizes for Saving Energy During Cold Weather Weekend

SECO Energy prepared for colder-than-average temperatures last weekend by asking members to turn down their thermostats and save energy to preserve electric grid stability. The incentive drawing was released on Friday evening on social media, SECOEnergy.com and distributed to local media outlets. More than 50,000 members read the communications about the thermostat incentive drawing and submitted nearly 10,000 photos of their thermostats with the settings turned down to 65 degrees or less.

 

SECO’s service area experienced early morning temperatures that plunged into the low 20s in some portions of the Central Florida SECO service area and the low 30s in other parts. SECO and its wholesale power provider, Seminole Electric, Inc. (SECI), proactively took action to ensure grid stability and system reliability.

 

SECO Energy asked members to assist the cooperative with ensuring grid stability during this past weekend’s cold temperatures by lowering their thermostats to 65 degrees from Friday evening to Sunday evening. Lowering the thermostat for the duration of the event helped members save money and energy, while helping SECO and SECI preserve grid stability. ENERGY STAR recommends a setting of 68 degrees in the winter, so the three-degree adjustment was minimal. Members also helped conserve energy by lowering their water heater temperature below 120 degrees and curtailing household tasks like doing laundry and running the dishwasher.

 

The coldest temperatures blanketed the area on Sunday morning. Ocala was 22 degrees, Leesburg was 32 degrees, Clermont was 39 degrees and Inverness 27. At 8 a.m., SECO had an instantaneous load of 929MW (megawatts) and SECI’s load was 3,998MW. SECO experienced only four outages systemwide that affected 160 members. There were reports of flickering in the Marion Oaks area in Ocala but overall, the SECO Energy and Seminole electric systems held up extraordinarily well. Historically, the SECO system has experienced similar extremely cold temperatures but with higher kWh usage. It’s clear that SECO members stepped up and conserved when asked.

 

Over 8,200 members sent in photos of their thermostat set at 65 degrees in an effort to conserve energy during the cold weather event. Members who sent a photo of their thermostat set at 65 degrees during the weekend event via email, text or social media were entered to win great prizes.

 

Random drawing prize winners are:

 

• Three $500 SECO Energy bill credits: Rory Davis, Wildwood; Charles Perry, Astatula; and William Westmoreland, Inverness

 

• Three NEST Learning Thermostats: Mark Piazza, The Villages; Dawn Finney, Umatilla; and Carolyn Clement, Inverness.

 

• Three HoneyWell Wi-Fi thermostats: Victoria Pierce, Minneola; Bryce Lemke, Clermont; and Marla Feichtenbiner, Ocala

 

• Three Apple TV boxes: Yushica Vaughns Johnson, The Villages; Krystal O’Brien, Eustis; and Vicky Mikrut, Belleview

 

• Three iPad’s (9th Generation): Henry Frick, Tavares; Clint Louton, Mount Dora; and Troy Davidson, Groveland

 

CEO Curtis Wynn stated, “Thank you to members who made a critical difference for SECO Energy and Seminole in reducing our overall load during critical peak events this past weekend. We are grateful for your actions to reduce energy use by lowering your thermostat and curtailing household activities involving electric usage. You did your part to ensure statewide grid stability last weekend. By reducing energy usage during an extremely cold weather event, you also helped to keep your bill lower and save money.”

 

Learn more about saving energy on our Energy Efficiency website section and access our online tools such as the Energy Estimator, the Home Energy Assessment and the Solar Estimator. SECO employs a team of Energy Services Specialists (ESS) and operates an Energy Services help resource via email. Visit our website today about saving energy and money on your bill.

 

“Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

SECO Energy District 5 Members Elect Leslie Shannon Dean Wright As Trustee

SECO Energy members who reside in District 5 elected Leslie Shannon Dean Wright as the new Trustee on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. The meeting was held in the District on Tuesday, February 1, at Inverness Middle School in Citrus County for the purpose of electing a Trustee to represent District 5 on SECO’s Board of Trustees.

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO’s service area is geographically divided into nine Districts. One Trustee is elected from each of the nine Districts to represent their fellow members on SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large.

 

Along with Leslie Shannon Dean Wright, Troy Creel of Inverness, Dr. Karrie Markland of Lake Panasoffkee, David Rovaldi of Inverness and Lewis Smith of Inverness each submitted a letter of intent to run for Trustee in January. SECO’s Bylaws currently require that the cooperative hold District Meetings. Subsequently, Florida Statute requires SECO to hold in-person elections as the cooperative continues to hold District Meetings as a means of electing Trustees. A drive-thru voting option was available for members to practice social distancing and to reduce the size of the indoor meeting.

 

A SECO member since 2014, Mrs. Wright has spent her 30-year career in public service in adult education, law enforcement and state government. Trustee-elect Wright has served as the Northeast Regional Director with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and a Master’s Degree in Adult Education.

 

Mrs. Wright is looking forward to serving as the District 5 Trustee. Mrs. Wright stated, “Thank you to all of the members in District 5 who attended the meeting and cast a vote. Thank you for entrusting me as your District 5 representative on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. Serving as the District 5 Trustee on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees is an honor that I am looking forward to. I am excited to work with the Trustees and SECO leadership to meet the challenges of the energy industry and ensure its future success.”

 

Board president Richard Dennison stated, “Congratulations, Mrs. Wright, on your election as District 5 Trustee. On behalf of my fellow Board officers and peers, we welcome you and look forward to working with you to ensure SECO Energy’s future success. In addition, I thank the other four candidates for stepping forward with their willingness to serve.”

 

Curtis Wynn CEO stated, “Mrs. Wright, thank you for your willingness to serve as District 5 Trustee, and congratulations on your successful election. The turnout at the District 5 was amazing and in fact record breaking. I am grateful to all who participated in our not-for-profit cooperative’s democratic process. I look forward to working with you and the rest of the SECO Energy Board of Trustees.”

 

If you were unable to attend and want to watch a video of the Business Meeting, SECO Energy will post a video of the meeting along with the Q&A session later this week.

 

View a brief bio of SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees and a District boundaries map on our Board of Trustees website section. “Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

SECO News February 2022

 

Wynn’s Wire

 

 

Dear Members,

 

It is my distinct pleasure to be serving as your new SECO Energy CEO. My energy-industry career is rooted in Florida. From 1981 to 1997, I worked at West Florida Electric Cooperative. My tenure culminated there as Vice President of Member Services, Information Technology, Marketing and Economic Development. After that, I served as President and CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative in North Carolina.

 

My wife Selene and I have three children. I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management Information Systems from Troy University. With an electric cooperative career that spans almost 42 years, I am honored to step into the shoes of your previous CEO Jim Duncan. Furthermore, I am grateful to SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees for its confidence in me in not only preserving Mr. Duncan’s legacy of success but also supporting the cooperative through immediate and long-term challenges involving supply chain, fast-changing technology, rapidly rising labor costs and other issues that can place cost pressure on a utility and its ratepayers.

 

In Board of Trustees President Richard Dennison’s column in last month’s SECO News, he humbled me by citing much of my past board service and history. That service and other energy-efficiency and community-partner projects are accomplishments that have prepared me for a very busy future at SECO, encouraging the use of electric vehicles, embracing an advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) and increasing our philanthropic outreach to help those in our community who are less fortunate and also to create energy-efficiency opportunities that lower our wholesale cost of power and help members save energy and money on their electric bills at the same time. My list is longer – but those items are my main objectives in the first portion of my tenure at SECO.

 

I’m excited about the future here in Central Florida, working at a fast-growing, not-for-profit cooperative that focuses on competitive rates and reliable service. Technology is key to our ability to maintain that focus, and I will be using SECO News, the website and social media to communicate our plans to you. I hope you like the name of the new CEO column (Wynn’s Wire was voted as a favorite name through an employee survey). The word “wire” has many different meanings and uses in our industry, but for our purposes – it is a line of communication to ensure we are serving your needs well.

 

Contact Us on our website if you have a member-service or billing-related question. We typically respond within two business days. If you have a specific question for me as the new CEO, you can click on the Management Team website section. Just hover over my photo and select the Contact button. Transparency is essential, and I want you to know I am accessible if needed.

 

Best regards,

 

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

SECO News February 2022 Advice From The Old Farmer's Almanac

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

 

Ready to brighten up your lawn for spring and attract butterflies, too? The Old Farmer’s Almanac advises that a natural fertilizer is best and to apply before it rains. Don’t cut grass too low during the summer. Taller grass resists drought. Invest in a sprinkler timer or a rain gauge to save water. Water your lawn in the early morning or evening. Reduce mowing by planting flowers and herbs that attract butterflies instead. Flowers and plants such as aster, bee balm, daylily, honeysuckle, lilac, and snapdragon will bring color to your yard. At the same time, dill, mint, oregano, and parsley can lure butterflies to visit and add flavor in the kitchen.

 

Read this month’s Florida Fauna & Flora to learn more about Florida’s state insect, the Zebra Butterfly.

 

SECO News February 2022 MyWay Prepay Payment Fee Alert

MyWay PrePay Payment Fee Alert

 

For members enrolled in SECO Energy’s MyWay PrePay program, effective April 1, there will be a $3 fee for each transaction over five transactions in a 30-day calendar month. This fee affects only members who have a prepaid account type, and the reasoning is cost-conscious processing of payments. Members with a prepaid account are encouraged to self-manage through our online account manager SmartHub and closely watch their usage and prepaid balance.

 

The $3 fee for each transaction over five within a 30-day calendar month is applied to all payment processors that accept payment on a prepaid account. If you want to unenroll from the prepaid program, the account may be subject to a security deposit. Just reach out to us via our Customer Service email or select Contact Us on the website to start the discussion.

 

 

SECO News February 2022 Agent-Assisted Payment Arrangement Fee Alert

Agent-Assisted Payment Arrangement Fee Alert

 

On occasion, members request a payment arrangement to extend their billing due date. SECO has two automated tools (self-serve options) that make requesting an arrangement free, simple and convenient. Accounts must meet eligibility requirements.

 

By phone, call and speak to Electra, our automated IVR phone assistant. Call talkdesk3527933801 and say, “Payment Arrangement.” Electra can assist you 24/7, and there’s no need to speak to a member service rep. Also available 24/7, you can request a payment arrangement on our website. Log into SmartHub, click the Billing & Payments tab and choose the Payment Extensions option.

 

Effective April 1, there will be a $5 fee for members who request live agent assistance or an exception for repeat payment arrangements.

 

 

SECO News October 2020 EV Charger Winner!

EV Charger Winner

 

The latest SECO Energy Level 2 EV Charger winner is ARLEN COLBERT from TAVARES. To enter, text “EV” to (352) 320-4500 for a link to enter. Or click on the EV Charger Giveaway homepage banner. Visit our Electric Vehicles website section to learn more about the benefits of owning an EV.

 

 

September SECO News Safety Corner

Safety Corner – Electricity and Play Don’t Mix

 

Safety is our number one core value at SECO Energy. Electricity is naturally dangerous. Warn your children and grandchildren about the dangers of electricity inside and outside the home.

 

Indoors:

 

• Do not remove or play with outlet covers or switch plates.
• Invest in outlet plug covers in areas where young children can reach.
• Do not allow children to plug or unplug electrical cords.
• Do not allow children to use appliances such as toasters, crock pots, vacuums or hair dryers unattended.
• Repair or dispose of fraying extension cords. Children may handle and be injured.

 

Outdoors:

 

• Do not allow children to play on or near electric equipment.
• Never allow children to climb trees growing near overhead power lines. Call SECO, and we’ll inspect the trees to see if they need to be trimmed.
• Keep kites, balloons and toy planes far from overhead equipment.
• Do not enter or play near substations.

 

Protect the little ones in your life from the dangers of electricity. Children are curious and have active minds, quick legs and small hands and fingers. Learn more about how to be safe around electricity with our electrical safety tips on our website.

 

Read the full February 2022 SECO News online.