Department of Energy – SECO Energy

SECO Energy Grant Project Approved by Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $3.46 billion in funding through its Investing in America Agenda Funds Projects through which SECO Energy has been approved to move forward in its grid resiliency project. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the selected projects will improve the delivery of safe, reliable and affordable energy for Americans in 44 states.

SECO Energy’s Improving Resiliency Through Grid Hardening Project is approved to move forward under the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program. The project consists of multiple interrelated components that the not-for-profit electric cooperative has developed in response to the need for accelerated resilience efforts. Multiple tropical storms and hurricanes have crossed directly through SECO’s service area with winds and flooding causing damage to the utility’s facilities and members’ property, as well as power outages. This project has a proposed price tag of over $70 million with SECO Energy’s cost share just over $17 million.

DOE announces SECO as grant recipient SECO Energy’s proposed project will enhance resilience by undergrounding overhead utility lines, hardening existing poles and increasing line capacity, replacing aging inefficient equipment and expanding load capacity with a new distribution substation. 

The planned project will improve reliability and outage restoration times and underground 33 miles of distribution lines to improve grid reliability against extreme weather events that Central Floridians are vulnerable to. 

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn is thankful that SECO members will benefit from the proposed grid improvements. Wynn stated, “We are excited to share the news made possible by GRIP funding with our members. The funding accelerates our efforts to make our system more reliable and resilient, without causing undue rate pressure on our members. SECO Energy is committed to our mission, which is to provide reliable and innovative service to our members and communities, especially during hurricanes and tropical storms.”

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter 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 About SECO Energy.

SECO News October 2022

Dear Members,

I am honored to serve as your Board President. As our CEO Curtis Wynn has highlighted in previous articles, we remain committed to maintaining our electric grid and keeping up with the growth we are experiencing system-wide. I want to highlight some of those specific activities.

Members who live in Sumter County know the growth in our area has been incredible over the last decade. Last year, SECO energized 1,443 new services in Sumter County – representing 25 percent of SECO’s total new service count. This year between January and August, we have already energized 2,257 new meters in Sumter County, bringing the total service count in the county to 82,173.

You can’t help but notice the construction all over Sumter County, and SECO Energy has many projects in various design and construction stages. SECO is actively focused on improving the reliability of its existing infrastructure in Sumter County and building new facilities to meet increasing demand.

Currently in the Belmont area, new commercial development is happening around County Road 466A to include new restaurants, retail space and a hotel. In Belmont Phase 3, SECO recently energized electric infrastructure for 57 residential lots. A 100,000-square-foot self-storage facility is currently in the engineering design stage.

New single-family residences are proposed at the Keys at Wildwood Phase II and the Villas at Wildwood. The Wildwood Cottages subdivision is also in development near County Roads 134 and 426. These 70 new units have no age restrictions. The community will include a clubhouse, pool, dog park and community garden.

A new nursing center is planned for Trailwinds Villages. SECO’s Engineering team has completed the electric design for an assisted-living facility of 160 units at Lumin Park in Lady Lake. Another new senior assisted-living facility in Wildwood on County Road 472 will have 132 units and is in the electrical design stage.

Sumter County is also welcoming new commercial growth. An adhesive plant is in construction on 82nd Avenue west of County Road 127. In the same area, SECO has completed the electric design of a 170,000-square-foot building. A 7,000-square-foot retail building is being designed in the Fenney Professional Plaza. Near the corner of Buena Vista and Parr, a proposed 2,300-square-foot facility for a new Sprouts grocery store is in the works.

This long list helps emphasize our area’s robust residential development and commercial growth. Keeping pace with the growth while continuing to maintain our existing infrastructure to serve our current members is a high priority for every SECO Energy employee. Visit SECOEnergy.com > Newsroom > System Improvement Map to see reliability and expansion projects across our entire service territory.

Unfortunately, we continue to battle supply chain and labor shortages as a not-for-profit cooperative trying to keep pace with unprecedented growth. Our members continue to feel the crunch in their electric bills as the price of natural gas – the primary fuel used to generate electricity – increased 52% in July compared with June per the Energy Information Administration depicted in the graph to the right. The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) component on your bill reflects these ongoing increases.

Members who need financial help should visit SECOEnergy.com > Contact and click on the Find Bill Payment Help map to locate a social service agency in their area. These agencies receive funding from SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven program for the specific purpose of helping members who have difficulty paying their electric bill. Florida 211 is also a resource for residents who need resources related to food, addiction, housing and healthcare. Call 211 or visit 211.org today.

Sincerely,

Gerald Anderson

Board Trustee President

Surge MitiGator – Win a Generator Reminder!

Enroll in SECO Energy’s Surge MitiGator program by November 15 for a chance to win one of three portable generators! Members in a current lease or prior purchase are already eligible to win.

Chomp down on voltage spikes and surges with SECO Energy surge protection. The meter-based surge arrester blocks damaging surges and voltage spikes that come in through the electric line before they damage appliances and cause financial loss. Surges are caused by lightning, vehicle accidents, small animals, fallen trees and more.

You can lease the protection for only $5.95 plus tax per month with a $25 installation fee. Purchase prices range from $349 to $399, and installation is always free. The product carries a 15-year warranty.

Enroll in the Surge MitiGator program (lease or purchase) for a chance to win one of three portable generators. To enroll, visit SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Surge MitiGator and submit the web form.

The arrester at the meter is the first step in protection. You should invest in point-of-use surge devices to protect electronics and appliances. Purchase at local big box or hardware store.

Scare Away Phantom Load

Did you know that many everyday electronics consume electricity when plugged into an outlet? Electronics such as TVs, DVD players, computer equipment, gaming or audio systems, cable boxes and device chargers are the most common culprits. This phenomenon is called phantom load, and it leads to increased energy bills.

Phantom load may be responsible for 10 to 20 percent of residential electricity use in the United States alone. Studies report that homes may have 20 to 40 sources of phantom load.

How do you scare away phantom load? The Department of Energy’s (DOE) website at energy.gov recommends using power strips instead of plugging items directly into outlets. Power strips enable multiple devices to be plugged in at one time and can be turned “on” or “off.” Smart plugs are also available for devices such as cell phones that stop using electricity when the battery is charged.

Scare away phantom load by identifying and eliminating energy wasters in your home. TVs and DVD players in a guest room? Multiple chargers plugged directly into outlets and not being used? A computer, printer or gaming system plugged in and not in use?

SECO offers a variety of ways to search out energy wasters in disguise. Find the Energy Estimator and the Home Energy Assessment at SECOEnergy.com to receive energy-efficiency advice tailored to your home.

SECO Energy Employees Donate to Relay For Life

For decades, SECO Energy employees have donated to and participated in The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life which is the largest peer-to-peer fundraising event dedicated to saving lives affected by cancer.

SECO Energy is proud to announce that its employees collectively donated $4,640 to Relay For Life teams in SECO’s service area. SECO Energy has committed to matching employees’ donations from our Pennies from Heaven fund. The total contribution totaled $9,280 for the American Cancer Society.

Want to join SECO Energy’s charitable endeavors? Enroll in our Pennies from Heaven program that is transitioning to the SECO Energy Foundation. Your bill will be rounded up to the nearest dollar each month. These donations assist your fellow members with bill payment assistance and other local worthy causes. Read more on page 4 about SECO Energy Foundation enrollment changes that take effect in January 2023.

SECO Energy Foundation Reminder

In January 2023, SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven program is transitioning to the SECO Energy Foundation. The SECO Energy Foundation’s goal is to increase community outreach in our service area. The new Foundation will generate grant funds for projects that align with SECO members’ needs and SECO’s strategic initiatives. The Foundation will also provide increased bill payment assistance for SECO members.

SECO members will automatically be transitioned to enrollment in the SECO Energy Foundation at year-end unless they have proactively unenrolled. The Foundation enrollment rounds up monthly bills to the nearest dollar. The average donation per member whose bill is rounded up is $6 annually.

Update your SECO Energy Foundation enrollment status by visiting SECOEnergy.com > Contact > SECO Energy Foundation. You can send an email to CustomerService@SECOEnergy.com, call (352) 793-3801 or write to SECO Energy, Attn: Corp Comm, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585 by December 31, 2022.

We are so thankful for our current Pennies from Heaven enrollees. We look forward to expanding our community outreach with the new SECO Energy Foundation.

Contributions to the SECO Energy Foundation will be tax-deductible.

Read the full October 2022 SECO News online.

SECO News, April 2021

Duncan’s Digest – Inverness Substation Upgrade

SECO Energy’s service territory covers 2,100 square miles, which is about the size of Delaware. At year-end 2020, we were serving 216,477 homes and businesses in seven Central Florida counties. The bulk of our members live in Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties, with smaller numbers of members in Hernando, Levy and Pasco Counties.

Our cooperative purpose is to provide exceptional service to our members, co-workers and communities. That exceptional service is reflected in SECO Energy winning coveted J.D. Power awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017 when our satisfaction scores topped all utilities in the nation. In 2020, we upheld our position as an American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) frontrunner in Florida and nationally with a score of 91.

We definitely have a strong reputation to uphold. Another example of our exceptional service is a meticulous inspection and maintenance schedule that ensures day-to-day reliability while expanding an electric system that meets both current and future members’ energy needs.

In the July 2020 SECO News edition, I communicated about the Marion Oaks substation rebuild underway in Marion County. That project, including the demolition of the older adjacent substation, is almost complete.

A new project in the works is the Inverness substation rebuild in Citrus County. The Inverness substation was reconstructed in 1982. Due to its age, the substation needed a complete rebuild. This substation serves just under 6,000 members. The rebuild includes a high-side ring bus and steel structures that support the heavy, high voltage transmission line. The high-side ring bus will increase service reliability for all members served by the Inverness sub by creating redundancy through looped service.

The Inverness substation rebuild also improves reliability for members served by the nearby Floral City substation as well. Both substations are looped in with two separate Duke Energy transmission lines. Currently, members served by both substations experience an outage if even one of the Duke transmission lines experiences a fault or operates. When the new ring bus is in place at the Inverness substation, members served by our Floral City sub will no longer experience an outage if the fault occurs between the transmission line and the Inverness substation.

Along with the ring bus on the high side, we’re working to re-gasket the existing power transformer, install a new metering package and implement a state-of-the-art relay schematic. The new foundation is in place, the fence surrounding the substation has been installed, and a new control house is being constructed on-site. The Inverness substation rebuild is on schedule for completion in early summer, just in time for storm season to arrive.

The total value of our electric facilities systemwide is inching closer to the $1 billion mark. At year-end 2020, the value of SECO’s utility plant was $955.9 million. We’re spending about $3.2 million per month to improve existing members’ service reliability and to build new infrastructure to meet the growing demand in our area.

Without question, your electric service is supported by an extensive, robust and well-maintained infrastructure.

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends the best days in April and May to complete indoor and outdoor projects. Ready for spring cleaning? Wash windows on April 10 and 11 and May 7 – 9, and wash floors on April 8 and 9 or May 5 and 6. The best days to bake are on April 18 and 19 and May 15 and 16. If spring yard work is on your list, the best days prune to encourage growth are April 20 and 21 and May 17 – 19. Prune to discourage growth on April 1, 2, and 10 and May 7 – 9.

Call 811 Before You Dig

Longer days and sunny weather make spring the perfect time to tackle your honey-do list. April is Safe Digging Month and Florida law requires you to call 811 or visit www.call811.com online before you dig.

811 is a free service that will locate and mark underground utilities on your property or in the area you plan to dig. Never install a fence, plant a garden, add new landscaping or trees before contacting 811. Are you working with a contractor on a project? Make sure your contractor has connected with 811 before beginning the project on your property.

Wait for the flags! Keep shovels out of the ground until the 811 locating service has responded to your request and flagged the approximate area where underground utility lines (electric, water, gas, communications, etc.) are located.

Know what’s below – call 811 before you dig. In Florida – it’s the law.

EV Charger Winner

Pamela Gladd from Minneola is the March winner of a SECO Energy branded JuiceBox Pro 40 EV Level 2 charger. We’re giving one charger away each month while supplies last. To enter, text “EV” to (352) 320-4500 for a link to enter. Or click on the EV Charger Giveaway homepage banner.

Learn more about the benefits of electric vehicle ownership on our EV website pages. You’ll find an EV savings calculator, information about CO2 reduction, an EV and PHEV model finder and a nationwide charger-finder map. Visit our Electric Vehicles website section for more details.

Watch SECO News for next month’s charger winner.

Spring for Energy Savings

The Department of Energy (DOE) at energy.gov estimates the energy used to cool and heat your Central Florida home is 35 to 40% of your total energy consumption. You control how and when you use electricity. The condition and age of your home’s HVAC system, insulation, roof, windows, ducts, appliances and lifestyle also affect your energy consumption. Newer, well-insulated, properly weatherized homes with double-pane windows and ENERGY STAR-rated appliances consume less energy.

The number of people living in your home and weather also affect energy consumption. More people living in the house create more laundry, heating, cooling, cooking and increased hot water and electronics use. Central Florida is known for scorching summer temperatures that cause your HVAC to work overtime to keep the home cool. During a cold snap, the heating system also runs more frequently to warm the house.

Want help to reduce your energy consumption and lower your monthly energy bill? SECO Energy’s online energy-efficiency tools can help you spring for energy savings with low-cost and no-cost tips and ideas to help you reduce your energy use.

Home Energy Assessment

Our Home Energy Assessment is an online energy audit that you can complete from the comfort of your home. Fill out the assessment based on your home and lifestyle. Submit your answers and email address, and in just minutes you’ll receive energy-savings advice tailored to your home and lifestyle. Complete the energy-saving ideas, and you’ll be on your way to consuming less energy – and saving money.

Energy Estimator

Are you interested in seeing the math associated with your energy usage? Visit our Energy Estimator online to calculate the estimated costs for each of your home’s appliances and electronics. Submit your email address to receive no-cost and low-cost energy-savings suggestions via email.

Energy Savings Word Search

After completing our Home Energy Assessment and Energy Estimator, sharpen your energy-saving knowledge with this month’s Energy Savings word search.

2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season Early Warning

Traditionally, the Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1. But the past six hurricane seasons have seen hurricanes and tropical storms form in mid-May. Because of this change, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) will begin its Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook earlier on May 15 instead of waiting until June 1.

What does this mean for SECO Energy members? SECO is StormReady, and we encourage you to begin your preparations for hurricane season now. Don’t wait until a hurricane or tropical storm is heading our way to prepare.

Learn more about hurricanes and tropical storms in our Hurricane Handbook. You’ll find helpful information on emergency supplies for people and pets. We’ve also included tips for before, during and after a storm. Pick up a copy of our Hurricane Handbook at one of our five Member Service Centers or visit our Storm Preparation page.

Winners’ Circle

Have you engaged with our virtual assistant Electra who can answer thousands of calls without missing a beat? Ask Electra for assistance instead of waiting to speak with a representative. Each week, we’ll draw one winner who will receive a $25 gift card. Winners are drawn from all members who called and successfully took care of business with Electra.

February’s Winners Are:

Mark Fagan from Clermont

Lynn Pulchano from Inverness

Don Whittigton from Dunnellon

Sandra Ennulat-Davis from Eustis

Congratulations to our three March winners in our Go Green and Win: Paperless Billing and Bank Draft incentive.

Narasimha Murthy from Tavares is the winner of a $200 SECO Energy bill credit.

Karen Chapman from Ocala is the winner of a NEST thermostat.

John Johnson from Summerfield is the winner of an Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa.

Read Winners’ Circle next month for more winners.

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 https://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 2021 SECO News online.

SECO News, January 2020

Duncan’s Digest – 2020 SECO Scholarship Program

Your SECO Energy Board of Trustees recently approved our 2020 SECO Scholarship Program. A total of $36,000 is available for 12 recipients to receive $3,000 each.

This year we are adjusting the eligibility requirements to better align with our corporate goals. The focus of the scholarship program is shifting to a recruitment tool to spark an interest in energy industry careers. Our goal is to attract local students who want to come to SECO Energy for internship opportunities during breaks and begin their careers with us after graduation.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that almost 2 million people are employed in jobs related to electric power generation and fuels. In that group, nearly half a million people are employed in jobs directly related to electric power generation, transmission and distribution.

The DOE also reports the number of jobs in the energy sector is increasing – thus the demand for a skilled workforce follows. New careers are evolving that focus on renewable energy, natural gas and information and communications technology. But the energy industry workforce is aging. Almost thirty percent of energy industry employees are on the cusp of retirement or between the ages of 51 and 60. Furthermore, thirty-three percent of energy industry workers are between the ages of 41 and 50.

An aging workforce and the need for employees interested in highly-skilled careers in the energy industry are driving the eligibility change in SECO’s 2020 Scholarship Program.

To be eligible to apply, the student must be interested in pursuing a career in the energy sector. The student must be a graduating senior who lives in a home served by SECO Energy. Awardees must be enrolled full-time in an accredited Florida college, university or vocational/ technical school by the end of 2020. Students should also be pursuing a degree or certification in technology, engineering, math or business.

Applications are available beginning January 2, 2020 online. For those without Internet access, applications are also available in all Member Service Centers. The application must be received in our corporate offices on or before Friday, March 27, 2020.

If you have questions about the scholarship program, email Communications. Or you can call and visit with Eneida Robaina in the Corporate Communications group. Eneida manages the scholarship program and is also this month’s SECO Champion. Read about her next and watch her video on YouTube.

In addition to transforming into a viable recruiting tool, our Scholarship Program embraces two of the seven cooperative principles observed by SECO: Concern for Community and Education, Training and Information. I wish our applicants the best and look forward to meeting our scholarship winners at the awards banquet on May 18, 2020.

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

SECO Champion – Eneida Robaina

Length of Service: 10 Years

“MY FAMILY IS SUPPORTIVE WHEN DUTY CALLS.” Eneida Robaina is a Senior Staff Assistant in Corporate Communications. Eneida also coordinates SECO’s Scholarship Program and has implemented the program changes to cultivate our future workforce. Eneida organizes the applications, answers scholarship inquiries and arranges the yearly awards banquet for recipients and their families.

Eneida moved to Sumterville from South Florida in 2001 with her family. She is a world traveler and also enjoys spending weekends on the family boat. Her family is understanding when Eneida works long hours or overnights in her role in the Emergency Restoration Plan during major weather events like Hurricane Irma. Eneida believes she is incredibly fortunate to work at SECO and is proud to represent a utility that truly puts its members first. Eneida is a SECO employee and a member, too.

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Many of us ring in the new year with a list of resolutions. The Old Farmer’s Almanac offers guidance on the best date in January 2020 to begin some of the most popular resolutions. The best day to quit smoking is January 6 or 11. Best day to color your hair on January 4 – 6, straighten your hair is January 20 or 21 or wait until January 24 – 26 for a new perm. Start your diet on January 14 or 19 and travel for pleasure on January 11 or 12 – before starting your New Year diet!

Winter Heating – Wood-Burning Fireplaces

During winter months, will a wood-burning fireplace heat your home more efficiently than your HVAC unit? SECO’s Energy Services experts report it’s not likely.

A wood-burning fireplace pulls oxygen and heat from other areas in your home. As much as 30 percent of that heat goes up the chimney creating a drop in your home’s temperature. When the temperature drops, your HVAC unit cycles more frequently.

To increase fireplace efficiency, consider installing glass doors or a fireback. Doors will serve as a barrier that reduces the amount of warm indoor air that escapes through the chimney. In the summer, glass doors will help prevent warm outside air from entering your home through the chimney. A fireback is an iron or steel often decorative plate that is installed at the back of the fireplace. Not only does this protect the fireplace masonry, it absorbs the heat and reflects it into the room.

Your best bet for fireplace energy efficiency is to not use the fireplace in conjunction with your HVAC unit. The glow from a wood-burning fire adds a lovely ambiance to a room and is perfect for times when it is only a little chilly.

Safety Corner – Kids’ Electrical Safety Tips

Children are innately curious and enjoy learning about the word they live in. Teach children and grandchildren to be cautious around energized equipment inside and outside the home.

Install outlet protectors in rooms where children can reach electrical outlets. Children and adults can be shocked or injured by placing foreign objects in outlets. Teach children to never operate appliances without a responsible adult present. Water and electricity don’t mix – never place electronics near water.

Inspect trees where children are playing to ensure that branches are far away from overhead power lines. Do not let children climb trees growing close to electric lines. Never touch outdoor wires with any part of your body, toys or other objects. Keep kites, balloons, drones and toy planes away from poles and wires. Children should never be allowed to play near substations or underground transformers.

Find more electrical safety tips on our electrical safety page.

Read the full January 2020 SECO News online.

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Archive

Home

Surge MitiGator – Win a Generator Reminder!

Scare Away Phantom Load

SECO Energy Employees Donate to Relay For Life

SECO Energy Foundation Reminder

Duncan’s Digest – Inverness Substation Upgrade

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

Call 811 Before You Dig

EV Charger Winner

Spring for Energy Savings

Energy Savings Word Search

2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season Early Warning

Winners’ Circle

Thank a Lineman License Plate

Duncan’s Digest – 2020 SECO Scholarship Program

SECO Champion – Eneida Robaina

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

Winter Heating – Wood-Burning Fireplaces

Safety Corner – Kids’ Electrical Safety Tips

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NEED HELP? CALL (352) 793 -3801

CONTACT US

Search our website

CONNECT WITH US