May is National Electrical Safety Month, and SECO Energy encourages members to commit to safety. Safety is SECO’s most important core value.
Electrical safety applies to everyone who uses electricity. Electric energy can burn and kill. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (EFSI), over 51,000 American homes are damaged or destroyed by fires caused by electrical failures each year.
Homeowners should learn the basics about the electrical system in their homes and how to prevent electrical fires. Homes that are more than 20 years old may have outdated wiring that can lead to an electrical fire. Signs of outdated wiring include flickering lights, tripped breakers and a burning smell. The circuits may be overloaded. If the home’s wiring is outdated, the electrical outlets are as well. Outlets that are damaged, loose or warm to the touch need to be repaired or replaced.
Home wiring is a job best tackled by a professional. Contact a reputable electrician who is licensed, insured and adheres to local code requirements. Electricians can also assist in adding extra electrical outlets that will avoid circuit overload.
Adults over 65 are at greatest risk of suffering injury or death from a home fire. Young children with their natural curiosity are also vulnerable.
Electrical safety extends outside the home. Never touch utility equipment such as underground transformers or overhead power lines. Always consider power lines to be energized and dangerous. After a storm be especially cautious for downed wires. Stay away from downed lines and call 911 to report immediately. Vehicle crashes involving power poles can result in energized lines near the accident. Remain in the vehicle if it is safe to do so.
Teach children electrical safety as well. Never allow children to play on or near electrical equipment and to never enter a substation. Children should not climb trees near energized lines. Keep toys such as planes and kites away from overhead lines.
Learn more about electrical safety on SECO’s Safety page. “Like” SECO on Facebook and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
Atlantic hurricane season makes its formal appearance on June 1 and ends November 30. In early May, however, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) was already tracking its first tropical disturbance in the Atlantic. NHC, a part of NOAA, at the time this publication went to print, had not released its official forecast.
The Weather Channel 2019 outlook calls for a total of 14 named Atlantic storms, seven hurricanes and three “major” hurricanes. That forecast is slightly above the 30-year average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. A major hurricane is a Category 3 or stronger which means winds greater than 111 mph.
Unfortunately, no forecast can accurately predict the future. The lifesaving approach is to expect the unexpected and prepare in advance for the possibility of a power outage. Gather your hurricane supplies now. Water and plywood sell out when storms threaten. It’s essential to stock non-perishable food to sustain each family member for at least three days. If you need guidance, view SECO’s Emergency Preparation Checklist online.
Whether you plan to evacuate or stay put during a major event, enroll in outage notifications through StormCenter. Choose email, voice or text message – or all three. Take a tour of the outage map. Search for and bookmark your address. Create a SECO Energy StormCenter icon on the home screen of your smartphone or tablet.
We’ve added a new StormCenter feature. You can now check the status of a reported power outage. Visit StormCenter, click on “Check Status.” Input your last name and house number, account number or phone number on record.
StormCenter provides updates that include the time the outage began, estimated restoration time, crew status, cause if identified and when the outage was restored.
SECO has developed one of the nation’s most comprehensive Emergency Restoration Plans to respond to major storm damage. Restoring service to the largest number of members in the quickest amount of time is our goal, but with required priorities for shelters, schools, hospitals and government buildings.
If you or a family member have special needs, visit www.FloridaDisaster.org to locate your county and join the statewide Special Needs Registry. Other valuable resources for emergency planning are the National Weather Service and the American Red Cross.
Don’t be caught unprepared for the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. SECO Energy is StormReady and equipped to respond quickly to outages affecting members. We are here for you. It is our privilege to serve your family’s energy needs.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
Meet SECO Champion Jerry Bolduc – an example of our 400+ SECO Champion employees. Jerry is dedicated to providing exceptional service to members, co-workers and communities.
JERRY BOLDUC – LEAD PROJECT ENGINEER
LENGTH OF SERVICE – 14 YEARS
“SECO is amazing.”
SECO Champion Jerry Bolduc is a Lead Project Engineer at our SECO Headquarters. Before working at SECO, Jerry was employed by a large investor-owned utility. As a SECO member and an employee, he appreciates the cooperative difference in service that SECO offers members. During the three back-to-back hurricanes in 2004, Jerry assessed damaged areas and directed contract crews across the service territory. He was amazed by SECO’s storm response and the efficiency and organization shown during major restoration efforts. Originally from Canada, Jerry moved to Central Florida 20 years ago. He has participated in Ironman Triathlon Events including Escape from Alcatraz where he swam with sharks in San Francisco Bay. Jerry enjoys working in the field in sunny Florida (no snow) and is proud to be a SECO member, too.
HVAC TUNE-UP AND FILTER CHANGE
Summer heat is quickly approaching. Weather.com predicts June through August temperatures will be above average in our area. Before your HVAC system begins its summer workout, schedule a tune-up with a reputable HVAC technician.
The technician should thoroughly inspect your HVAC to ensure it’s in good running condition. The system may need to be cleaned or serviced. Preventative maintenance is easier on the wallet than major repairs down the road. A well-tuned HVAC runs more efficiently, uses less energy and saves on cooling and heating costs.
Is it time to change your HVAC filter? A clean HVAC filter also helps your system run efficiently. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and change filters as recommended.
POWER LINE SAFETY
Downed power lines are a safety hazard. Car accidents involving power poles, trees taking down a line or poles broken by heavy wind or rain have the potential to bring us too close to electric lines.
Electric energy can burn, shock, injure or kill you. Never assume a power line is safe to touch. Always assume a power line is live and has the ability to harm you. Children are especially curious and may knowingly or unknowingly approach a downed line. Talk with your kids and grandkids about the dangers of downed power lines.
Warn children to never play near or on substation fencing. Do not climb trees near power lines or allow kites, toy planes or balloons to touch power lines. Don’t release helium balloons at a birthday party or other celebration. These can tangle in lines or become deadly for Florida wildlife.
If you see a downed line, stay away and warn others away as well. Call 911 immediately to report the downed line.
RELAY FOR LIFE – 6TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Thank you to all players, sponsors and employees who participated in SECO Energy’s 6th Annual Relay For Life Golf Tournament “Tee-Up for a Cure” at Arlington Ridge Golf Club in Leesburg on Saturday, May 4th. Players enjoyed 18-holes of golf, chance to win door prizes and fellowship.
The Relay For Life Golf Tournament sponsored by SECO raised $16,600 for the American Cancer Society.
SECO and its employees are long-time supporters of the American Cancer Society and its premier annual Relay For Life events. Join SECO and its Commitment to Community by partnering with your not-for-profit cooperative on a virtual SECO Relay For Life team.
Join a SECO Energy team by visiting Relay.ACSevents.org and look for “Find a Participant or Team” and choose “Team.” Enter team name: “SECO Energy” and click “Search.” Choose a local Relay event and virtually join Team SECO and the American Cancer Society in the fight against cancer.
Did you know SECO Energy serves over 200,000 homes and businesses in seven Central Florida Counties? Our 2,100-square mile territory houses 48 substations, over 12,000 miles of overhead line and more than 138,000 poles. SECO provides service to over 53,000 area lights that brighten roadways, sidewalks and members’ yards.
The 53,000 area lights are a significant component of our system. Crews are constantly on the lookout for lights that are out or burning during the day, and SECO typically repairs an area light in about 24 hours. To provide members and others with a fast way to report area light issues, SECO developed an easy-to-use online tool. This new system is called LightFinder.
In LightFinder, each area light is represented by an icon. Working lights are indicated by a green lightbulb icon. Lights already reported for repair are shown as a red wrench icon. For 24 hours after repairs are complete, the light icon changes to an orange check mark. Member-owned lights are expressed as blue icons, and inactive lights are gray
To report an area light outage or needed repair, visit StormCenter online. Locate the LightFinder icon and proceed to the LightFinder map. In the search bar at the top of the page, input the pole number or address to locate the area light.
Click the icon representing the light you wish to report. An info panel opens on the right side of the screen. Choose the light problem type from the drop-down menu, enter comments and continue.
Once reported, you will receive an email confirmation and a follow-up notification when the light is repaired.
LightFinder is also accessible through our online billing/payment account management tool called SmartHub which is available as an app for your smartphone or mobile device. To download, search SmartHub in your smartphone or tablet’s app store and complete the installation instructions. By clicking the icons on the home page of the SmartHub app, you can report area light outages through LightFinder or report a power outage through StormCenter.
These new online tools are designed for you, our members, to save you time and to help SECO communicate with you quickly. I hope you take advantage of the tools if needed.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
Energy Efficiency – Program Into Savings
Installing a programmable Wi-Fi thermostat is a low-cost step to reduce energy costs. ENERGY STAR recommends using the programmable thermostat’s pre-programmed settings to save up to $180 a year on your electric bill. You can purchase a name-brand Wi-Fi programmable thermostat at your local hardware or big box store for under $100.
For optimum efficiency, utilize the thermostat’s pre-set energy efficiency controls. Resist adjusting the thermostat to temporarily make a room cooler or warmer. Continued adjustments will increase the amount of energy used, and will not heat or cool your home faster. If you have strip heating, manually adjusting your thermostat by more than a few degrees at a time will cause the strips to cycle on in error.
During the summer, set the temperature for 78 degrees or higher. Set at 68 or lower during winter months. Program “away” timeframes so that your HVAC does not run unnecessarily while no one is home. Keep your fan setting on “Auto” and the HVAC unit’s fan will run only as needed. If the unit requires batteries, be sure to change them once a year. Weak or dying batteries will prevent programmed settings from running correctly.
Safety Corner – Downed Line Dangers
SECO Energy inspects thousands of poles annually to ensure they are in good condition. Poles damaged by bears, woodpeckers, high winds, vehicle accidents or weakening due to age are replaced. In the event of a tornado, tropical storm or hurricane, poles may break and result in downed power lines.
Downed lines are extremely dangerous. Always assume a downed line is energized. Never touch a downed power line and stay far away. Even the ground near a downed line has the potential to be energized – which can cause severe injury or death. Call 911 or SECO to report a downed line immediately.
Warn children of the dangers of downed power lines. Children are curious by nature and may want to touch or approach downed lines. Never allow children to play near electrical equipment or climb trees encroaching overhead lines. After storms, survey your area for hazards before allowing children outside to play. A downed line may be hidden by a tree or landscaping and not easily seen.
Power lines and poles are often found near roadways and can be damaged in vehicle accidents. In 2017, SECO crews repaired or replaced poles over 70 times as a result of vehicle accidents. If you strike a utility pole, stay in your vehicle unless it is on fire. Practice extreme caution before exiting. A downed line may be present on your car or close by on the ground. Warn emergency personnel and bystanders about possible downed lines nearby.
Understand the dangers of downed power lines. Play it safe, stay away from downed lines and report immediately.
Atlantic Hurricane season is just around the corner – beginning on June 1. The Old Farmer’s Almanac advises us to watch for tropical storm threats in mid-May, predicts a rainy summer and forecasts the possibility of hurricanes in September. Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology study was recently released and it calls for the number of named storms and hurricanes to be slightly below historical averages. Still, per NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division, the U.S. averages one to two hurricane landfalls each season, so we have to prepare even with a below average hurricane forecast.
“Storm Ready” isn’t just a slogan. We invest in and prepare for the worst, but hope and pray for the best. “Storm Ready” is using social media to update members about severe weather and its possible impact to our service area. “Storm Ready” is SECO’s System Operations Center that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Storm Ready” means that Operations crews and support staff are available for restoration around-the-clock. “Storm Ready” means that local Call Centers and Member Service Centers are fully staffed to help you weather the storm.
SECO can help you get your family “Storm Ready” as well. Visit our website’s Storm Preparation section for an Emergency Checklist. Before inclement weather arrives, bookmark SECO’s Storm Center page on your smartphone or tablet in case you need to report a power outage, and update your primary contact phone number and email address through your online account (called SmartHub at SECOEnergy.com). “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the cooperative on Twitter for weather information and warnings.
It’s time to check your emergency kit – now. Make sure your supplies are fully stocked and that medicines, water and foodstuffs aren’t out-of-date. Remember, emergency supplies sell out quickly when storms and hurricanes are imminent.
During the 2016 Atlantic Hurricane Season, Florida Governor Rick Scott engaged with utility leaders collaboratively and encouraged us across the state to work together to restore all consumers’ power as quickly as possible. “Storm Ready” also applies to SECO’s willingness to lend a hand to assist our fellow cooperatives, as well as state municipal and investor-owned utilities when possible. In February, SECO assisted Clay Electric Cooperative when its members were affected by widespread outages due to a strong storm. Since SECO’s system held up well in that storm and the few members who experienced outages had their service restored the same day, the SECO team jumped into action and sent 20 employees to help restore power to Clay members.
Annual Meeting Recap
Attendance boomed at SECO Energy’s 79th Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, March 25. Thousands of members, guests, vendors and VIPs enjoyed hot breakfast biscuits, sweet treats, energy efficiency displays, live entertainment, gifts and a chance to win grand prizes and various door prizes. Members received a copy of SECO’s 2016 Annual Report and a gift bag with two commemorative insulated steel tumblers. SECO and its wholesale power provider Seminole Electric distributed over 6,000 LED bulbs to members. Members visited SECO’s vendor-partners who were on hand to display their energy-saving products and services in the Energy Showcase.
Margo Rochelle & Rodeo Drive provided live entertainment, playing current country tunes and old favorites while members sang along and line danced. A special character, LED Lucy, brightened the day with her antics and smiles.
Members took home loads of door prizes. The grand prizes up for grabs were four cash prizes, a refurbished Dodge Dakota truck, and a refurbished electric golf cart.
This year’s grand prize winners are:
Michael Niemiec from Inverness won the refurbished 2005 Dodge Dakota truck.
Lake Panasoffkee’s Shannon Jessup was the winner of the refurbished electric golf cart from The Villages Golf Carts.
The Villages resident Edward Maffuccio was the happy winner of the $1,500 cash prize.
Clark Smith from Webster won the $1,000 cash prize.
Christine Bartow from The Villages and Edward James from Leesburg both won a $500 cash prize.
Congratulations to all winners, and thank you for attending the event. Mark your calendar, as next year’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 17, 2018. Hope you can join us for our 80th Annual Meeting!
Save Energy, Save Money
Summer is almost here – set your HVAC thermostat at 78 or higher in the summer and always keep your fan setting on “Auto.” Invest in a programmable thermostat and save $180 annually per ENERGY STAR®.
Safety Corner – Downed Power Lines
Always assume overhead power lines are live and dangerous – even when lines and poles are downed during storms or accidents. Warn children to never touch a downed line with any part of their body or another object such as a stick or bat. Instruct children to leave the area immediately and call for help if they see a downed line.
As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO Energy is dedicated to being its members’ first source for electric safety communication and resources during major weather events such as Hurricane Matthew.
Members who use generators during service interruptions should only use with safety in mind. Generators should never be used in an enclosed space – generator engines emit carbon monoxide (CO). If CO is inhaled, it can be fatal to humans and pets, as it is a colorless, odorless, invisible killer. Do not attempt to use a generator when it is wet, as this poses a risk for electrocution and death. Always read and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions contained in the generator operations manual.
For members who may need continuous power to run life-saving machines, please be aware that Hurricane Matthew may be the cause of prolonged outages during and after the storm hits. If you are a SECO member who requires uninterrupted service and you do not have a back-up source of power to operate a medically necessary device, now is the time to act as SECO cannot guarantee continuous service during a severe storm event. Contact the emergency operations center (EOC) in the county where you live and inquire about available shelters in your area. Below is the contact information for the EOCs by county:
SECO reminds members to never touch downed power lines. Even if a line is down, it could still be live and lead to electrocution and death. Do not allow children to play near downed lines or trees downed during storms. Please report any service interruptions or downed power lines through SECO’s Storm Center or call 800-732-6141.
“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting the area.
SECO Energy, is reminding Pokémon Go users to stay away from overhead power lines, transformers and substations. When collecting Pokémons in the popular virtual reality game, electrical safety rules still apply.
Users playing Pokémon Go, collect Pokémons in various public locations. Players use their phones to hunt for virtual Pokémons in the real world and then train, battle and capture other Pokémons.
Use caution when playing the game and don’t allow yourself to be drawn into a dangerous situation. Always assume any electric line is energized, Pokémons can appear anywhere, and some “electric” type characters may appear near electric equipment.
Important safety tips:
Stay away from all electric utility equipment, including lines, transformers, work sites and substations
Do not climb power poles
Report any downed power lines immediately and stay away
Do not allow children to play near lines, including climbing trees or flying kites near overhead power lines
A special warning is issued to parents, children playing the game may not be aware of the dangers of electricity. When playing Pokémon Go, or playing in general, urge children to never play near electric equipment.
SECO Energy considers the safety of its employees its most important core value. SECO employees pay critical attention to electrical safety by wearing personal protective gear (PPE) and utilizing the latest safety standards and equipment.
Just as SECO Energy employees use specialized PPE to protect themselves while working with electricity, consumers should protect themselves from electrical hazards. Consumers use electricity daily to cook meals, cool our homes, power televisions and other electronic gadgets. Electricity may seem commonplace, but consumers need to remember that electricity can cause injuries such as burns and shocks, which can be fatal.
Don’t be a safety statistic. The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there are more than 400 people electrocuted each year. Electricity is the cause of more than 140,000 fires with 4,000 injuries and 400 deaths and results in property damage of $1.6 billion. Electricity is also to blame for 300 workplace fatalities and approximately 4,000 injuries at work according to the National Safety Council.
Follow these top ten electrical safety tips so that you don’t become a safety statistic:
Before working near electric equipment, survey the work area for hazards
Always assume any overhead line is energized and dangerous
Report downed lines as soon as possible
Remain clear of downed power lines
Keep ladders and equipment away from overhead lines
Repair appliances that smoke, spark or shock
Unplug appliances during cleaning or servicing
Replace frayed power or extension cords
Caution children to never play near underground transformer boxes or substations
If you are in a car accident involving downed wires, stay in the vehicle until help arrives
CEO Jim Duncan states, “SECO Energy employees are dedicated to safety and are acutely aware that our industry is dangerous. We don’t compromise safety standards, and we watch out for each other, our members and the general public.”
For more information about electrical safety visit SECO Energy’s Safety page at www.secoenergy.com. Are you a member or leader of a group who is interested in a presentation about electrical safety? SECO has speakers and presentations about electrical safety available for all age groups. Contact SECO online, or call 352-793-3801 to request a speaker for your group.
