SECO News, July 2020

Duncan’s Digest – Marion Oaks Substation Rebuild

In the December 2019 edition of SECO News, I shared an overview of our $55 million 2020 construction work plan. I want to share an exciting project from the plan that is currently in progress.

Recently, crews and contractors have begun the Marion Oaks substation rebuild in Marion County on County Road 484 about two miles west of Interstate 75.

The new, massive Florida Crossroads Commerce Park is the main reason for the substation rebuild. The Park is undoubtedly a boon for Marion County, boosting the economy, increasing the tax base and bringing in new jobs. In Phase I, Dollar Tree will open a 500,000-square-foot distribution center that will employ 200 people. In fact, they’re already hiring. In Phase II, another 1.2-million-square-feet will be built and bring another 500 jobs to the area. Just the Dollar Tree portion of capital investment in the Florida Crossroads Commerce Park is upward of $200 million.

Rebuilding the Marion Oaks substation is necessary to serve this new commerce area, and because the county says that Marion Oaks’ population could quadruple in the next two decades, the substation must meet growing residential demand as well. The rebuild will increase reliability and meet demand in southwest Marion County.

The current Marion Oaks substation sits on half an acre and is almost forty years old. The cost to build the sub in 1982 was $540,000. The substation was upgraded within the last decade to include a 28 Mega Volt Amp (MVA) power transformer. The original substation has four feeder lines and serves less than 5,000 SECO members.

The price tag for the construction of the new ultramodern Marion Oaks substation is $5.6 million. This substation is being built on a five-acre tract and has the potential to serve 20,000 to 30,000 members. The plan is to construct the sub with ten feeder bays, with eight feeders energized initially and two as spares for future use. The construction plan includes two new 37 MVA power transformers and a new control house. Once this construction is complete, the original substation will be leveled.

Substations transform high voltage electricity from transmission lines to low voltage electricity that travels through feeder distribution lines to power homes and businesses. The new Marion Oaks substation’s incoming transmission high side will include a ring bus that will provide better reliability for all members served by the sub. The Duke Energy 69kV Ross Prairie transmission line serves the substation; however, a set of breakers at our Waterways and Summerglen substations will create a full loop with the new Marion Oaks sub. The circuit will pick up load from other transmission sources. If there is a fault on an incoming transmission line, members shouldn’t even see a blink.

On the distribution low side, a breaker ties two power transformer banks together. If one of the power transformers is interrupted, the relays are programmed with an auto-restore scheme that quickly reacts to pick up the load using a product called Schweitzer relays – which are state-of-the-art microprocessors. This relay scheme is so fast that members will only notice a short blink.

To reduce the environmental impact, we are installing new concrete retention areas at the new substation. If an oil leak is detected, the oil would be captured in the retention area instead of absorbing into the soil. The retention areas will be specially coated to prevent the oil soaking into the concrete.

Recently, crews finished the Federal substation expansion in Sumter County and completed the Ocala Park substation upgrade in Marion County. Next up after the Marion Oaks project is complete, significant updates are planned at the Inverness substation this autumn. Upgrades to the Astatula substation are coming in 2021.

The design and construction of reliable electric facilities have come a long way in recent years. Our investments in high-quality infrastructure ensure that the right thing happens when you flip the light switch, turn on the TV and adjust the thermostat. Visit SECOEnergy.com>Newsroom>System Improvement Map to see the enhancements coming to your area.

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

2020 Scholarship Awardees

Congratulations to our 2020 SECO Energy Scholarship awardees! Each of the 12 awardees receive $3,000 in scholarship funds to further his or her education. Over the last two decades, your not-for-profit electric cooperative has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to 300+ local students.

The 2020 SECO Scholarship awardees are:

TYLIN N. BARNARD – Ocala | West Port High School | Chemical Engineering

CHEYENNE DIAZ – Ocala | Vanguard High School | Manufacturing Processes/Mechanical Engineering

ISABELLA HERNANDEZ – Clermont | East Ridge High School | Engineering

ANIYA HOUSTON – Ocala | West Port High School | Quality Engineering

JOSEPH A. LACOURSE – Oxford | The Villages Charter High School | Engineering

CAMERON MACLEAN – Tavares | Tavares High School | Electrical Engineering

LUCAS MARDEN – Tavares | Tavares High School | Aerospace Engineering

STUART T. PALMER – Umatilla | Umatilla High School | Electrical Engineering

ALAYNA PHILLIPS – Wildwood | The Villages Charter High School | Business

MIGUEL SANTOS – Ocala | West Port High School | Business/Marketing

WILLIAM J. SIMMONS – Dunnellon | Dunnellon High School | Electrical Distribution Technology

ALEXANDER Q. WILLIAMS – Sorrento | Eustis High School | Biomedical Engineering

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC IS READY WITH A FLORIDA WEATHER FORECAST FOR THE UPCOMING SUMMER AND EARLY AUTUMN. Summer will be slightly cooler and drier than usual. Watch out for the hottest temperatures in mid-July and mid-August. Look for a tropical storm threat July 23 to 25 and daily thunderstorms in August. Watch for a hurricane threat September 17 to 19 and a tropical storm threat October 19 to 21.

Need help creating a hurricane supply list for your family? Visit our Storm Preparation page for a list of hurricane essentials and a link to our Hurricane Handbook.

Protect Your Home’s Appliances with Surgeo

Sudden increases in voltage called power surges can damage or destroy your home’s appliances and sensitive electronics. Lightning is a common cause of surges, but falling trees, small animals, birds, or vehicles crashing into power poles create surges as well.

SECO Energy offers the Surge MitiGator™ as an extra layer of protection for your home’s appliances. Our meter-based surge arrester is designed to prevent unnecessary financial loss by reducing surges at the meter BEFORE they enter the home.

You can lease the MitiGator™ for only $5.95 plus tax with a $25 installation fee. For services greater than 200 amps, installation is $100. If you choose to purchase the Surge MitiGator, prices range from $349 to $399 plus tax — and installation is free.

Members should also purchase of point-of-use devices to protect sensitive electronics such as computers and televisions.

Take the bite out of damaging surges and spikes with SECO Energy’s Surge MitiGator™. Enroll online today.

EV Charger Winner

Congratulations to John J. Reyes, Jr. of Groveland who is the winner of the first SECO Energy branded JuiceBox Pro 40 EV Level 2 charger. We’re giving away one charger each month while supplies last. Text “EV” to (352) 320-4500 for a link to enter. Or click on the EV Charger Giveaway homepage banner on our homepage.

While on our website, learn more about the benefits of electric vehicle ownership on our EV pages. You’ll find an EV savings calculator, information about CO2 reduction, EV and PHEV models and a nationwide charger-finder map.

Watch SECO News for next month’s charger winner.

Surge MitiGator™ Word Search

Members enrolled in SECO Energy’s Surge MitiGator™ are winning the surge protection game. For another chance to win, all members who are current Surge MitiGator™ enrollees as of August 14 are entered to win a Nest Learning Thermostat. Winner is chosen August 15.

Keep It Clear – We Work Here

Safety is SECO Energy’s most important core value, and our employees take safety seriously. We are committed to a safe working environment for all employees.

Members who live in areas with underground utilities often want to disguise transformers using fences, shrubs, potted plants or other lawn items. Obstructions such as these block access to transformers, meters and poles and are a safety hazard.

For the safety of SECO employees and contractors, keep the area surrounding our equipment clear. Obstructions create longer restoration times and an unsafe work zone. Learn more about safe access on our Keep It Clear page.

Go Green – Enroll in Ebill through SmartHub

Reduce your carbon footprint, limit your risk of identity theft and avoid wasting paper by enrolling in eBill instead of a traditional paper statement.

To enroll in eBill, log in to SmartHub. In SmartHub, choose “My Profile” and “Update My Paperless Settings.” Choose “on” for your Paperless setting.

It’s that easy. Instead of waiting on your bill to arrive by mail, you’ll receive an eBill via email much faster. With SmartHub, you can view your past usage, see payment history, enroll in bank draft and more.

Summer Energy Efficiency – Keep Your Cool

Looking for easy, low-cost energy-efficiency ideas that will help you reduce summer energy use? SECO has cool tips that won’t break the bank.

Air conditioning accounts for approximately 50 percent of your summer bill. SECO Energy and the Department of Energy (DOE) recommend setting your thermostat at 78. Lower the thermostat temperature and expect your cooling costs to increase 6 to 8 percent for each degree lower than 78. Want to feel cooler? Turn on a ceiling or floor fan. Fans make the room feel four degrees cooler than the room temperature. Fans cool people, not rooms, so only use them in occupied spaces.

Another way to stay cool this summer is to keep the heat out. Natural sunlight through windows and doors is the source of 76 percent of the heat that enters your home per the DOE. Reduce the amount of heat gain in rooms by using blinds or heavy curtains on windows. Check that the caulking, sealing or weather stripping on windows and doors is in good condition.

Fire up the grill to reduce the heat generated inside your home. Choose small appliances such as grills, crockpots, air fryers, toaster ovens or microwaves instead of your oven. These appliances reduce the amount of heat generated in your home and consume less energy. Consider replacing incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs as they use less power and produce less heat.

Visit SECOEnergy.com for more energy-saving advice. Try the Home Energy Assessment to conduct a full home energy audit online. Check out the Energy Estimator to find the estimated energy use and costs for each electronic and appliance in your home.

Read the full July 2020 SECO News online.

Sunshine State Stats March 2020

March was a very warm month for Central Florida. The average temperature was 74 degrees – 6.8 degrees warmer than the average March temperature. The lows dipped down to 43 degrees early in the month and later the high peaked at 92 degrees. This 49-degree temperature swing would have potentially called for both heating and cooling in the same month.

The average high temperature was 82 degrees in March 2020 compared to 77 degrees in 2019, while the average low temperature was 63 degrees in 2020 versus 56 degrees during March 2019.

Not only was it a warmer March than normal, it was also drier. March typically produces a little over 4 inches of precipitation, but 2020 provided less than a quarter of an inch.

March weather was far from the norm as was the entire month with multiple federal, state, and county executive orders closing stores, restaurants, beaches and amusement parks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the social distancing recommendations made by the CDC were implemented by businesses in the public and private sector. This will have an impact on electric use due to families being home more throughout the day.

To help keep costs down, SECO Energy recommends keeping your air conditioning thermostat at 78-80 degrees during the day when home and raising the thermostat 2-3 degrees when leaving for four hours or longer. The warmer temperatures in March will most likely cause an increase in consumption compared to previous March bills. If you haven’t already, consider scheduling your annual HVAC service to ensure the air conditioner is in prime operating condition heading into the warmer months.

April 2020 forecast:

April temperatures normally average 71.1 degrees with precipitation averaging just over half of an inch for the month. Will we continue this warmer than average trend for the month of April? We will see. Until then, have a wonderful and blessed April!

To check historical usage, log into SmartHub to view past bills and consumption charts. If your usage is high, SECO offers several energy-efficiency tools to help you identify energy wasters. Take the Home Energy Assessment to receive a detailed email tailored to your home’s features and lifestyle. The energy-saving advice will provide low-cost ways to decrease your usage – and your electric bill.

To easily calculate how much energy your appliances, lighting, electronic devices, and other energy-using items in your home consume, use the Energy Estimator.

SECO News, February 2020

Duncan’s Digest – Solar & Battery Project Pilot

SECO Energy’s Engineering department recently embarked on a solar and battery energy storage pilot project. If you travel County Road 470 near our Sumterville headquarters, you may have noticed the new 6,000-watt solar array installed just outside the fence on the southeast corner of our Sumterville substation.

The goal of the project is to learn more about solar arrays, battery storage and how battery-stored energy feeds back into our system. This knowledge will also prepare SECO employees assisting members who are interested in solar and battery storage investments at their homes or businesses.

We contracted with local solar array vendor Solar Trek to construct the 6,000-watt ground-mounted solar array and battery storage system. The panels are positioned to face south for maximum sun exposure.

The array was built to offset the utility-supplied power that is required to serve the load in the substation’s switchgear enclosure. You can see the solar array from the road, but the energy storage batteries are housed in a cabinet outside of the substation switchgear.

Solar systems – whether installed residentially or commercially – produce energy from the sun in the form of direct current (DC). Inverters are installed on each solar panel to convert the DC power produced by the panels to alternating current (AC) that is usable in homes and businesses.

The solar panels will produce an anticipated average of 25 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day or approximately 750 kWh per month. Each panel is connected to a micro-inverter that maximizes efficiency by converting DC to AC power at the panel. The battery storage is configured for charge by the solar system.

This stored energy is released onto SECO’s electric system twice per day, at 9 a.m. and before 6 p.m.

The pilot project offers a variety of data for SECO’s Engineering staff to collect and study. SECO will measure the amount of AC power produced by the panels and the amount of energy the battery inverters will use to convert AC to DC then back to AC voltage. Also, SECO will assess the amount of energy required to charge the batteries and how much energy the battery inverter uses to convert DC to AC voltage.

Ultimately, we will monitor the collected data to compare the costs and benefits of energy storage and the impact of possible investments in future large-scale solar enterprises.

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

SECO Champion – Surgeo The Surge MitiGator™

Length of Warranty: 15 Years

Power surges are sudden, powerful increases in voltage that can damage or destroy household appliances and sensitive electronics. The common cause of power surges is lightning, but small animals, trees, birds or vehicles crashing into SECO Energy poles or lines also cause surges.

For just pennies a day, SECO’s Surge MitiGator™ helps take the bite out of damaging power surges and spikes that can occur at your home. The Surge MitiGator™ is installed at the electric meter to help prevent high voltage spikes and surges from entering your home and sending voltage into your large appliances.

Sign up online before March 31 and receive $25 off installation. Lease the Surge MitiGator™ for only $5.95 per month plus tax with free installation for 200-amp residential services. For services over 200 amps, installation is reduced to $75. Or you can purchase the protection for $349 to $399 with free installation for online enrollments.

This valuable protection is “Made in the USA” and includes a beastly warranty. Sign up for the Surge MitiGator™ protection online to receive $25 off installation.

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF LOVE! Are you planning a wedding? The Old Farmer’s Almanac has chosen the best days to get married in February 2020 are 12th and 13th just in time for Valentine’s Day on the 14th. Take your new spouse on a honeymoon camping trip on the 16th and 17th. Thinking of buying a new home? The best days to buy are the 2nd and the 7th. If you are selling a home, the best days to sell are the 28th and 29th. The best days to ask for a loan are the 11th and the 15th.

Area Light Out?

SECO Energy’s online StormCenter outage reporting and communications platform also includes LightFinder – our easy, convenient area light outage reporting tool. Use LightFinder to report area light malfunctions including a light outage, a day burner, flickering light or another issue.

LightFinder is available 24/7 at SECOEnergy.com > StormCenter. Choose the LightFinder tile. In the search bar, find the area light by entering the pole number or near address to locate. An icon represents each SECO-served area light. Click on the icon to report the light malfunction. Review the light’s details and add comments if needed. Include your email address in the submission to receive updates about the light’s repair status.

A green light icon indicates there is no known area light issue. When an area light trouble ticket is issued, the icon turns red. Lights represented by an orange icon have been repaired in the last 24 hours. Member-owned lights are shown as a blue icon and inactive lights are indicated by a gray icon.

SECO repairs most area light issues in less than 24 hours.

Energy Estimator

Are you interested in determining the energy use per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of the electronics and appliances in your home? Our online Energy Estimator calculates the amount of energy and associated cost.

With spring around the corner, are you thinking of adding a new hot tub, buying an electric golf cart/car or building a new swimming pool? Use the Energy Estimator for an estimate of how your energy usage and costs may change.

To use the Estimator, gather information about your home’s electronics’ wattage and hours per day usage. Don’t forget about water heating, refrigeration, laundry, cooking, lighting and miscellaneous electronics. The Energy Estimator will break down the energy costs for each item annually and monthly. Calculations are based on 1,000 kWh usage with SECO’s current Power Cost Adjustment (PCA/Hot Bucks) credit applied.

Explore the Energy Estimator tool online. Input the wattage and daily hours used for each electronic and appliance in your home. To receive energy-savings suggestions via email, provide your email address and submit.

Read the full February 2020 SECO News online.

Sunshine State Stats December 2019

Central Florida didn’t see a White Christmas in December 2019. The temperatures were warm even by Central Florida standards. The monthly average temperature was a mild 66 degrees – which was 4 degrees warmer than the average temperature in December 2018. The highest daily recorded temperature was 85 degrees and the lowest daily recorded temperature was 41 degrees. That’s a fluctuation of 44 degrees between hot and cold so most likely both cooling and heating units ran in December.

December 2019’s average high temperature was 76 degrees with an average low temperature of 57 degrees. In December 2018, the average high temperature was 71 degrees while the average low temperature was 53 degrees.

Families who were visiting for the holidays from colder areas were pleased with the warm temperatures. Locally we enjoyed 11 days of high temperatures over 80 degrees in December 2019. Rainfall for the month was higher than last month at 3.67 inches. Rainfall for December 2018 was higher than 2019 at 5.55 inches.

While parts of the U.S. were blanketed in snow, Central Florida’s early morning temperatures were in the mid to high forties. If you had visiting family and friends, the afternoon highs and extra visitors probably required extra HVAC cooling. Members who used heat during the colder mornings and cooling in the warmer afternoons can expect to see an increase in energy consumption on their December billing statement. ENERGY STAR recommends setting your heat to no higher than 68 degrees during the winter months.

Have you scheduled an annual HVAC service? January and February are typically the coldest months in Florida. A well-maintained unit runs more efficiently and helps lower your energy usage. Read more about HVAC service and maintenance in November SECO News.

January 2020 forecast:

January 2020 is forecast for an average high of 75 degrees with high temperatures reaching the low 80s. The average low is forecast at 56 degrees with 14 or 15 days dropping into the 40s. Precipitation levels are forecast to be low with the best chance for rain in the middle of the month.

To easily calculate how much energy your appliances, lighting, electronic devices, and other energy-using items in your home consume, use the Energy Estimator.

Sunshine State Stats November 2019

Cooler temperatures arrived in Central Florida in November 2019. The monthly average temperature was a comfortable 67 degrees – which was the same average temperature in November 2018. The highest daily recorded temperature was 90 degrees and the lowest daily recorded temperature was 46 degrees. That’s a big fluctuation between hot and cold so both heating and cooling units likely ran in November.

November 2019’s average high temperature was 78 degrees with an average low temperature of 57 degrees. In November 2018, the average high temperature was 77 degrees while the average low temperature was 58 degrees.

Parts of the U.S. experienced record-breaking cold temperatures. Locally, we enjoyed 17 days of high temperatures over 80 degrees in November 2019. Rainfall for the month was 1.18 inches, which was down slightly from November 2018’s total of 2.21 inches.

The arctic fronts that arrived in Florida during November 2019 brought some very cold early morning temperatures. Members who turned on the heat during these temperature drops can expect to see an increase in energy consumption on their November billing statement. ENERGY STAR recommends setting your heat to no higher than 68 degrees during the winter months.

With the cooling temperatures, now is a good time to schedule an HVAC technician to service your unit. A well-maintained unit runs more efficiently and helps lower your energy usage. Read more about HVAC service and maintenance in November SECO News.

December 2019 forecast:

December 2019 is forecast for an average high of 72 degrees and an average low over 52 degrees with seven or eight days dropping into the 40s. Precipitation levels are forecast to be low with the best chance for rain at the beginning of the month.

To easily calculate how much energy your appliances, lighting, electronic devices, and other energy-using items in your home consume, use the Energy Estimator.

Sunshine State Stats October 2019

October 2019’s monthly average temperature was a warm 79 degrees – which was 2 degrees warmer than last October’s average temperature of 77 degrees. The highest daily recorded temperature was 92 degrees and the lowest daily recorded temperature was 65 degrees.

Central Floridian’s felt the effects of Tropical Storm Nestor in the middle of the month with increased rainfall. In October 2019, rainfall came in at 4.73 inches – up from 1.81 inches last October.

October 2019’s average high temperature was 87 degrees which matches the average high temperature for October 2018. The average low temperature was 71 degrees, which was 3 degrees higher than the average low of 68 degrees in October 2018.

Based on the warmer average temps and higher than projected kilowatt hour sales, many members received an electric bill for October usage that is higher than the bill received for usage in October 2018.

November 2019 forecast:

November 2019 is forecast for an average high of 78 degrees which is the same as the average high temperature in November 2018. The best chance for rain is at the beginning of the month and the forecast looks to be drier in November 2019 compared to November 2018.

If you want to check historical usage, log into SmartHub to view past bills and charts. If your usage is high, SECO offers several energy-efficiency tools to help you identify energy wasters. Take the Home Energy Assessment to receive a detailed email tailored to your home’s features and lifestyle. The energy-saving advice will provide low-cost ways to decrease your usage – and your electric bill.

To easily calculate how much energy your appliances, lighting, electronic devices, and other energy-using items in your home consume, use the Energy Estimator.

Sunshine State Stats September 2019

September 2019 gave Floridians a small glimpse of fall weather with temperatures that were a little cooler than September 2018. The average high temperature in September 2019 was 90 degrees compared to an average high temperature of 92 degrees in September 2018. Hurricane Dorian’s near visit to our area increased rainfall in September 2019 to 3.56” compared to 2.61” last September.

The average low temperature was 74 degrees, which was a little lower than the average low temperature of 76 degrees in September 2018. The maximum temperature for both September 2019 and 2018 was 95 degrees and the minimum temperature for September 2019 was a cool 67 degrees compared to 73 degrees for September 2018.

There were 516 cooling degree days and 0 heating degree days for September 2019, while last year there were 519 cooling degree days with 0 heating degree days. The Degree Days are based on how much warmer or cooler the average temperature at a particular location is than 65 degrees. In other words, if the average temperature is 60 degrees outside on a particular day, there are 5 Heating Degree Days for that day in that location.

October forecast:

October 2019 is forecast for an average high of 84 degrees which is three degrees cooler than last year’s average high. Rainfall is forecast to be similar this October to the precipitation amount in October 2018.

To easily calculate how much energy your appliances, lighting, electronic devices, and other energy-using items in your home consume, use the Energy Estimator. If you want a member of our Energy Services team to come to your home to perform a free energy audit, contact us today to book an appointment.

** Past weather data sourced from Leesburg Airport weather station.

SECO News, July 2019

DUNCAN’S DIGEST

The dog days of summer have arrived. With warmer temperatures and increased humidity, your home’s HVAC works overtime to keep you cool. Pool pumps run for extended hours to prevent algae growth. These factors add up to increased kilowatt-hour use and higher electric bills.

SECO is your local not-for-profit electric cooperative committed to serving as your energy-efficiency partner. To help members reduce energy use, we’ve created energy-efficiency tools on our Energy Solutions menu.

Visit Energy Solutions today and complete our Home Energy Assessment. SECO designed this tool as an online audit that provides specialized energy-efficiency advice tailored to your home and lifestyle. The Home Energy Assessment is available to members 24/7. No need to wait for an appointment for an in-home audit.

To get started, input the characteristics of your home including age, construction, insulation and roof type. Include details about occupancy, type and number of windows, and exterior doors. The Home Energy Assessment will also query about completed energy-efficiency upgrades such as additional insulation, window tint, weather stripping and caulking.

After entering your home’s details, provide your email address to receive your energy-efficiency report based on your home’s specifics. It will provide low-cost ways to decrease your energy usage and your bill.

Win a prize! 1) Nest Wi-Fi Thermostat 2) Honeywell Wi-Fi Thermostat or 3) Ecobee Wi-Fi Thermostat. Members who complete the Home Energy Assessment will be entered in a drawing for the high-tech programmable thermostats listed above. Three winners will be drawn August 15.

ENERGY STAR recommends using your programmable thermostat’s energy-efficiency settings to save as much as $180 per year.

Browse the Energy Solutions tab for other energy-efficiency tools. Our Energy Estimator calculates the amount of energy and cost for electronics and appliances.

It’s pretty handy if you’re thinking of adding a pool, charging a golf cart or installing a refrigerator in the garage or lanai.

SECO is proud to serve as your energy-efficiency partner.

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

SECO Energy is a strong corporate citizen. Our cooperative supports programs based on commitment to the key cooperative principle “Concern for Community.” SECO Energy is also a not-for-profit utility. We do not have the deep pockets of investor-owned, for-profit organizations. Thus, we partner with organizations whose culture and programs align with our core values and purpose.

Annually, we ally with United Way chapters to facilitate employee pledging. Over the years, employees have donated $860,000. In addition, SECO provides quarterly allocations from our Pennies from Heaven program to fund local agencies for bill payment assistance for members in need.

Over the holidays, we sponsor a Toys for Tots drive, and our Member Service Centers are designated drop off locations. Our employees are annual, generous supporters of the program, donating hundreds of bikes, trikes and toys over the years.

SECO is also a strong corporate participant in the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life events raising $132,000 over the last decade. Based on our headquarters’ location, we belong to the Sumter County Relay program but we also provide funding to other counties’ Relay programs on a pro-rata basis.

To request that SECO sponsor or donate to your organization, please use our new Contact Us form. Submissions based on these focuses will be considered:

Educational STEM Projects
Environmental Projects
Energy-Related Projects
Veterans Initiatives
Public Safety Programs
Health/Human Services

Please note SECO does not sponsor individual sports teams or booster club initiatives, as there are thousands across our service territory. SECO participates in golf tournaments selectively if we can set up a booth to engage with members. We fund initiatives in our seven-county footprint of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco and Sumter.

Individual bill payment, basic need or job training assistance is offered by Florida 211 and funded by our Pennies from Heaven program. Members can call or text 211 to request assistance.

Take the bite out of damaging power surges and spikes with SECO Energy’s “Made in the USA” Surge MitiGator. Power surges are sudden, powerful increases in voltage which can damage or destroy household appliances and electronic devices. The most obvious cause of surges is lightning, but birds, small animals, trees or vehicles crashing into power poles are culprits as well.

Protect your home’s large appliances by leasing or purchasing SECO’s Surge MitiGator. Enroll online through August 30th and installation (a $25 value) is free. Lease the Surge MitiGator for $5.95 per month or purchase for $349 (standard 200-amp service). For residential services greater than 200 amps, the purchase price is $399 with $75 installation. Studies indicate that more than half of all surges actually originate from inside the home so be sure to also purchase point-of-use devices at your local hardware or big box store to protect your electronics.

Learn more about SECO Energy’s Surge MitiGator online. Protect your home’s appliances from surges – lease or purchase the Surge MitiGator today.

DUSTIN MERRITT – SURGE PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

LENGTH OF SERVICE – 15 YEARS

“SECO HELPS MEMBERS.” A Central Florida native raising four children in Webster with his wife Kimberly, Dustin has worked for SECO for 15 years. His SECO career began as a meter reader, and he eventually worked his way into Energy Services. Dustin was promoted to Supervisor of the Surge Protection Program in 2018. He is responsible for oversight of his team and SECO’s surge protection contractor. Dustin enjoys the opportunity to help and educate members. He and his team advocate the Surge MitiGator™ as protection against surges that may enter a home through power lines. Surges may occur due to downed lines, car accidents, animal contact or lightning strikes, and our surge protection ring installed at the meter base provides a layer of protection for large motor driven appliances in the home. Visit with Dustin or one of his team members by emailing Surge.

Congratulations to Norma Jean Bottoms from Paisley who is the winner of the Microsoft Surface Go! Ms. Bottoms registered to join America’s electric cooperatives’ advocacy hub the Cooperative Action Network. You too can become a key voice for electric co-ops to protect affordable, reliable energy in Florida. Visit www.action.coop to learn more.

Hundreds of members played 2018 Annual Report trivia with SECO on our Facebook page. Our three winners are: Jonathan Dove from Clermont won the Apple iPad; the $200 bill credit went to Rosalie Wilke from Ocala; and Carolyn Wheelis from Sorrento won the Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat. Congratulations, winners!

Read the full July 2019 SECO News online.

Sunshine State Stats, May 2019

May 2019 was a heck of a lot hotter than May 2018 with an average high of 89 compared to 85 last year. The average temperature was 80° – a full three degrees hotter, as May of 2018 had an average temperature of 77°. Rainfall was down significantly for May of 2019 at just 1.22 inches compared to last May at 8.28 inches.

There were 456 cooling degree days and 0 heating degree days for May 2019, while last year there were 363 cooling degree days with 0 heating degree days. The Degree Days are based on how much warmer or cooler the average temperature at a particular location is than 65°F. In other words, if the average temperature is 60° outside on a particular day, there are 5 Heating Degree Days for that day in that location.

JUNE FORECAST:

June 2019 is forecast for an average high of 89 degrees which is very close to last year’s average high. Rainfall is forecast to be heavier than normal this June compared to 2018.

** Past weather data sourced from Leesburg Airport weather station.

Sunshine State Stats, March 2019

March 2019 was slightly warmer than March 2018. The average high temperature was 77 – one degree hotter than last year. Rainfall for March of 2019 was 0.12 inches compared to last March at 2.03 inches.

Based on data from the Leesburg weather station, April’s average high will heat up to the mid 80s, and the average historical low is 58 degrees. This variance could mean toggling between cooling your home in the day and heating it at night as temperatures drop. That said, if you haven’t changed your HVAC filter since last year, now is a good time to do so. It’s also a good time to have a qualified technician perform a health check on your system.

April rainfall is forecast to be heavier than normal compared to 2018. Warmer weather is right around the corner, so remember that every degree above 78 degrees on your thermostat will save you 6%-8% on your cooling costs.

If you’re interested in the HDDs and CDDs, there were 108 cooling degree days and 62 heating degree days for March 2019, while last year there were 84 cooling degree days with 67 heating degree days. The Degree Days are based on how much warmer or cooler the average temperature at a particular location is than 65°F. In other words, if the average temperature is 60° degrees outside on a particular day, there are 5 Heating Degree Days for that day in that location.

** Past weather data sourced from Leesburg Airport weather station.

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