Log in | Register |
StormCenter logo

Archive

Tag: Energy Services

SECO News January 2025

Wynn's Wire

 

 

 

 

 

DEAR MEMBERS,

 

The new year is bringing new opportunities for innovation and savings. SmartHub, SECO Energy’s trusted online platform for bill payments, now offers enhanced options to reduce energy and manage your home’s energy consumption more efficiently.

 

Over 180,000 accounts have been upgraded to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology. These members can now access their home’s detailed energy use in 15-minute intervals, which is much more frequent compared to traditional monthly meter readings. With AMI technology, you can also set up high-energy usage alerts to spot spikes in energy use and take action to reduce consumption before the high-energy usage hits your bill at the end of the month.

 

To pinpoint appliance and electronics use more accurately, visit SmartHub and build your home energy profile. When you add your appliances and devices to your profile in SmartHub, you can see how much electricity each appliance consumes and how that use translates into dollars spent. Using appliance-specific data, you can leverage analytics to find ways to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. Building your home profile in SmartHub takes only a few minutes.

 

Consider joining our new SECO Smart Connect Program for even more savings! This program rewards residential members for lowering energy use during peak demand times through eligible devices like smart thermostats, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and battery backup systems. By enrolling eligible devices and adhering to the program’s terms and conditions, you will earn reward credits that will be directly applied to your SECO Energy bill for your participation.

 

Every little bit helps, and this year, SECO Energy wants to offer you innovative energy services along with tools and resources to help and incentivize you to monitor and manage your home’s energy usage.

 

Sincerely,

 

CURTIS WYNN

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

SECO News January 2025 Now Accepting Applications for SECO Energy's 2025 Scholarship Program

 

SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees has approved $36,000 to fund the 2025 Scholarship Program to ease the financial burden for up to twelve graduating high school seniors with a passion for powering the future. The program awards each recipient a $3,000 scholarship to continue their pursuit of higher education at an accredited institution in Florida.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

 

➡️  Applicants must reside in a household within SECO Energy’s service area or live with a parent or legal guardian who is an active SECO Energy member.

➡️  Candidates must graduate from high school by the end of the 2024- 2025 academic year (May/June) and enroll in a Florida-based college, university, or technical school by the conclusion of the same year.

➡️  Special consideration will be given to those seeking a STEM-related degree or aiming for a career in the energy sector. Relevant majors include computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical, nuclear, environmental, civil, agricultural/ biological, industrial, materials science, and various branches of mathematics.

 

Evaluation Process:

When assessing applicants, SECO Energy will weigh financial need, academic accomplishments, community engagement, quality of the personal statement or essay, and relevance of the candidate’s major in preparation for a STEM-related or energy sector career.

 

Application Deadline: March 28, 2025

 

APPLY HERE

 

 

 

 

Smart Connect homepage banner

 

The SECO Smart Connect Program rewards you for reducing energy consumption through enrolled Wi-Fi connected smart thermostats, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and battery backup systems during peak demand.

 

HOW IT WORKS?

Enrolling allows SECO Energy to temporarily adjust the settings on eligible Wi-Fi connected smart devices during periods of peak energy demand. These minor adjustments help reduce the strain on the electric grid when energy usage is at its highest.

 

DO YOU QUALIFY?

🔲  Are you a residential member?

🔲  Do you have an approved smart device such as a thermostat, EV charger, or battery?

🔲  Do you have a Wi-Fi network that is compatible with your smart device?

🔲  If you plan to enroll a thermostat, do you have a working central air conditioning unit?

 

ENROLLING IS EASY!

Learn more and sign up today! Click HERE.

 

 

 

 

SECO News January 2025 Trustee Education Milestones A Message from Board President Gerald Anderson

 

Your SECO Energy Board of Trustees encompasses nine of your fellow SECO members. Each elected Trustee represents a District. Trustees provide governance and oversight to the cooperative, as well as oversee the establishment of corporate policies. SECO Energy is member-owned and member-governed, so your Trustees prioritize members’ need for reliable, affordable, and safe electricity.

 

To prepare for their Board leadership role, SECO Energy Trustees invest extensive time and resources to complete a nationally recognized curriculum offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Our two newest Trustees, James LaMotte from District 4 and Marty Proctor from District 8 have completed the requirements to be recognized as Credentialed Cooperative Directors (CCD).

 

The initial step in the NRECA’s Director Education program is earning the CCD. The next step is to build on their core education by completing the Board Leadership Certificate and ultimately completing the requirements for the distinguished Director Gold Credential. Through their full engagement with the NRECA’s curriculum, these two gentlemen are well on their way to achieving Gold.

 

These education programs equip us with the knowledge and skills to serve on your behalf, focusing on the responsibilities and liabilities of a Trustee, understanding the electric business, board operations and processes, strategic planning, and financial decision-making.

 

 

 


SECO Energy employees and Trustees have pledged $59,381 to local United Ways for 2025! SECO has held an annual United Way pledge donation for over 20 years. Since 2004, the total pledged to United Way has eclipsed $1.1 million! Thank you, SECO team, for your generous contributions to our local communities.

 

 

 

Read the full January SECO News.

Sunshine State Stats, August 2017

August 2017 was slightly warmer than the previous August. The average temperature came in at 84°, while August of 2016 had an average temperature of 83°. Rainfall came in at 7.91 inches compared to last August at a mere 0.69 inches.

 

There were 595 cooling degree days and 0 heating degree days for August 2017, while last year there were 568 cooling degree days with 0 heating degree days. The Degree Days are based on how much warmer or cooler the average temperature is at a particular location is than 65°. In other words, if the average temperature is 70° degrees outside on a particular day, there are 5 Cooling Degree Days for that day in that location.

 

SECO Energy's Sunshine State Stats, August 2017 - monthly averages and stats

 

September is forecast to be slightly warmer with precipitation higher than normal compared to last year. Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the area as well, so it will be interesting to see how the natural disaster affects the overall Sunshine State Stats at the end of the month. Fall is around the corner bringing cooler temperatures and allowing your air conditioners a much needed break. 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. 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.

 

SECO Solar Square Demo at March 25 Annual Meeting

Solar power is on the rise in The Sunshine State. Per the Florida Public Service Commission, SECO Energy has the most solar customers of any electric cooperative in the state and almost all municipally owned utilities as well.

 

As of March 20, a total of 530 SECO Energy members have interconnected solar systems at their homes or businesses. These systems produced 1,789,373 kilowatt hours in 2016, resulting in payments from SECO to these members totaling nearly $140,769.62 last year alone. Over the life of these systems, the cooperative has paid $510,039 to members who produced more electricity with their solar systems than they consumed. Per the PSC, this is the highest payback of any utility in the state.

 

SECO’s net metering policy provides for the payback for excess solar energy at the company’s “avoided cost.” In essence, members with solar arrays are treated as small-scale wholesale providers. The cooperative pays these members for their excess power at the same rate SECO pays Seminole Electric Cooperative for power produced traditionally from fossil fuels.

 

 

CEO Jim Duncan states, “I’ve been pretty vocal over the years in candidly explaining the merits and drawbacks of rooftop residential solar installations. SECO has been successful in supporting members who generate their own power without resorting to rebates or credits that inadvertently create financial burden on other members.”

 

SECO’s philosophy is that those who choose to invest in solar should bear the long-term costs to receive the benefits. It is clear from the number of members installing solar that people are willing to make the financial investment. The Cooperative encourages members to exercise caution when considering solar. If you have questions or need an unbiased opinion, contact SECO’s Energy Services team for a free assessment. A team member will evaluate whether solar is right for you by examining orientation, roof pitch, usage history and potential payback.

 

Members are also encouraged to attend the SECO Solar Square demonstration at the March 25th SECO Annual Meeting at 293 South US Highway 301 in Sumterville. The SECO team will display various types of systems and installations, costs, contract requirements, net-metering, billing, and projected generation.

 

SECO’s own array (the Solar Square) and its online production dashboard will be on display and accessible to members. The solar demo’s house replica displays a bi-directional meter for net metering, an inverter and a photovoltaic module on a simulated rooftop. Members interested in solar energy can use the SECO Solar Estimator to help determine costs and output.

 

Members who are not interested in investing in their own solar array but want to live a greener lifestyle can enroll in SECO’s new Solar Life program. The member pays a flat $32 monthly fee in exchange for the kilowatt hour output of four panels.

 

Come out to the SECO Energy pavilion this Saturday, March 25th for free food, fun and fabulous prizes. Gates open at 8 a.m. and the business meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. Prize drawings are held after the business meeting – members must be present to win.