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Sunshine State Stats, September 2017

September 2017’s Sunshine State Stats and the local weather was about the same as the previous September – with the exception of Cat 2/3 Hurricane Irma that barreled through the center of the state on Sunday, September 9.   The average temperature came in at 82°, while September of 2016 was a degree higher with an average temperature of 83°. Rainfall came in at 9.68 inches compared to last September at 6.14 inches. This was mainly due to Hurricane Irma.

 

There were 514 cooling degree days and 0 heating degree days for September 2017, while last year there were 502 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 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 for September 2017 - September's monthly averages and stats

 

October is forecast to be slightly warmer than normal with precipitation being higher than normal compared to last year. The hot and humid days of 2017 are almost behind us –  bringing lower energy bills. 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’s System 99.9% Recovered After Hurricane Irma

SECO Energy completed the final stage of its Hurricane Irma restoration effort on Sunday. At the end of Sunday, the not-for-profit electric cooperative completed power restoration for 99.9 percent of all members affected by Hurricane Irma.

 

SECO’s infrastructure suffered significant damage as Hurricane Irma traveled directly through its service territory with winds that ranged from a Category 1 to a Category 3 hurricane, per data from the National Hurricane Center. Power outages began Sunday evening, September 10, as Irma’s tropical-storm-force winds entered Central Florida. Members continued to lose power throughout Sunday night and Monday morning when winds increased to hurricane-force speeds. When winds subsided, more than half of SECO’s system was down and more than half of the cooperative’s members were without power.

 

Restoration began on Monday, September 11, at noon. More than 1,200 SECO crews and line/tree contractors were deployed in full force throughout the system over the next six days to restore power. At the end of the day on Sunday, September 17, SECO’s system was more than 99.9% restored. Only about 70 accounts in South Sumter County are unable to receive electric service at this time due to high water.

 

The damage to SECO’s system from Hurricane Irma was much more significant than even the damage from the 2004 hurricanes. The damage and disruptions from Hurricane Irma, were unprecedented in SECO’s service territory and across the state.

 

Today, line and tree trimming contractors are preparing to return home. If a member experiences a new outage, it should be reported at Storm Center using the last name and house number.

 

For SECO members who were without power, it was a long week. SECO Energy thanks them for their patience and understanding as crews worked to bring substations back online, rebuild feeder lines, replace thousands of broken poles and clear trees from infrastructure. Most important, the company is overwhelmed by and grateful for the thoughtful outreach by hundreds of members across the service area. Citizens brought pizza, sandwiches, cookies, goodie bags and more to the crews in the field and employees in our locations. Members sent notes of encouragement and posted signs of gratitude along the roads.

 

SECO members are still facing the after effects of Hurricane Irma. A colossal amount of tree branches, trunks and debris remains on the ground and near roadways. Members should call the county where they reside and ask for the debris to be removed. For members who have damage to their homes or property, please call your homeowners’ insurance carrier, county emergency services or FEMA. If you need financial assistance with everyday living expenses due to the hardship of Hurricane Irma, please contact Florida 2-1-1.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.

SECO Crews and Contractors Fully Deployed for Final Hurricane Restorations

SECO Energy’s crews and contract line and tree trimming crews remain fully deployed for final Hurricane Irma power restoration. Today, 1,200 crew members from nine states are finishing the last of the feeder rebuilding and repairing. Crews are also focusing on restoring isolated outages affecting small numbers of members, and clearing trees from functioning lines.

 

Understandably, SECO members have been frustrated by the outages caused by significant infrastructure damage as Hurricane Irma blazed a path through our service territory. Members reported over 110,000 outages immediately after hurricane-force winds left over half of SECO’s feeder lines on the ground and covered by downed trees and debris. Phone lines and Internet services were inoperational, making outage reporting difficult for members.

 

For the few thousand members still without power on Sunday, it has been a long week. Restoration efforts have been hampered by standing water, significant system damage and multiple thefts of copper line in Webster and Lake Panasoffkee. Earlier this week, SECO publicly committed to full restoration on Sunday. As of 10 am, SECO has less than 3,000 members – less than one percent – remain without power according to SECO’s Storm Center outage map it appears we will uphold that commitment.

 

Florida mandates that facilities such as hospitals, shelters, schools and government offices are given highest priority when restoration begins. SECO restored power to these facilities first. Assisted-living, non-hospital medical facilities, nursing homes, gas stations and communications towers running on generator power began running out of fuel Thursday. These necessarily became a priority. SECO’s crews are pulled in many directions so members may see crews leaving residential areas that are not yet completely restored. Homes in one subdivision on one side of the street may have power while the other side does not. This can occur where one line ends and another line begins.

 

If a member experiences a new outage, it should be reported at Storm Center using the last name and house number. Members can also use our interactive restoration map. It displays areas where small pockets of outages exist and crews are working. It does not display individual outages but crews are being deployed to those as well this morning because there are more than 1,200 crew members in the field moving from one outage to the next.

 

Please keep in mind that Hurricane Irma just left SECO’s service area late Monday morning. Even the storms of 2004 didn’t hit SECO’s area this hard and with this much damage. The system disruption is unprecedented and SECO is doing its best to quickly and fully recover.

 

During this time of prolonged outages from Hurricane Irma, if you are using a generator, never let it operate in an enclosed space such as your home, garage or enclosed porch. Generators emit carbon monoxide, a silent, odorless killer. There are multiple reports of Central Floridians who have been rushed to the hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning, and some of these cases were fatal. Read and follow manufacturer’s safety warnings when operating a generator.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.

Hurricane Irma Power Outage Numbers Dwindling

The number of power outages caused by Hurricane Irma’s wrath as it blazed through SECO Energy’s territory are dwindling. SECO crews along with hundreds of contract line and tree trimming crews continued tackling the sections of SECO’s service area hardest hit by Hurricane Irma.

 

On Monday morning when hurricane winds subsided, our systems indicated more than 110,000 reported power outages out of SECO’s 200,000 members. Crews began rebuilding and repairing feeder lines after winds subsided at noon on Monday. As of Saturday, at 12 pm, SECO’s Storm Center outage map indicates less than 10,000 members remained without power. Restoration and recovery in some communities is a long process due to significant damage and high water. SECO’s goal is full restoration for all members by Sunday at noon.

 

SECO understands that members with prolonged outages are frustrated. Isolated thunderstorms on Friday hampered efforts in a few areas, but fortunately, widespread storms that were forecast held off. Crews made good progress throughout the day and overnight. Saturday’s forecast calls for a 50% chance of thunderstorms, keep your fingers crossed and pray the rains stay away. If lightning conditions occur, line work comes to a stop for safety reasons.

 

Florida mandates that facilities such as hospitals, shelters, schools and government offices are given highest priority when restoration begins. SECO restored power to these facilities first. Assisted-living, non-hospital medical facilities, nursing homes, gas stations and communications towers running on generator power began running out of fuel Thursday. These necessarily became a priority. SECO’s crews are pulled in many directions so members may see crews leaving residential areas that are not yet completely restored. Homes in one subdivision on one side of the street may have power while the other side does not. This can occur where one line ends and another line begins.

 

The electric system design is complicated, and we’ve developed an online visual to help members understand where the feeders/lines are located. SECO’s interactive restoration plan map was updated overnight to reflect Saturday’s planned restoration areas. Members can use the daily restoration plan map to input their service address and determine if their area is included in the current day’s restoration plan. Substations are labeled as a reference and feeders are outlined in polygons. To use the map, visit www.SECOEnergy.com and hover over “Contact Us” in the top right corner. Select “Daily Restoration Plan.”

 

The following is a summary of substations and feeders where crews are or will be TODAY performing repairs and restoration:

 

Sumterville District Office:
• Wildwood substation north of CR-222 in Sumter County.
• Lake Ella substation in Fruitland Park in Lake County.
• Bushnell substation in Sumter County on CR-48.
• Lake Panasoffkee substation on CR 416N in Sumter County.
• Sumterville substation on South Hwy 301 in Sumter County.
• Webster substation on CR 753 in Sumter County.

 

Eustis District Office:
• Sorrento substation on CR 437 in Lake County.
• Deer Island substation on CR 448 in Tavares.
• Linadale substation in Umatilla in Lake County.
• St. Johns substation in Lake County off Lake Mack Drive in Deland.
• Paisley substation off Maggie Jones Road in Lake County.

 

Ocala District Office:
• Dallas substation serving CR-42 and Hwy 301 in Marion County.
• Belleview substation serving Belleview and Summerfield in Marion County.
• Timberwood substation in Marion County off 60th Avenue in Ocala.
• Waterways substation on SW 49th Ave in Ocala.
• Martel substation in NW Ocala off 110th Ave in Marion County.
• Ocala substation on SW 80th Street in Marion County.
• Blitchton substation on NW Hwy 464 in Morriston.
• Marion Oaks substation in Ocala on SW 134 Loop in Marion County.
• Lady Lake substation on Griffin Ave in Lake County.
• Summerglen substation on SW 16th Ave in Ocala.

 

Please keep in mind that Hurricane Irma just left SECO’s service area late Monday morning. Even the storms of 2004 didn’t hit SECO’s area this hard and with this much damage. The system disruption is unprecedented and SECO is doing its best to quickly and fully recover.

 

During this time of prolonged outages from Hurricane Irma, if you are using a generator, never let it operate in an enclosed space such as your home, garage or enclosed porch. Generators emit carbon monoxide, a silent, odorless killer. There are multiple reports of Central Floridians who have been rushed to the hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning, and some of these cases were fatal. Read and follow manufacturer’s safety warnings when operating a generator.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.

Crews Worked Overnight Restoring Power to SECO Members

SECO Energy crews along with contract line and tree trimming crews worked day and night on Wednesday restoring power to SECO members after Hurricane Irma devastated the area. Crews spent the day fixing damaged lines, clearing trees and restoring power to 35,368 members on Wednesday alone.

 

Since Monday at noon when restoration began, crews have restored service to more than 90,000 members. Early today, SECO’s Storm Center showed approximately 35,500 members remain without power. Now that CenturyLink phone lines are working again and more members who evacuated are returning home, outage reports continue to generate. 

 

SECO’s interactive restoration plan map was updated overnight to reflect Thursday’s planned restoration locations. The daily restoration plan map is a useful communication tool for members seeking power restoration information. Members can input their service address and determine if their area is included in the current day’s restoration plan. Substations are labeled as a reference and feeders are outlined in polygons. To use the map, visit www.SECOEnergy.com and hover over “Contact Us” in the top right corner. Select “Daily Restoration Plan.”

 

Overnight, hundreds of crews from Missouri cooperatives arrived at SECO to join the restoration effort early this morning. Fresh contingents of line and tree contractors from Texas, North Carolina and Louisiana arrived on Tuesday. All SECO substations are operating normally, and SECO is working with Duke Energy as it repairs its transmission lines connected to SECO’s Gospel Island substation.
 

The following is a summary of substations and feeders where crews are or will be TODAY performing repairs and restoration:

 

Sumterville District Office:
• Gospel Island substation off Turner Camp Road in Citrus County.
• Lady Lake substation off Griffin Avenue in Lake County.
• Wildwood substation north of CR-222 in Sumter County.
• Floral City substation off E. Floral Park Drive in Lake County.
• Bushnell substation in Sumter County on CR-48.

 

Groveland District Office:
• Groveland substation in Lake County on Phelps Street.
• Big Creek substation in Clermont off CR-474 in Lake County.
• South Highway substation in Groveland on SR-33 in Lake County.

 

Eustis District Office:
• St. Johns substation in Lake County off Lake Mack Drive in Deland.
• Mount Dora substation off SR-44 in Lake County.
• Umatilla substation in Lake County off of CR-450A.
• Paisley substation off Maggie Jones Road in Lake County.

 

Ocala District Office:
• Dallas substation serving CR-42 and Hwy 301 in Marion County.
• Belleview substation serving Belleview and Summerfield in Marion County.
• Timberwood substation in Marion County off 60th Avenue in Ocala.
• Summerglen substation serving Summerglen and Marion Oaks in Marion County.
• Westwood Acres substation in Ocala off SW 140th Ave in Ocala in Marion County.
• Martel substation in NW Ocala off 110th Ave in Marion County.
• Ocala substation on SW 80th Street in Marion County.
• Waterways substation in Ocala off SW 49th Ave in Marion County.

 

Please keep in mind that Hurricane Irma just left SECO’s service area late Monday morning. Even the storms of 2004 didn’t hit SECO’s area this hard and with this much damage. The system disruption is unprecedented and SECO is doing its best to quickly and fully recover.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.

Hurricane Restoration Continues Across Central Florida

Hurricane restoration continues across Central Florida with SECO Energy diligently working to restore power to the over 110,000 members without power after Hurricane Irma ravaged its service territory. SECO crews along with hundreds of contracted line and tree crews are deployed to all counties.

 

SECO crews and contracted line and tree crews worked overnight restoring power to members. Because of the significant damage, SECO is diligently calling for more man-power and additional resources to speed up restoration efforts. SECO members were understandably frustrated yesterday with the seeming lack of progress and information on restoration activities. About half of SECO’s system was on the ground Monday morning after Hurricane Irma blasted directly through the center of its service territory.

 

After Monday’s restoration began and the overnight efforts continued, and 25,000 of the 110,000 members without power had their service restored. The following is a summary of Monday’s restoration progress:

 

    • Tree and line crews spent Monday afternoon in Citrus County working on a feeder served by SECO’s Inverness substation serving 2,210 members. Service to that feeder and substation is anticipated to be restored by Tuesday afternoon.
    • 3,000 of the 3,626 Sumter County members served by our Lake Ella substation (Fruitland Park) feeder 4 were restored Monday evening. The remaining members will have service restored Tuesday.
    • Almost 2,000 members in Sumter County served by our Continental (Wildwood) substation’s feeder 4 were restored Monday evening. An additional 431 members on this feeder will see full restoration by around noon today.
    • Our Timberwood substation on 60th Ave in Ocala feeder 2 had 1,000 members restored, feeder 3 had 150 members restored and feeder 4 had 1,300 members restored.
    • 600 members served by our Belleview substation have had their service restored Monday evening.
    • 801 members served by our Waterways substation in southwest Marion County have had their service restored.
    • 80 members served by our Summerglen substation near I-75 in Marion County have had their service restored.
    • 500 members served by our Dallas substation near Summerfield have had their service restored.
    • 241 members Lake County, Astatula area have had their service restored – more members will be restored Tuesday in this community as crews continue to make progress.
    • 100 members served from our St John’s substation in the Lake Mack area have had their service restored.
    • Almost 3,000 members served from two of our six feeders from our Clermont substation have had their service restored.
    • 200 members served by our Linadale substation off 42 in Lake County near Umatilla have had their service restored Monday night.
    • 1,400 members served by our Groveland substation have had their service restored.

 

More members will see power restored today and we will update social media and customer service as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that Hurricane Irma just left SECO’s service area late Monday morning. Even the storms of 2004 didn’t hit the area this hard with this much damage. It is unprecedented and SECO is doing its best to fully recover.

 

Seek shelter if you or your loved ones need power to run life-saving medical devices. Floridians can access www.floridadisaster.org/shelters for shelter information by county, including general population shelters, pet-friendly shelters and special needs shelters.

 

If you are using a portable or backup generator, never let it run in enclosed spaces. Generators emit carbon monoxide gas that is a silent, odorless killer. Ensure these are connected correctly. Do not tamper with a meter to connect a generator as this requires a licensed electrician. Safety tips and storm preparation tips are available on SECO’s website.

 

To avoid scams and dangers, do not accept restoration or tree trimming assistance from someone who is asking for payment on the spot and is not a SECO employee or contractor. Under no circumstances would SECO ask for payment in the field during a restoration event. Do not attempt to reconnect services yourself.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.

SECO Bracing for Hurricane Irma

SECO Energy is keeping a close watch on Hurricane Irma as its track lands the giant Category 5 storm in Florida. The cooperative is enacting its emergency plan in full alert mode starting Friday at 4 pm through the duration of the restoration event.

 

Hurricane Irma continues to move on a west-northwestward track with an increased speed of 17 miles per hour, and maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has shifted the impact cone to the east overnight, but that shift isn’t enough to send Irma away from Florida. The NHC predicts Irma will make landfall along the southern east coast of Florida or the storm will travel up the east coast.

 

SECO members will likely feel Irma’s effects late this weekend and early next week. SECO’s service area will likely experience tropical storm force winds, torrential rains and the possibility of tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Irma. Members should be prepared for the possibility of lengthy power outages.

 

Gather your emergency supplies and if you plan on running a portable or backup generator, now is the time to test that it is working properly and you have an adequate supply of fuel on hand. Never use a portable generator in an enclosed area. Generators emit carbon monoxide gas that is a silent, odorless killer. Visit SECO’s website for storm preparation tips and view an emergency checklist.

 

Floridians can access www.floridadisaster.org/shelters for shelter information by county, including general population shelters, pet-friendly shelters and special needs shelters.

 

Members with smartphones and tablets should bookmark SECO’s Storm Center for easy outage reporting and updates. SECO’s emergency restoration plan determines the system’s restoration priority of each affected feeder. Essential services such as hospitals, shelters, schools and government agencies are the highest priority. Line repairs that will restore power to large groups of members are next, and then individual electric services in less populated areas.To avoid scams and dangers, do not accept restoration assistance from someone who is asking for payment on the spot and is not a SECO employee or contractor. Under no circumstances would SECO ask for payment in the field during a restoration event. Do not attempt to reconnect services yourself.

 

SECO’s employees are Storm Ready and waiting to respond if outages occur. SECO is prepared for inclement weather and reminds members that it is best to be informed and prepared. All SECO members should continue to seek out supplies for their emergency kits, and be ready to wait out the storm.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.

SECO Tracking Hurricane Irma as Governor Declares State of Emergency

SECO Energy is tracking Hurricane Irma and the impact the storm will bring to Central Florida. The peak of Atlantic hurricane season is here, and Irma is a strong storm that may target Florida later this week.

 

As of Tuesday morning, Hurricane Irma is a Category 5 hurricane and is located approximately 1,000 miles west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. Thunderstorms associated with Irma are becoming more organized and conditions are conducive for Irma to continue develop and the intensity of the storm to increase. Hurricane Irma is moving west-northwest, and the storm is on track to affect south Florida as early as Saturday.

 

Governor Rick Scott has proactively declared a state of emergency for all Florida counties. The governor’s actions allow local governments ample time to gather resources well in advance of potential landfall. Currently, Irma is still too far away to determine its exact path, but SECO hopes the governor’s declaration spurs Floridians to prepare early and also allows comprehensive movement of utility crews, equipment and supplies within the state.

 

SECO employees are Storm Ready and waiting to respond if outages occur from Hurricane Irma. SECO is prepared for the possibility of inclement weather and would like to remind members that it is best to be informed and prepared. When storms threaten, supplies sell out quickly, now is the time to gather your emergency supplies and be ready to hunker down if Irma strikes Florida.

 

The National Weather Service recommends each household have enough food and water for each person in the house for one week. Stock your first aid kit, and include a 30-day supply of prescription medicines. Make sure your flashlights and weather radio are in good working order, with plenty of extra batteries. Fill your car with gas, and have cash on hand, gas pumps, ATMs and credit cards won’t work during power outages.

 

If you have a portable or backup generator, now is the time to test that it is running properly and you have an adequate supply of fuel on hand. Members can visit SECO’s website for storm preparation tips and view an emergency checklist. For members with smartphones or tablets, go online and bookmark SECO’s Storm Center for easy outage reporting and updates.

 

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to being our members’ first source for accurate storm information. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” the company on Twitter to stay updated about storms affecting our area.