Keep it Clear – We Work Here

SECO News, January 2021

Duncan’s Digest – $36,000 Scholarship Program for 2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR! SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees has approved the 2021 SECO Scholarship Program. $36,000 is up for grabs to be split among 12 high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in the energy industry and living in a home served by SECO. If your high school senior could use $3,000 for tuition or books and might want a paid internship on holiday or summer breaks, now is the time to apply.

The energy industry is a growing field in Florida and across the nation. SECO and other energy companies are looking to hire a workforce with the technical skills and training required in this competitive field. According to the 2020 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), Florida currently has 124,954 traditional energy workers statewide – with a number of them gearing up toward retirement in the coming years. Of these energy workers, 54,283 are in electric power generation, 18,802 are in fuels, and 51,869 are in transmission, distribution and energy storage.

Growth in electric vehicles, renewables, energy storage and the need for increased cyber-physical security drives the need for skilled workers. Not-for-profit electric cooperatives prioritize community support, environmental stewardship, corporate citizenship and sustainability. SECO Energy offers competitive wages but we also offer a pension plan and healthy 401k match – which is a hard-to-find benefit in this day and age. In addition, SECO provides employees with high-quality, low-cost medical, dental and vision coverage. It’s a great place to work, and we are an essential employer that offers a healthy balance of work and personal life with a generous paid time off program, student loan reimbursement and more.

When you talk to your kids and grandkids about who they want to be when they grow up and if they want to raise their own families here locally, SECO Energy and the electric industry is a great place to plant local career roots. Our SECO Scholarship Program is a recruiting tool that introduces us to local students pursuing a career in the growing energy industry. We hope to attract local students who want to engage with SECO for internship opportunities or as a possible future employer.

To be eligible to apply, the student must be a high school senior who is graduating in May/June 2021. The student must live in a home served by SECO Energy, plan to pursue a career in the energy industry and attend an accredited Florida college, university or vocational/technical school and be enrolled full-time by the end of 2021. Qualifying degrees or certifications are in technology, engineering, math or business.

Applications are available online beginning January 4, 2021. You can also pick up a paper application at one of our five Member Service Centers. The application must be completed and returned to SECO by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021.

If you have questions about SECO Energy’s 2021 Scholarship program, email SECO Energy’s Communications team.

I wish our applicants the best and look forward to reading about their career plans and accomplishments.

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac – Winter and Spring 2021 Weather

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, winter and spring in Florida will be gorgeous! Expect normal precipitation and an average temperature of 58 – only 2 degrees below average in January. The average temperature is forecast at 4 degrees above average at 65 in February, with below-average rainfall expected. March is forecast to be warm with an average temperature of 69, which is 2 degrees above average, and rainfall is forecast to be slightly below average.

Keep It Clear – We Work Here

SECO Energy Services Specialists are auditing equipment to ensure a safe, clear work zone for our employees and contractors. Plants, fences, shrubbery, lawn ornaments and other obstructions placed too close to SECO’s equipment are hazardous and must be removed.

SECO personnel and contractors perform outage restoration and maintenance on energized equipment using an eight-foot hot stick. Often, multiple personnel work on the equipment as a team; therefore, a clear work zone is necessary to complete their work safely.

Safety is our top priority. We want our employees to return home to their families safely at the end of their shift. Keep the area surrounding electric equipment clear. This equipment includes padmount transformers, flush-mounted and small pedestal secondary enclosures, meters and poles.

Not only are obstructions a safety hazard to employees and contractors, they create longer restoration times. During an outage, if crews cannot access equipment safely or must perform landscaping tasks before restoration can begin, you and your neighbors will be out of service for an extended time.

Remove obstructions before auditors arrive in your neighborhood. Read our clearance requirements and view clearance diagrams online. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Toys for Tots

SECO Energy employees ended 2020 in a flurry of giving with our annual Marine Toys for Tots drive. Employees donated hundreds of bicycles, tricycles and other toys for the event. 2020 was a challenging year for some local families who relied on Toys for Tots to put presents under the Christmas tree.

SECO’s Pennies from Heaven program chipped in $5,000 to Toys for Tots organizations as donation matches in Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties. Marine Toys for Tots is a top-rated charity. 96% of funds collected are used to supply children’s gifts. Since 1947, the program has collected over 584 million toys and delivered hope and gifts to 265 million children.

Members also dropped off toys at our five Member Service Center locations. Thank you, members, for supporting SECO Energy’s employee-led toy drive and our Pennies from Heaven program.

Your spare change can change lives in our local communities. Enroll in our Pennies from Heaven program to round up your monthly bill to the nearest dollar. The pennies donated support member bill payment assistance and local, worthy causes. Enroll in Pennies from Heaven online. SmartHub users can enroll on the desktop or app version, click Billing & Payment Pennies from Heaven.

EV Charger Winner!

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

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

Watch SECO News for next month’s charger winner.

January 2021 SECO News Word Search

Brighten your day with this month’s word search. Read the January 2021 SECO News articles and find the key words. Happy New Year!

Solar Spotlight – Is Solar Right for You?

Members often ask SECO Energy for assistance in determining if an investment in a solar system is the right choice for their home and family. Investing in a solar photovoltaic system can help you reduce your use of utility-supplied power. But is solar energy cost-effective for you?

First, consider the initial cost of the investment. Reducing your utility-supplied power will reduce your SECO bill, but it won’t eliminate it. Unless you go completely off the grid, your home will consume utility power when the sun isn’t shining – at night, on cloudy days and cold mornings before the sun comes up. Compare the purchase price, finance charges and utility-supplied power costs to your SECO usage and costs without a solar system.

Location, location, location – will your roof support a solar system? Are there trees blocking the panels from the sun? Also consider the orientation of the solar system. Panels facing south are the best, followed by east- and west-facing panels. SECO does not recommend north-facing panels because of production loss.

Next, consider the solar system size that will meet your needs. Before purchasing a solar system, you should review your historical kilowatt hour (kWh) usage. Compare the number of kWhs consumed by your home over the last 24 months to the amount of kWhs the system can produce. Remember that a salesperson’s production calculations are based on perfect conditions – panels facing due south, on a day with full sun, no clouds and no shade.

Here’s a mathematical breakdown of purchase price and production capability of a 5 kW system with panels facing south:

Finally, do your research before signing a contract and contact SECO’s trained Energy Specialists to help you run the numbers. Upon request, our team will conduct a solar assessment at your home or business. The Specialist will review your historical usage data and use a Solar Pathfinder tool to determine if your home is conducive to solar. SECO partners with members who choose to invest in solar. We won’t try to dissuade you; we will present you with facts and data that you can use to make a wise choice.

Learn more about solar power online. Read our solar FAQs, learn about the interconnection process, view a sample bill and complete the Solar Estimator for a quick kWh use and solar capacity comparison. Contact SECO Energy’s solar group or visit our Contact page.

Source: www.pvwatts.nrel.gov

System Improvement – Blitchton Substatioin Conversion

SECO Energy is your not-for-profit electric cooperative committed to providing safe, reliable and afford-able service. Recently, members served by our Blitchton substation in northwest Marion and parts of Levy County were notified of an upcoming system improvement project to increase the substation’s voltage from 7,200 to 14,400.

Unfortunately, both Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, and Tropical Storm Eta in November 2020, derailed the project’s schedule. The project is rescheduled for January 2021. If you are a member who is affected by the substation upgrade, you will have received a letter via USPS and electronic notification via email, text or voice. If you’ve lost the letter or are unsure if your home or business is affected, visit our Contact page and select the Blitchton Project Map. Search for your address to identify your outage date/timeframe.

The upgrade will improve members’ service reliability in the area. Members, we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we complete the Blitchton substation upgrade system improvement project.

Energy-Efficiency Extra – Resolve to Save With ENERGY STAR

Happy New Year! Make a New Year’s resolution to reduce your energy usage and save on your electric bill. Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying or upgrading your home’s appliances, water heater, HVAC system, electronics and more. An ENERGY STAR-rated product’s initial purchase price may be higher, but its lower lifetime costs offset the upfront costs.

The bright yellow and black ENERGY STAR label compares the product’s estimated yearly electricity use in kWh to other models. Also, look for the estimated annual operating expense in U.S. dollars based on the national electricity cost. These numbers will help you determine the operating cost over the average lifespan of the product.

ENERGY STAR-rated products are among the most efficient available. Look for doors, skylights, windows, roofing materials, insulation, light bulbs and more products with the ENERGY STAR label.

Are you interested in seeing the math associated with your energy usage? Calculate the monthly or yearly cost of the common appliances and devices in your home with our online Energy Estimator. Submit your email address to receive no-cost and low-cost energy-savings suggestions via email.

Read the full January 2021 SECO News online.

Energy Insider – 3rd Quarter 2020

At SECO Energy, our purpose and our values govern every decision we make. Our purpose is to provide exceptional service to our members, co-workers, and communities. Our values are six-fold and include safety, member commitment, honesty and integrity, strong work ethic, teamwork and open communication. In many instances, our purpose and our values work hand in hand with our members for the best possible relationship. The fact is, SECO Energy cannot do this alone. It takes us working together to be successful.

SECO News July 2020 Keep It Clear - We Work Here

Safely providing reliable service is very important to your cooperative. Our safety guidelines direct our actions to ensure you receive reliable electricity and that we deliver it to you in the safest manner possible. Part of that process is ensuring that we have the needed clearances around all our electric equipment. Those clearances allow the technicians to safely work in and around our facilities. Another aspect of safely providing reliable service is the ability to access every piece of equipment 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

The clearances for electrical facilities such as transformers and switching cabinets are displayed on a decal attached to the equipment. The decals provide a clear picture of the required safety zone. If there are any obstructions within that area, first and foremost, it creates a safety issue for our technicians. Secondly, obstructions impact how quickly the power will be restored. In many instances, a residential transformer provides service to multiple end-users. In commercial applications, there is the potential to affect an entire plant or portions of the plant that could have a huge impact on your operations.

Summer heat and an abundance of rain prompts vegetation to grow at a rapid pace. Now is a good time to perform a site survey at your location to ensure vegetation has not grown into the safety zone. Your cooperation in providing a safe working environment by keeping vegetation trimmed benefits us both. Better yet, refraining from planting anywhere near electrical facilities is the best option of all. Note, other obstructions besides vegetation also cause safety issues and impede restoration. At home it might be a fence, potted plants, benches, chairs, statues, bird baths or any sort of lawn decorations. At commercial facilities it may be trucks, trailers, pallets of materials and more. We need your help and commitment to ensure that our safety zone stays free and clear. For an example of the safety zone surrounding a transformer, secondary enclosure, meter or pole visit our Keep It Clear page.

Another potential hurdle for a safe and quick restoration of power is not being able to physically get to our equipment. If you have a business or home with locked gates, combination access panels or restricted areas, please take the time to make sure that SECO Energy has the information needed to gain access to our facilities. Otherwise restoration could be delayed. Talk to your Key Account representative if you have places of concern. Together, we will find a solution.

Remember also that SECO Energy needs safe access to the meter just the same as we need safe access to every other piece of our equipment. Clear access allows us to test your electric meter and gain an accurate reading to ensure accurate billing. At the meter, we need three feet of clearance on each side as well as three feet of clearance in the front.

If you are an HOA, developer or community group, give us a call if you need help educating others. We will happily team up with you to help keep everyone safe and compliant. We can send you information for closed circuit channels or printable materials. If you have questions, we can come to your location and address them quickly while still adhering to social distancing guidelines. If you are not comfortable with that, we can video conference with you as well.

Our CEO, Mr. Duncan, addressed the access topic in our October 2019 SECO News publication. In that publication, he addresses the “Keep it Clear-We Work Here” campaign. We implore our members, both commercial and residential, to team up with us and be proactive about this campaign. If you have equipment on your property, please make sure that the safe zone is clear. If this requirement is not met, you will be asked to make corrections – failure to do so could result in service interruption.

As stated in our purpose and values, we are committed to providing exceptional, reliable electric service to our members. We are equally committed to safety, teamwork and open communication with our members. If you have any questions or need assistance with clarifying any issue, feel free to reach out to us and we will be happy to assist you. Visit SECOEnergy.com often for a wealth of information related to SECO Energy products and services.

Insider 3rd Q 2020 blog

We have good news to share with our Insider members this month. Beginning October 1, you will see a member-favorable Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) credit to your bill. Look for the adjustment as a line item titled “Hot Bucks.”

The reduction on October 1 will lower your bills by about four percent. The monthly bill’s PCA factor fluctuates based on the amount SECO pays for power purchased from our wholesale provider Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. We work closely with Seminole to ensure the lowest rates possible for members. When the wholesale cost of power decreases, we pass the savings along to you.

As a not-for-profit electric cooperative that operates for our members, we are proud to provide safe, reliable, affordable electric service and offer world-class customer service. It is our privilege to serve as your electric provider.

Read CEO Jim Duncan’s announcement in October SECO News.

BARBIE SHAW

Manager of Key Accounts & Energy Services
OFFICE: (352) 569-9787
CELL: (352) 303-3567
barbie.shaw@secoenergy.com

Hank Bolduc, SECO Energy Key Accounts Consultant

HANK BOLDUC

Key Accounts Consultant
OFFICE: (352) 569-9789
CELL: (352) 303-3546
hank.bolduc@secoenergy.com

Ryon Meyers, SECO Energy Key Accounts Consultant

RYON MEYERS

Key Accounts Consultant
OFFICE: (352) 569-9781
CELL: (352) 636-9593
ryon.meyers@secoenergy.com

Jeff Light, SECO Energy Key Accounts Consultant

JEFF LIGHT

Key Accounts Consultant
OFFICE: (352) 569-9790
CELL: (352) 303-3183
jeff.light@secoenergy.com

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.

SECO News, October 2019

Duncan’s Digest Keep It Clear – We Work Here

At SECO Energy we take pride in our expertly designed and well-maintained electric system that provides reliable power to almost 210,000 homes and businesses in our service territory. As the fastest-growing electric cooperative in the state (by meter count), SECO invests upwards of $50 million annually to construct new facilities to meet the growing demand for power and to upgrade aging infrastructure. We regularly inspect and stringently maintain our facilities. Within our 2,100-square mile territory, crews inspect substations, overhead and underground lines, poles, transformers, cabinets and more. We spend about $20 million annually trimming or removing thousands of trees that encroach on lines and threaten reliability.

SECO personnel routinely audit and perform work on equipment such as transformers and meters on members’ property. Field employees often find it challenging to safely access padmount transformers and underground facilities because shrubs or fencing have been placed in close proximity to the front and sides of the equipment despite the large warning labels. In maintenance and outage situations, the obstacles cause the work to take longer than necessary and most important, pose safety risks to our employees.

A few members also restrict SECO’s access to the meter with locked gates, fences, animals, overgrown landscaping, added rooms or porches and other obstructions. This results in unsafe conditions for employees and contractors and can cause readings to be estimated rather than actual – resulting in an inaccurate electric bill.

Per our Terms & Conditions, these obstructions are simply unacceptable and our cooperative is taking a firm stand on such violations. To raise awareness and draw attention to the safety issue, we have developed a communications campaign called Keep It Clear – We Work Here. The campaign renews SECO Energy’s commitment to employee safety in the field. As a SECO member, you are responsible for adhering to our Terms and Conditions of Service that include providing SECO personnel with safe, unimpeded access to our equipment located on your property.

Keep fences, shrubs and lawn ornaments at least ten feet away from the front of the transformer and three feet away from the back and the sides. Open gates, clear obstructions and relocate animals that restrict SECO’s access to metering equipment. Trim landscaping that blocks the meter face. If SECO is unable to obtain a clear view of the meter and record an accurate meter reading, the member may receive an estimated (and inaccurate) bill for that reading cycle.

In the spirit of customer service, we have practiced diplomacy and patience with members who have refused to comply with our safe clearance requirements. The Keep It Clear campaign changes our approach. Unimpeded, safe access to SECO’s transformers and metering equipment is a necessity.

As SECO personnel conduct equipment audits across our service territory, members with equipment obstructions on their property will be asked to clear the obstructions or trim the landscaping that impedes safe access. Our Keep It Clear campaign provides affected members with letters, door hangers, emails and other notifications advising members of the need for obstruction removal. If those notices are ignored, disconnection of service is a last resort but a step that will be taken in extreme cases.

The vast majority of our members follow the clearance rules and respect the reasoning. I thank you kindly. If you are planning a landscape project please be sure you maintain that compliance. If you buy a house in our area or if the service is in your name as the renter, you bear responsibility for access to the electric equipment on the property. I’m asking you to keep our employees safe by ensuring access to SECO’s equipment.

Sincerely,

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

Greg Lovett – T&D Line Supervisor

Length of Service: 14 Years

“WE SAFELY RESTORE POWER.” Greg Lovett is a 14-year SECO Energy employee who is a T&D Line Supervisor working in Citrus, Hernando and Sumter Counties. Greg and his team help construct and maintain SECO’s $900 million electric infrastructure that delivers reliable power to members. A lifelong Sumter County resident, Greg and his family enjoy fishing and water sports. His family has come to expect the late-night phone calls to restore power outages. His family understandably worries about him, but Greg is confident in the expanded safety measures that SECO has adopted that protect him and his crew. When unexpected outages occur, Greg is often called to supervise responding crews. Safe restoration is always given the highest priority. During restoration, crews inspect and confirm that all equipment is safe and that lines are clear and in good working condition before re-energizing services.

Atlantic hurricane season’s busiest month is September, but the season remains active until November 30. Don’t let the cooling temperatures and fall decorations fool you – the threat of hurricanes and tropical storms remains active.

Visit StormCenter to familiarize yourself with its features. On the StormCenter outage map, you can view current outages in SECO’s service area, search for and bookmark your address on the map and view the current weather radar.

To enroll in outage notifications, click on “Manage Notifications” to add an email address or phone number. You can choose to receive outage notifications via email, text, voice or all three. Set times that you would not wish to be disturbed for each communication type chosen.

Check the status of an existing outage and a seven-day outage history using the “Check Status” tile. Choose “Report Outage” to report a current power outage. Locate your service location using the account holder’s last name and house number, or search by phone number or account number.

Use LightFinder to report an area light that is off or a light that shines all day. Search for either the pole number or address. Each light is represented by a light bulb icon. Green indicates the light is working. A red icon is a light that has been reported as malfunctioning. If the icon is orange it has been repaired in the last 24 hours. Inactive lights are represented by a gray icon. A blue icon is a member-owned light.

Have a question? “Contact Us” allows you to complete a web form in just a few clicks.

Overhead power lines and poles are easy to see, but you can be injured or killed by digging into an underground electric line. Before putting a shovel in the ground, the law requires you to dial 811 to request all underground utilities be properly marked so you don’t dig into a buried utility line.

Know what’s below – call 811 before you dig to avoid making contact with an energized underground line risking injury or an outage. In Florida, call 811 or visit www.sunshine811.com to arrange free location of underground utility lines. In Florida – it’s the law.

In July SECO News, we encouraged members to learn more about energy efficiency with SECO Energy’s online energy audit tool theHome Energy Assessment. Members who completed the Home Energy Assessment and provided an email address to receive energy-efficiency tips tailored to their home were entered into a drawing to win one of three high-tech programmable thermostats.

Congratulations to Evelyn Graddy from Eustis who is the winner of the Nest Wi-Fi thermostat; the Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat was won by James Trimble from The Villages; and Frances Sciotto from Ocala is the winner of the Ecobee Wi-Fi thermostat.

In the August edition of SECO News, CEO Jim Duncan asked if SECO has your correct phone number or email address. Members who updated or verified their personal contact information by email, online or phone were entered in a drawing for a $300 SECO bill credit.

Jill Chandler from Paisley is the winner of the $300 SECO bill credit. Thank you to all who participated and watch for upcoming chances to win.

Read the full October SECO News online.

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Duncan’s Digest – $36,000 Scholarship Program for 2021

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac – Winter and Spring 2021 Weather

Keep It Clear – We Work Here

Toys for Tots

EV Charger Winner!

January 2021 SECO News Word Search

Solar Spotlight – Is Solar Right for You?

System Improvement – Blitchton Substatioin Conversion

Energy-Efficiency Extra – Resolve to Save With ENERGY STAR

Duncan’s Digest – Marion Oaks Substation Rebuild

2020 Scholarship Awardees

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

Protect Your Home’s Appliances with Surgeo

EV Charger Winner

Surge MitiGator™ Word Search

Keep It Clear – We Work Here

Go Green – Enroll in Ebill through SmartHub

Summer Energy Efficiency – Keep Your Cool

Duncan’s Digest Keep It Clear – We Work Here

Greg Lovett – T&D Line Supervisor

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