SECO Energy members have once again rated the not-for-profit electric cooperative top in customer satisfaction. SECO received an outstanding ACSI score of 89 in 2018, a one-point increase from the cooperative’s 2017 score.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index provides a one-of-a-kind, cross-industry measurement of customer satisfaction. ACSI scores are comparable across all sectors, industries, companies and time periods. SECO Energy conducted the membership survey that included the ACSI metrics at year end and contacted members both by phone and online to ask about their unique experience with the cooperative. Members rated SECO an impressive score of 89.
When comparing SECO to average ACSI scores in the energy industry – SECO is a clear Florida and national frontrunner. Nationally, cooperative utilities averaged 77 in 2018. Scores for municipal and investor-owned utilities both averaged slightly lower at 75.
Among 18 other metrics in the survey, members ranked SECO as “excellent” on 16 of 18 attributes with the highest ratings for employees, bills and payment options, minimizing outages, having consumers’ best interests at heart and the cooperative’s corporate citizenship initiatives. Three attributes increased significantly from 2017: having highly trained, professional employees, communicating with members and keeping them informed and being easy to reach.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “SECO’s recent increase in our ACSI score is a clear indicator that our employees are our cooperative’s greatest asset. Accolades and high rankings from members are a testament to our employees’ dedication to improving reliability, maintaining low rates and offering members world-class customer service. I am grateful to work with a group of folks committed to the cooperative purpose.”
Duncan continued, “And thank you, members, in particular for recognizing our employees’ efforts on your behalf. We are grateful for your continued approval and support.”
The survey also included feedback that members’ satisfaction increased with the addition of our new StormCenter outage map and communications suite that offers proactive email, text and voice notifications. To manage preferences, visit SECO Energy’s StormCenter.
In recent years, SECO Energy has received national attention, and three J.D. Power trophies, for its exceptional customer satisfaction rankings. In the 2015 J.D. Power study, SECO Energy was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Midsize Utilities in the South.” And in 2016 and 2017, SECO was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Cooperatives.”
“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit SECO Energy’s About SECO page to learn more about the Central Florida not-for-profit electric cooperative.
SECO Energy employees are here to fill the sleigh with toys collected for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. As a Marine myself, Toys for Tots is particularly special to me. Our employees have also embraced Toys for Tots because they know the organization is delivering Christmas morning happiness to children in our local communities.
Toys for Tots plays Santa for thousands of less-fortunate children. Toy donation boxes were made available in all Member Service Centers through early December for employees and members alike to donate new, unwrapped toys to this worthy cause.
The collected toys remain right here in our local communities to be distributed to local children. Hundreds of employees and members displayed their Christmas spirit by dropping a toy or two into the Toys for Tots collection box. The number of new bikes donated by our employees this year is definitely a record-setter. For thousands of children, the donated toys are the only gifts waiting for them under the Christmas tree.
I believe Charles Schulz of Peanuts fame said it best, “Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.” Many of our employees and members do a little extra for others by contributing to Toys for Tots every year. I thank you all for your generosity and willingness to give.
From the SECO family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
Meet SECO Champions Kathy and Kurt – two examples of our 400+ SECO Champion employees. Kathy and Kurt are dedicated to providing exceptional service to members, co-workers and communities.
KATHY POSSO – MEMBER SERVICES SUPERVISOR
LENGTH OF SERVICE – 4 YEARS
“We’re here for members.”
Member Services Supervisor Kathy Posso is a SECO Champion who is a friendly face assisting members in our Sumterville Member Service Center. In 2005, Kathy’s family moved to Central Florida, and she joined the SECO team in 2014. In 2017 during Hurricane Irma restoration, Kathy was especially humbled by members’ stories of devastation after the storm. Kathy’s passion is helping members. She recalls a time when a member who recently lost a spouse was grateful when she took extra time to help him read and understand the bill and complete a payment. Kathy and her husband are leaders at their church. Kathy’s family is proud that she works for SECO Energy, a cooperative that believes in putting members first and also appreciates and recognizes its employees.
KURT CAMPBELL – R&D TECHNICIAN
LENGTH OF SERVICE – 14 YEARS
“My family is proud.”
SECO Champion Kurt Campbell is an R&D Technician working throughout Sumter, Lake and Citrus Counties performing meter work to ensure accurate account billing. During Hurricane Irma restoration in 2017, Kurt worked with the warehouse team transporting supplies to crews restoring power in the field. Kurt interacts with members every day and is grateful that he was on-hand during several emergency situations. While waiting for emergency personnel, Kurt comforted a member whose husband suffered a stroke. He has also helped members with vehicle trouble. Kurt was born and raised in Sumter County and lives with his family in Coleman. Kurt says his family is glad to know that he is part of the effort to restore power to SECO members after a hurricane or major storm.
UNITED WAY
SECO Energy employees are truly blessed with a giving spirit. Our 2019 United Way Pledge Drive was an overwhelming success. Employees pledged over $66,000 to United Way – a $13,000 or 25 percent increase from last year.
The pledges will make a big difference in the lives of those in need in our service territory. SECO’s 400+ employees live in or near the counties we serve, and employees are able to choose the county where their donated dollars will benefit.
Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties are the four counties in our service area with the highest member count. The majority of our employees live and work in these four counties as well.
United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good. Education, income and health are the United Way’s key focuses. Visit United Way online to find a local branch, register to volunteer or to donate.
Donate your extra pennies to help your fellow SECO Energy members in need or to support worthy causes right here in our service territory. Enroll in Pennies from Heaven to have your monthly bill automatically rounded up to the nearest dollar. The donated pennies provide financial assistance through the Angel Fund.
Angel Funds are used to provide bill payment assistance to members, help those in dire and unique circumstances or support other worthy causes in the counties we serve. Requests for Angel Fund assistance are administered through several local agencies by calling 2-1-1.
LENDING A HAND IN NORTH FLORIDA
On October 10, 2018, Category 4 Hurricane Michael blazed a deadly path through North Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Destructive and deadly, Michael left 400,000 Floridians without power for weeks.
The day after Hurricane Michael, a team of SECO employees voluntarily packed their bags, leaving their families to help our cooperative neighbors’ restoration efforts.
Initially, the module traveled to Tri-County Electric in Madison before trekking to Talquin Electric Cooperative near Tallahassee. Additional line techs and warehouse personnel joined the module, and some returned home while additional employees accompanied the group as it traveled to assist Gulf Coast Electric in Wewahitchka.
SECO is very proud of our employees’ willingness to assist our cooperative neighbors. 53 SECO employees (named below) worked an almost four-week restoration effort assisting three cooperatives restoring power to thousands.
They say money doesn’t grow on trees, but as a member, your 2018 Capital Credits retirement has sprouted and arrives in your November bill.
You, along with 200,000+ residents are members of a not-for-profit cooperative founded in 1938 as Sumter Electric Cooperative with just 500 members. Things have changed over the years. Those meager roots planted 80 years ago have thrived.
Your membership branches into ownership through energy purchases – the proverbial fertilizer of patronage capital. Ownership is defined through the annual process of allocating each member’s share of the co-op’s margins from the prior year. The annual amounts for each member who purchases electric service during the year are referred to as Capital Credit allocations.
Capital Credits are the accumulation of all prior year’s revenue after the co-op’s operating costs and expenses are paid. These credits are allocated on a pro-rata basis to each SECO Energy member’s account as Capital Credits.
During its October meeting, SECO’s Board of Trustees approved a record $5.5 million to be returned (retired) to members. Since SECO’s inception, the co-op has retired more than $63.3 million to current and former members. This year’s Capital Credits return is rooted in sound financial stewardship by SECO’s Board, the leadership team and our dedicated employees.
Each member receiving a 2018 Capital Credits retirement will see the amount on their spruced-up November billing statement listed as a line item labeled “Capital Credits Ret.” Business members with retirements over $1,000 will receive a check. If you move out of SECO territory, keep your mailing address updated so we can send future Capital Credit retirements.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
Meet two SECO Champions – Melissa and Matthew – two examples of our 400+ SECO Champion employees. Melissa and Matthew are dedicated to providing exceptional service to members, co-workers and communities.
MELISSA LACASSE – SYSTEM CONTROL COORDINATOR
LENGTH OF SERVICE – 25 YEARS
“My job is awesome.”
SECO Champion Melissa Lacasse is a System Control Coordinator at our SECO Headquarters who is responsible for monitoring the power delivery to SECO’s over 200,000 members. SECO’s System Control Coordinators work shifts around-the-clock, 365 days a year directing line technicians to service calls throughout our 2,100-square mile territory. Melissa and her family (her husband Ken is also a SECO employee) are long-time residents of Marion County. They enjoy football, boating and spearfishing. During Melissa’s 25-year SECO career, she has worked as a Member Services Representative, Meter Reader, Line Technician and a System Control Coordinator. “At SECO, we are a tight-knit group, whether at work or in the communities we serve. My family was thrilled when SECO hired me, and it is a blessing to work at SECO.”
MATTHEW DIXON – SERVICE TECHNICIAN
LENGTH OF SERVICE – 12 YEARS
“I enjoy helping people.”
SECO Champion Matthew Dixon is a Service Technician who responds to service calls and works to restore members’ power safely. Matthew’s work area covers Bushnell, Inverness, Lady Lake, The Villages and Webster. Originally from Dallas (yes, he’s a Cowboys fan), he moved to Central Florida in 1991 and joined the SECO team in 2006. Matthew, his wife, five children and 15 grandchildren attend church together where he plays bass guitar. Matthew credits his enjoyment of helping people as the reason he became a SECO Line Technician. He is prepared to respond to outage calls day or night and the appreciation he receives from members keeps him going. Watch Matthew’s video on our YouTube Channel to learn how he got the nickname “Hollywood.”
SAFE DECORATING
‘TIS THE SEASON to spread goodwill and cheer while impressing your neighbors with your Christmas creativity.
For your safety, SECO prohibits Christmas décor or other attachments on its poles or decorative lights. Never place a ladder against a SECO area light or pole – you can damage the pole or suffer an electric shock.
Please share your Christmas joy with your neighbors, but refrain from including SECO facilities in your festive design. Decorate safely this season – Merry Christmas!
HOLIDAY ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The holidays are just around the corner which means extra baking and cooking, along with holiday decorations. Don’t forget about energy efficiency while you are celebrating your families’ holiday traditions.
When baking, resist opening the oven door. Each time the door opens, the oven’s temperature can drop as much as 25 degrees which can add cooking time. Another tip – if a recipe calls for baking time over one hour – don’t waste the time and energy it takes to preheat the oven.
Most of us love bright, twinkling holiday lights – be sure to choose LEDs. These are more efficient, last longer and are safer than older incandescent lights. LEDs use less energy and produce less heat than standard incandescent lights.
Here’s to a happy, healthy, energy-efficient holiday season!
Join the SECO crew in donating a new, unwrapped toy or two for Toys for Tots at a Member Service Center in Eustis, Groveland, Inverness, Ocala or Sumterville. SECO will gather toys through the first week of December.
As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO is dedicated to the communities it serves. Our employees are ever-so-generous in their support of Toys for Tots and other community endeavors for which they volunteer their personal time. Thousands of children will wake up to presents under the tree on Christmas morning thanks to our employees’ and members’ giving spirit.
SECO Energy is a company of Champions. Our employees are local people who work hard and raise families in the communities SECO serves. When you call, email or visit a SECO location with a question or a service need, the employees who respond are right here in Central Florida.
The Operations employees who come running – braving the wind, rain and lightning to restore power – are viewed as everyday superheroes when storms blow through or equipment fails. Our Champions live and work all across our service area for the quickest response time. Nights, weekends and holidays are regular business hours for these Champions who are committed to the highest quality, most reliable electric service possible.
Serving your energy needs is personal for us, so we want you to get to know our employees. Whether you run into them in the grocery store, at a ball game or restoring service after an outage, I can assure you that SECO is a company of dedicated employees and upstanding citizens committed to the members we serve.
Meet our first two SECO Energy Champions – Paul Byrd and Aaron Vaughn. Paul is a Service Technician who works in the central part of our service territory. Aaron is a Crew Supervisor who works the second shift and covers all areas of SECO’s service territory. Read more about these gentlemen on the next page, visit our website and click on the Champions banner to watch Paul and Aaron’s videos as our very first featured Champions.
Watch for next month’s SECO News, engage on our social media platforms or on SECO’s homepage as we unveil a few more SECO Energy Champions every month. Each and every SECO employee works to provide you with affordable, reliable electric service. Our employees are the brightest and best in our industry, and I hope you enjoy learning more about them.
Together, we are “StormReady.” It is our privilege to serve your family’s energy needs.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
Meet two SECO Champions – Aaron and Paul – two examples of our 400+ SECO Champion employees. Aaron and Paul are dedicated to providing exceptional service to our members, co-workers and communities.
AARON VAUGHN – TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION SERVICE SUPERVISOR
LENGTH OF SERVICE – 6 YEARS
“I love my job.”
Aaron Vaughn is a SECO Champion who supervises SECO’s two-man rapid response line crews who are on-call and ready to dispatch 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Aaron and his family have lived in Central Florida for ten years, and during leisure time they enjoy local church events, fishing, gardening and raising animals in Citrus County. During storm season, SECO crews – led by supervisors like Aaron – are staged throughout our service territory so they can respond quickly when lightning takes out a transformer, a tree falls on a line or winds bring down a pole. Aaron wants members to rest assured that “SECO has crews available at all times to restore power outages whether it’s during a weekend, at midnight or a holiday – SECO is here for you.”
SECO Champion Paul Byrd is a Service Technician who is prepared to restore power any time – day or night. A lifelong resident of Lake County, Paul creates amazing works of art in his spare time, and he feels blessed to work for SECO while raising a wonderful family. In 2004, Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne blazed paths through Florida, and Paul remembers working 16-hour days for two weeks straight during each hurricane. He credits the challenge of three devastating storms as the reason he aspired to be a SECO Service Tech. Paul believes his commitment to keeping the lights on for SECO members has a positive impact on his own family and the community – recognizing teachers, firefighters and law enforcement officers who serve the needs of the community as a whole.
SECO CONTRIBUTES TO LOCAL PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS
SECO Energy’s 2018 back-to-school program has contributed $10,500 to local school districts in Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties. These four counties are home to over 200,000 homes and businesses across the SECO Energy service territory.
As your local not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO Energy believes in bolstering the communities we serve by contributing financial support to local schools, dedicated educators and students.
SECO Energy’s back-to-school program has contributed $1,000 for Citrus County school students through the Citrus County Education Foundation. As a local not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes its support bolsters the community and provides much needed financial assistance to dedicated educators.
The Citrus County Education Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation with a vision that educators are innovators. The Foundation relies on grassroots support and community involvement to combat diminishing public school budgets. The Foundation believes it must advocate and provide for children in public schools.
The Foundation has pledged to “Building Pathways to Literacy” by earmarking SECO’s $1,000 contribution for its First Library program. The program recognizes the need for lower income students to have access to reading materials at home. The program provides at risk students with books to create their own personal libraries at home. The goal is to increase the students’ chances of reading success by third grade.
The Citrus County Education Foundation also supports the Golden Citrus Scholars Awards that recognizes the best and brightest graduating seniors in the district, student scholarships and the annual “Stuff The Bus” event to provide school supplies to Citrus County students.
Additional supplemental programs in Citrus County supported by the Foundation include student art festivals, math field days, Citrus Regional Science Fairs, web-based learning programs, Marine Science Center Summer Camps, school-to-work and S.T.E.M. focused after-school programs, the WTI Electrician Certification Program and more.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “As a not-for-profit cooperative, SECO supports its members by participating in community endeavors that support education. We have deep roots in Citrus County and serve over 15,000 families and businesses in that county alone. Financially supporting education is an investment in future community leaders, members and possibly future employees. SECO is honored to provide $1,000 to the Citrus County Education Foundation to strengthen education in the community.”
“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our Community page to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.
SECO Energy has contributed $3,000 for Marion County school students through the Public Education Foundation of Marion County (PEF Marion). As a local not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes its contribution bolsters the community and provides much needed financial assistance to dedicated educators.
PEF Marion is a not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to financially and materially support Marion County Public Schools, its students and teachers. The Foundation is organized to assist students from as young as pre-Kindergarten to vocational and adult education programs.
The funds contributed to the Foundation can support programs such as the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition program that honors and rewards excellence in teaching; the Take Stock in Children initiative that provides deserving low-income young people/students the opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty through education; and Grants for Great Ideas that has awarded hundreds of grants to teachers and principals in support of teaching innovation – impacting more than 100,000 students.
SECO Energy’s $3,000 contribution can also benefit the Foundation’s Tools 4 Teaching program. Tools 4 Teaching accepts donations of unused office supplies from local businesses and puts them to good use in Marion County schools. Tools 4 Teaching allows teachers to shop for supplies for their classrooms – pencils, paper, art supplies and more – without spending their personal money. Tools 4 Teaching assists Coats 4 Kids during colder months – accepting donations of new or gently used winter coats for local children without a warm jacket.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “As a not-for-profit cooperative, SECO supports its members by participating in community endeavors that support education. We have deep roots in Marion County and serve over 58,000 families and businesses in that county alone. Financially supporting education is an investment in future community leaders, members and possibly future employees. SECO is honored to donate $3,000 to Marion County’s Public Education Foundation to strengthen education in the community.”
“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our Community page to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.
SECO Energy has contributed $3,000 for Sumter County school students through the Sumter County Schools Enhancement Foundation. As a local not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO believes its contribution bolsters the community and provides much needed financial assistance to dedicated educators.
Through its partnership with the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (CFEF), the Sumter County Schools Enhancement Foundation maximizes the individual and collective strength of Florida local education foundations to support local partners and schools. The CFEF builds partnerships between local education foundations and businesses that impact students in the classroom.
Collectively, CFEF member education foundations raise $63 million annually to fund initiatives that increase Florida’s students’ achievements. These investments fund programs not covered by tax dollars. Investments include student scholarships, mentoring and drop-out prevention strategies, teaching innovation and recognition programs, classroom grants, college readiness and access programs, literacy improvement strategies, technical/career education initiatives and targeted support for low-performing students and schools.
SECO Energy’s $3,000 contribution can also be used to support back-to-school activities, teachers’ luncheons, training sessions and classroom supplies. The donated funds are provided for the benefit of teachers and students in Sumter County schools.
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “As a not-for-profit cooperative, SECO supports its members by participating in community endeavors that support education. We have deep roots in Sumter County – our corporate headquarters is located in Sumterville and we serve over 62,000 families and businesses in this county alone. Financially supporting education is an investment in future community leaders, members and possibly future employees. SECO is honored to donate $3,000 to the Sumter County Schools Enhancement Foundation to strengthen education in the community.”
“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our Community page to learn more about SECO’s corporate citizenship and other community outreach initiatives.
SECO Energy was founded in 1938 as Sumter Electric Cooperative, Inc., a small not-for-profit rural electric utility serving a few hundred folks in the Webster area. Over the years, sound financial management, appropriate governance policies and economic growth in Central Florida have resulted in the cooperative doing business today as a fiscally sound SECO Energy with a membership of more than 205,000 residents and business owners across seven counties.
Cooperatives in Florida are legislated by Florida Statute Chapter 425. Not only is SECO Energy in full compliance with the Florida statute, the cooperative also adheres largely to Florida Public Service Commission guidelines developed for investor-owned utilities (although cooperatives are not technically required by statute to do so). SECO also files its rate tariffs for approval and emergency response plan outline annually with the PSC.
SECO Energy’s member-elected Board of Trustees are fairly compensated for their service and the cooperative’s election guidelines make it easy for an interested party’s name to appear on the ballot. A potential candidate simply notifies SECO in writing of intention to run. No signatures or nominations are necessary.
The potential Trustee candidate must reside in the District, cannot be closely related to another Trustee or employee and must meet very general eligibility requirements per the SECO Energy Bylaws. In fact, four of the nine current Trustees have been elected to the Board in the last eight years. The cooperative encourages election participation at District Meetings and holds an Annual Meeting as required by Florida Statute. In 2018, SECO Energy’s Annual Meeting drew a crowd of nearly 7,000.
Once elected, Trustees are compensated for each monthly Board of Trustee meeting. The amount covers meeting attendance and the study time needed to prepare for Board meetings. The compensation is standard for this region and for a Board responsible for governance and the financial oversight associated with a company of this size with $855 million in utility plant. SECO Energy is the third largest cooperative in Florida and the seventh largest in the nation.
SECO Energy Trustees are not provided with company-paid health, dental or vision insurance or pension/retirement benefits. Trustees are encouraged to participate in trainings and conferences to provide the education needed to govern and oversee the utility.
For trainings/conferences, transportation type and dates/time is limited to the most economical. Overstaying of training/conference dates at company expense is not permitted. The cooperative’s policies prohibit the coverage or reimbursement of spouse or family member travel or entertainment expenses if they accompany a Trustee to a conference or training.
Board meeting dates and times are published two months in advance in our monthly edition of SECO News which is mailed with billing statements and posted on social media and SECOEnergy.com. Members are welcome to attend any meeting in its entirety (with the exception of executive sessions) and can examine the minutes of any past board meeting. Board of Trustee compensation records are released publicly as required in the cooperative’s Form 990. The cooperative publishes an Annual Report as well. SECO Energy is an award-winning utility in customer satisfaction.
SECO Energy has retired Capital Credits regularly as a true not-for-profit electric cooperative should. Capital Credits are the accumulation of all prior year’s revenue after the co-op’s operating costs and expenses have been paid. These credits are allocated on a pro-rata basis to each SECO Energy member’s account as “Capital Credits” and represent a portion of the member’s patronage with the cooperative in the prior fiscal year.
During its September 2017 meeting, SECO’s Board of Trustees approved a record $5.4 million Capital Credits retirement to be returned (retired) to members. Since SECO Energy’s inception, the co-op has retired more than $57.8 million to current and former members. Capital Credits returns are made possible by the sound financial stewardship of SECO’s Board, leadership team and flock of dedicated, cost-conscious employees. The cooperative anticipates (with Board of Trustee approval, of course) another healthy Capital Credits retirement at year end 2018.
In this edition of Duncan’s Digest, I want to bring your attention to our newly released 2017 Annual Report which details the cooperative’s strong fiscal performance. Members who attended our March 24 Annual Meeting received a hard copy. It’s also available at SECOEnergy.com>Newsroom>Annual Report. Read it and then click over to Facebook to play Annual Report Trivia for a chance to win a $300 bill credit.
Find the answers to the trivia questions in the pages of the Annual Report related to our cooperative’s history, ASCI score, J.D. Power awards, the Board of Trustees and our robust financial performance. The trivia contest runs from March 26 through May 6.
To give you a head start, the excerpt below also appears on page 1 of the Annual Report. The first clue appears in the first paragraph. Answers to the other questions appear in other Annual Report pages.
SECO Energy’s beginning was humble.Prior to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1935 Rural Electric Act, also known as the REA, a home powered by electricity in rural Central Florida was only a dream. With low-interest loans from the REA, local farmers and ranchers formed Sumter Electric Cooperative, Inc. in 1938. A small group of original SECO employees started the utility from scratch, installing poles and stringing miles of electric line. On November 12, 1938, SECO turned on the lights to 400 rural homesteads in our service area. Before the close of 1938, additional homes in nearby areas were electrified. For these rural Floridians, quality of life changed dramatically.
Over the last 80 years, SECO has grown alongside the communities it serves. We’ve morphed from a small, rural utility to one of the fastest-growing cooperatives in the nation. SECO achieved a significant milestone in late 2017 when the cooperative energized its 200,000th meter. Today, SECO Energy is “200,000 Strong – 80 Years in the Making.”
Members without internet access can request a copy of the Annual Report and trivia questions mailed to you. Return the answers to SECO by May 6 for entry in the $300 bill credit drawing.
It is our privilege to serve as your energy provider. Thank you for your membership.
Sincerely,
Jim Duncan
Chief Executive Officer
HVAC Tune-up Time
HVAC EFFICIENCY INCREASES with a clean filter and annual service by a qualified technician. Your unit will operate more effectively and thus reduce your electric usage. If your technician suggests you need a new unit, you are welcome to contact SECO for a free second opinion before committing to the purchase.
One of our certified Energy Services Specialists will visit your home to inspect your unit and provide a written assessment. Schedule an appointment today by visiting SECOEnergy.com>Contact Us. Select “Request Energy Audit” and submit your contact information. We’ll be in touch within just a few days.
Safety Corner
Size Matters—Selecting a Generator
Thinking about installing a generator before Hurricane Season? Follow these important safety warnings:
A qualified electrical contractor must perform the installation of an emergency generator, disconnect
and transfer switchgear. This is not a DIY job.
Only an electrician is qualified to connect a generator to an electrical panel. You could be electrocuted and also endanger our field employees.
Always follow local, state and national fire and electric codes. Permits are required.
Once installed, always disconnect from your metered electric utility service before starting your backup generator. 951701
Never run an electric generator inside a building – even in a garage. It is a hazard and violates safety codes.
Store gasoline and diesel in approved containers out of the reach of children. Never fuel the generator while it is running.
Extinguish all flames and cigarettes when handling fuel.
Ensure proper ventilation and airflow around the generator.
Stage a fully charged, approved fire extinguisher near the generator.
Use extension cords free of exposed wires and frayed shielding.
Never remove or tamper with a generator’s safety devices.
Do not attempt to repair a generator. A qualified technician should perform repairs and service as needed.
Generator engine parts are very hot during operation. Severe burns may result. Keep children away at all times.
Generators are sold by power output measured in watts. Before purchasing, discuss your home’s size/watt needs with a knowledgeable retailer.
Hurricane Season begins on June 1. Get ready today!
On Thursday, February 8, members who attended the District Meeting voted to re-elect Jerry Hatfield to represent District 9 on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. Hatfield, a SECO member since 1971, was first elected to the Board in 2000 and currently serves in an Officer position as Vice President.
SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO members elect their fellow members to SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the Board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the members at large.
Members in District 9 gathered at Spring Creek Elementary in Paisley to elect a District 9 Trustee for a three-year term. In January, Hatfield and Mount Dora resident Dennis Armstrong expressed a willingness to represent the members of District 9, each submitting their letter of intent to run.
Hatfield stated, “Thank you District 9 members for again electing me to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees. I am grateful to be able to serve my community and fellow SECO members through my continued Board service. As a long-time Lake County resident, I am humbled by the confidence and trust bestowed upon me by SECO’s District 9 members.”
CEO Jim Duncan stated, “I congratulate Mr. Hatfield on his re-election and continued service to SECO members. Mr. Hatfield is a valuable member of SECO’s Board and a trusted member of his community. It is a pleasure to work with a Board that is member-focused and committed to the Cooperative’s success. I also extend my gratitude to our District 9 members who attended the meeting and participated in SECO’s democratic process.”
Duncan added, “I hope to see all of you at SECO’s Annual Meeting of the Membership in March. Enjoy breakfast and snacks, browse energy efficiency displays at the Energy Showcase and stay through the business meeting for the door prize drawing. This year, door prizes include a refurbished 2009 Chevy Colorado, an electric golf cart, cash and more.”
SECO members are invited to the 80th Annual Meeting of the Membership on Saturday, March 24. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., and the business meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. The meeting is located across the street from the corporate headquarters at 293 S. Highway 301 in Sumterville. Members who RSVP online and attend the meeting will be entered in a drawing for a $300 electric bill credit.
View photos and brief bios of the Trustees along with an interactive District map. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.
