Log in | Register |
StormCenter logo

Archive

Tag: SECO Energy Bylaws

SECO News, March 2021

 

Duncan’s Digest – Retirement Announcement and 2021 “Just Business” Annual Meeting

 

Dear Members,

 

After 42 years at SECO Energy, I have formally announced my plan to retire as CEO in January 2022. I began my career with SECO in 1979 as the Director of Accounting and Finance. At that time, the cooperative was known as Sumter Electric Cooperative, and the meter count was just 37,000.

May 2018 SECO News Duncan's Digest
Growth in Central Florida took off, and when I was promoted to CEO in 1990, the meter count had almost doubled to 66,000 homes and businesses. We reached the 100,000-meter count milestone in 1999 and the 200,000-meter count milestone in 2017.

 

Without question, much has changed over my three decades as CEO. We have dramatically improved members’ service reliability through increased investments in our electric infrastructure and a strengthened vegetation management program. At the end of 2020, our meter count reached 216,477. Our total investment in our electric facilities is approaching the $1 billion mark at $955.6 million.

 

We’ve celebrated customer satisfaction wins in recent years, too. Some of my proudest moments as CEO came when SECO Energy won coveted J.D. Power awards in 2015, 2016 and 2017 when our satisfaction scores topped all utilities in the nation. In 2020, we upheld our position as an American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) frontrunner in Florida and nationally with a score of 91.

 

Most important, I am honored to work with the best employees in the energy industry. SECO employees are world-class representatives of the cooperative purpose who provide exceptional customer service to our members. When I retire, it’s the great employees of this company I will miss the most.

 

My wife Connie and I have been married for 53 years. We are looking forward to spending more time traveling, scuba diving and relaxing on the water. We’re excited to spend more of our free time with our two sons and three grandchildren as well. Though the timing of my retirement was an emotional and difficult decision, I know it is the right time to take the next steps to focus on fun and family.

 

I hope you will tune in to watch our 83rd Annual Meeting’s live virtual webcast on Thursday, March 25, at 4:30 p.m. This will be my final address to the membership. The Meeting this year is a no-frills, virtual Annual Business Meeting that is themed “Just Business.” In our continued COVID-cautious environment, we encourage you to watch our virtual webcast from the comfort and safety of your home. The link to the live webcast will be posted on our homepage, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

 

Though we are not hosting the big onsite party, we have 100 Annual Meeting prizes up for grabs. Members who vote on Annual Meeting business (a Bylaws Revision and last year’s minutes) are eligible to win a prize. The grand prizes are a 2011 refurbished GMC Canyon 4×4 extended cab truck, a golf cart and four $1,000 cash prizes. Other prizes include air fryers, tool sets, Ring doorbells, NEST thermostats, SECO bill credits and more. All members who vote on the Bylaws Revision and the 2020 Annual Meeting Minutes are eligible to win. Learn more about Annual Meeting voting and review the list of prizes on pages four and five.

 

I know the next ten months will fly by quickly, and I want to emphasize how thankful I am for the privilege of working for this great organization for 42 years.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

SECO News March 2021 Advice From The Old Farmer's Almanac

Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

 

Ripe, refreshing summer fruits and vegetables are planted in spring gardens. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Florida falls in Area 1 based on the potential frost and cold period. There is still plenty of time to get seeds in the ground. Plant beans, sweet corn, muskmelons, squashes and watermelons beginning March 15. Be sure to plant cucumbers, eggplant, leeks and sweet potatoes by mid-April. If you like okra, wait until April 15 to plant. Above-ground crops should be planted March 21 – 23 or April 18 – 19. The best days for planting below-ground crops are March 3 – 4 and 30 – 31 and April 8 – 9.

 

 

SECO News March 2021 Florida Special Needs Registry

Florida Special Needs Registry

 

The Florida Division of Emergency Management has developed the Florida Special Needs Registry. Before Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, if you or a family member has a special need, add your name to the registry.

 

The Florida Special Needs Registry allows residents with special needs to subscribe to their county’s emergency management agency to receive assistance and alerts during a disaster. The statewide registry provides first responders with valuable information to prepare for disasters or other emergencies.

 

The Special Needs Registry may help save your life. Visit the Florida Disaster website or snr.FLhealthresponse.com to locate your county and register.

 

If someone in your home depends on life-sustaining medical equipment that operates on electricity, make arrangements in advance for an emergency alternative power source. If you are considering installing a generator, go to our Safety page to view our video on generators.

 

 

SECO News October 2020 EV Charger Winner!

EV Charger Winner

 

Fred Zesewitz from Eustis is the February 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.

 

 

SECO News March 2021 "Just Business" 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting

 

“Just Business” 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting

 

Tune in virtually for SECO Energy’s 2021 Annual “Just Business” Meeting on Thursday, March 25. The Annual Business Meeting online webcast begins at 4:30 p.m. To access, click on the 2021 Virtual Annual Just Business Meeting banner at SECOEnergy.com. Links to the webcast will also be published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

Given the continuing COVID-cautious environment, we do not encourage in-person attendance and are unable to accommodate food service, shuttle service, onsite prize distribution and other activities of previous years. The good news is that members do not have to attend the meeting to vote and be entered in the prize drawing.

 

Ways to Vote

 

To vote electronically, visit our homepage and click on the VOTE banner. You can also text “VOTE” to (352) 320-2200 and follow the link provided.

 

To vote by mail, complete the ballot included in the Official Annual Meeting Notice enclosed in your February or March billing statement. Enclose with your electric bill payment or mail completed ballot to: SECO Energy, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585 by Tuesday, March 23 at 5:00 p.m.

 

To vote by phone, reach out to Member Services at (352) 793-3801 during regular business hours and an agent will assist you in casting your vote.

 

To vote in person, visit one of our five Member Service Centers to view a paper copy of the Bylaws Revision and last year’s minutes. We’ll help you cast your vote when you’re ready.

 

View the full list of 100 Annual Meeting prizes up for grabs. All members who vote on 2021 Annual Meeting business are eligible to win.

 

 

SECO News March 2021 Go Green And Win

 

Go Green and Win

 

Go Green in 2021 to be eligible to win a prize. Help SECO reduce billing and paper costs and you could win a $200 bill credit, a NEST thermostat or an Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa. We’ll draw three winners each month whose account meets the three account eligibility criteria:

 

. registered through SmartHub

 

. opted out of paper billing statements

 

. enrolled in automatic bank draft

 

If you have more than one account that meets the three criteria, each account is eligible to be drawn as a winner.

 

You can enroll in bank draft and select paperless billing through SmartHub. Members who aren’t as tech savvy or do not have a smartphone or tablet can reach out to Member Services by phone for enrollment assistance.

 

We’ll choose three winners each month through 2021. GOOD LUCK!

 

 

SECO News February 2021 Winners' Circle

 

Winners’ Circle

 

Have you engaged with our virtual assistant Electra who can answer thousands of calls without missing a beat? Ask Electra for assistance instead of waiting to speak with a representative. Each week, we’ll draw one winner who will receive a $25 gift card. Winners are drawn from all members who called and successfully took care of business with Electra.

 

JANUARY’S WINNERS ARE:

 

Alma Cook from Lake Panasoffkee

 

Ron Lyle from Ocala

 

Raymond Clark from Deland

 

Susan Scarano from Floral City

 

Congratulations to our three February winners in our Go Green and Win: Paperless Billing and Bank Draft member incentive.

 

Linda Lauletta from Mascotte is the winner of a $200 SECO Energy bill credit.

 

Jerry Johnson from Ocala is the winner of a NEST thermostat.

 

Nancy Marty from Leesburg is the winner of an Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa.

 

Read Winners’ Circle next month for more winners. Congratulations, winners!

 

 

SECO News March 2021 Scholarship Reminder

 

Scholarship Reminder

 

Attention high school seniors interested in a career in the energy industry, SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees has approved $36,000 in scholarship funds for 12 awardees to receive $3,000 each. Completed applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 26.

 

Student Eligibility Requirements:

 

• reside in a home served by SECO Energy

 

• interested in a career in the energy industry

 

• graduating in the current school year (2021)

 

• enrolled full-time in an accredited Florida college, university, vocational/technical school by the end of 2021

 

• pursuing a degree or certification in technology, engineering, math or business

 

An independent panel of educators from SECO’s service area evaluates all applications and selects each year’s winners. Print an application by visiting our Scholarships page or pick one up from a school guidance counselor.

 

Read the full March 2021 SECO News online.

SECO News, May 2019

DUNCAN’S DIGEST

 

Dear Members,

 

Thank you for attending our 81st Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 23. The perfect spring weather and the potential to win really great prizes attracted a crowd of almost 5,000 members, guests, VIPs and employees.

May 2018 SECO News Duncan's Digest

 

Attendees were well-fed. We served breakfast biscuits, cookies, doughnuts, coffee and soft drinks. Registered members received a special SECO gift (a combination LED nightlight USB charger), an LED from our wholesale power provider Seminole Electric, a copy of the 2018 Annual Report and additional giveaways.

 

To prepare for this year’s crowd, we added seating areas, large screens and speakers – providing seating for about 6,000 people. We left enough room under the pavilion for members to dance to the music performed by crowd-favorite Margo Rochelle & Rodeo Drive Band.

 

Members who toured the Energy Showcase browsed energy-efficiency displays, visited with our vendors, asked questions of employees and picked up more giveaways.

 

Board President and District 9 Trustee Jerry Hatfield delivered the President’s Report. He encouraged members to enroll in SECO’s community outreach program called Pennies from Heaven. The program rounds up your monthly bill to the nearest dollar and uses those pennies to fund local, worthwhile causes or aid members in need. If all members enrolled, the donated pennies will total over a million dollars a year to help people in the communities we serve. Enroll online, visit Pennies from Heaven.

 

Speaking of community, we tried something new this year. SECO partnered with local United Way agencies to hold a food drive at the Annual Meeting. You and our employees responded generously by donating 5,000 pounds of food. Read more on page 4 and visit our YouTube channel to watch the “Feeding the Cooperative Spirit” video.

 

Members voted affirmatively on a Board-recommended Articles of Incorporation amendment and a related Bylaws revision. These changes authorize SECO’s Board of Trustees to permit electronic or by mail voting for the purpose of conducting Annual Meeting business and meeting the quorum requirement.

 

Once official business was wrapped up, the prize drawings began. U.S. Congressman Daniel Webster who serves Florida’s 11th District dropped by to draw the grand-prize-winning tickets:

 

Robert Morrill of The Villages won the golf cart; Arnold A. Gomke of Tavares took home the 2009 Ford SuperCab 4×4; and $1,500 went to Robert James of Ocklawaha.

 

If you were unable to attend, visit SECO’s YouTube channel to view the Annual Meeting video recap.

 

Thank you for your membership. It is our privilege to serve as your energy provider.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jim Duncan

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Car Versus Pole - It's Gonna Hurt May 2019 SECO News

CAR VERSUS POLE – IT’S GONNA HURT

 

According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 40,000 people lost their lives to car crashes in 2018. About 4.5 million people were seriously injured in crashes last year. Florida along with several other states saw a 5.8% spike in fatalities, according to Council estimates.

 

The Council concludes that driver behavior is contributing to the numbers staying stubbornly high. From a SECO perspective, car versus pole accidents happen about twice a week on average. Drivers misjudge curves, swerve to avoid animals and other cars, are distracted by passengers/texting, or may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Any of these circumstances can lead to a face-to-face contact with a firmly planted utility pole – and it’s gonna hurt.

 

SECO posts photos like these on our social media channels for a variety of reasons. If the accident causes an outage, we want to explain the reason for the service interruption. As the saying goes: A picture is worth a thousand words. We also feel the photos send a cautionary message about distracted driving (though we don’t publish accident photos involving death or serious injury).

 

In our service area, car versus pole accidents caused 81 outages in 2018 affecting 37,550 members’ service. In terms of volume of members interrupted, in 2018, car versus pole events were the second largest cause of outages.

 

Property damage reimbursement is pursued through our insurance carrier but these incidents still cost the company. Member satisfaction suffers as a result of extended outage duration when damage is extensive. Cooperation with law enforcement and emergency services is the highest priority at these crash scenes.

 

Members sometimes ask why all electric infrastructure can’t be underground. That decision is usually made by a developer during the design phase of new construction. The cost for underground services is substantially higher than overhead – up to six times more. It’s also important to remember that outages affecting underground services can be longer in duration because the repairs are more difficult to access.

 

DON’T BECOME A STATISTIC. Watch out for those big, bad utility poles. For more examples of car versus pole carnage featured in our latest video, visit our home page and click on the Car versus Pole banner.

 

2018 Annual Report Trivia May 2019 SECO News

ANNUAL REPORT TRIVIA

 

If you missed this year’s Annual Meeting or didn’t win a door prize, you have another chance to win. Visit our Facebook page to play 2018 Annual Report trivia by answering questions on our status update. Three prizes are up for grabs:

 

Apple 32 GB iPad
Wi-Fi programmable thermostat
$200 SECO electric bill credit

 

How do you play? Answer these five questions on Facebook:

 

1. What is SECO Energy’s 2018 ACSI score?
2. How many members were served by SECO Energy at year-end 2018?
3. How many Trustee Districts make up the SECO Energy Board?
4. Per the Balance Sheet, what is the 2018 value of SECO’s Total Electric Plant?
5. What is the name of SECO Energy’s online outage map and reporting platform?

 

To find the answers, browse our 2018 Annual Report. Members without internet access can request a copy of the Annual Report and trivia questions mailed. Return your answers by mail or play online before June 15th. Winners notified by June 21st. Good luck!

 

2019 Annual Meeting Food Drive Results May 2019 SECO News

FOOD DRIVE RESULTS

 

This year’s Annual Meeting theme – “Feeding the Cooperative Spirit” – was also a mission. Adhering to the seventh cooperative principle of Concern for Community, SECO partnered with United Way to organize a food drive to restock local food pantries.

 

Hundreds of members and SECO employees donated 5,000 pounds of non-perishable food items. The foods were sorted and delivered to 14 food pantries serving nearby communities.

 

• Brother’s Keeper
• Salvation Army of Marion County
• Interfaith Emergency Services
• St. Theresa’s Social Services
• Community of Gratitude
• Salvation Army of Lake County
• Leesburg Food Bank
• Faith Neighborhood Center, Inc.
• Lake Cares
• Salvation Army of Sumter County
• Wildwood Food Pantry
• Hope Ministries Center, Inc.
• Daystar Life Center, Inc.
• Community Food Bank Citrus County

 

Thank you all for your gracious donations!

 

Read the full May 2019 SECO News online.

SECO Energy Trustee Richard Belles Resigns

SECO Energy announced today that District 3 Trustee Richard Belles has resigned from the Board of Trustees. Belles was elected initially in 2013 and has been a SECO Energy member since 2001.

 

Per the SECO Energy Bylaws, the cooperative will hold a special District 3 Meeting in the near future to elect a new Trustee. District 3 members will be invited to the special meeting and provided with instructions about Trustee candidacy and the election via a District Notice letter.

 

SECO Energy is the third largest cooperative in the state and the seventh largest in the nation. At the end of 2018, the not-for-profit cooperative was delivering power to 205,887 service locations.

 

The reliability of SECO’s $878.7 million electric system remains stellar. In 2018, the cooperative invested $3.3 million per month to extend facilities to new members and improve reliability to existing members. The cooperative’s 2018 ACSI (American Customer Satisfaction Index) score rose to 89.

SECO Energy Board Compensation Statement

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.