SECO News May 2024

During our 2024 Annual Meeting, I gave update on SECO Energy’s system reliability, reviewing three key metrics that affirm our commitment to providing reliable electric service to almost half a million consumers:

The System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI)
The System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI)
The Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI)

In 2023, SECO’s SAIDI measurement, or average time a consumer was without power, averaged only 64 minutes or just over an hour. To compare, the national average based on 2022 data for utilities, was five and a half hours.

SAIFI indicates the frequency of power interruptions per year. SECO’s average frequency dipped below one for the first time in our 85-year history. In practical terms, on average, SECO members experienced only one power outage. Nationally, compared to 2022 figures, consumers experienced an average of 1.43 interruptions annually.

CAIDI evaluates the duration it takes our talented and dedicated SECO crews to restore power following an outage notification. In 2023, SECO’s restoration time was 69 minutes, slightly over an hour. This is quite remarkable, considering the national average from 2022 was nearly four hours.

These metrics place SECO in the “Best in Class” category for reliability, a position we’ve upheld for years.

The foundation of these statistics lies in continuous maintenance and ongoing investments in our electric infrastructure. Our engineering and operations team adheres to a meticulous maintenance and inspection regimen covering substations, poles, and overhead and underground equipment.

Our proactive approach to vegetation management, which involves trimming trees along hundreds of miles of power lines and removing potential hazards, further safeguards our system against outages.

While these reliability measurements are impressive, our focus remains on improving our performance. Last year, we were spared from severe damage during hurricane season. As we continue into 2024, we will plan and act decisively in response to severe weather events to ensure our reliability remains intact and you, our members, are satisfied.

Atlantic hurricane season is just around the corner, beginning on June 1. SECO Energy is StormReady and prepared for hurricanes, tropical storms, lightning, or the occasional outages experienced during our rainy summer. We ask you, too, to prepare for hurricane season, have a plan in place for your family, stock up early on hurricane supplies, and for those with a medical need for electricity, plan to have a backup power source or to seek shelter during a storm.

Best regards,

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

SECO Energy believes in demonstrating our commitment to education and empowering the next wave of professionals in the energy sector. In fact, Education, Training, and Information is one of the Seven Cooperative Principles that SECO Energy holds dear as a not-for-profit cooperative.

Lake-Sumter State College, located just around the corner from our Sumterville headquarters, is one of Florida’s leading colleges that trains students who are interested in a future energy career. The College desperately needed new wooden utility poles for firsthand student training exercises.

SECO Energy stepped up in a big way by donating utility poles to the College. This is a game-changer for students who will be our future lineworkers of tomorrow. Through SECO’s pole donation, students participate in hands-on learning setting up, climbing, and replacing utility poles —skills crucial for success in the energy field. This opportunity bridges classroom learning and real-world application, preparing students for the future in a tangible way.

Read on to learn how you can have a hand in educating future Florida lineworkers by purchasing a “Thank a Lineman” license plate today. Enjoy the photos of students in action, getting a head start on their future careers, thanks to the donation of utility poles from SECO Energy to Lake- Sumter State College.

Over the years, many members have asked how to show appreciation to SECO Energy lineworkers and utility personnel who tirelessly restore power after natural disasters. One impactful way is ordering a “Thank a Lineman” license plate. This initiative, which gained approval from the Florida Legislature in 2020 after Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 1135 into law, allows members to express their gratitude and support to all the thousands of Florida lineworkers and utility personnel.

Ordering this license plate is more than a gesture of thanks; it directly contributes to a significant cause. The proceeds assist a key recruitment partner for SECO Energy, supporting the next generation of utility workforce. Specifically, $25 from each sale funds scholarships for students enrolling in Electric Utility programs at Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC). According to LSSC’s website (www.lssc.edu), the college is ranked nationally among the top 150 Community Colleges. This opportunity uniquely honors lineworkers while investing in the education and future of those entering the utility workforce in Central Florida.

To reserve your plate today, visit www.ThankALineWorker.com or contact your local county tax collector’s office. Purchase avenues vary from county to county.

The actual “Thank a Lineman” license plates will be available once the pre-sale threshold is met.

EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2024, SECO Energy will implement several miscellaneous and lighting schedule fee adjustments detailed in the Cooperative’s Rate Tariff.

SECO Energy operates as a not-for-profit cooperative, structuring rates to cover operational costs rather than generate profits. Many of our posted miscellaneous fees have remained unchanged for over a decade. While we understand that any fee adjustment could affect our members, the miscellaneous fees added or changed will impact a small population and are designed to cover increased labor and material costs for specific services only.

TO REVIEW THE RATE TARIFF, visit SECOEnergy.com >Your Co-op > Rate Tariff. These adjustments are necessary to maintain the reliability and sustainability of service.

SECO Energy’s payment address for check payment processing is changing as of June 1, 2024.

The new payment address is:

SECO Energy

P.O. Box 70997

Charlotte, NC 28272-0997

Instead of writing a monthly check, consider enrolling in bank draft. With bank draft, your payment will draft on the due date. Bank draft will alleviate the worry of a missed payment, or late fee. Bank draft is the least expensive payment option. The Cooperative currently absorbs the convenience fees charged to SECO when a member pays using a credit or debit card. To enroll in bank draft, contact Member Services at CustomerService@SECOEnergy.com or enroll through SmartHub.

Read the full May 2024 SECO News.

SECO News April 2024

Thank you to all who tuned in to our 2024 Annual Meeting and participated in your cooperative’s governance process! If you were unable to tune in live, watch the Annual Meeting video on SECOEnergy.com to see the list of 101 prize winners. The video is also available on YouTube and Facebook.

17,209 members voted on Annual Meeting business. Both the revisions to SECO Energy’s Bylaws pertaining to District Meetings and Trustee qualifications and the 2023 Annual Meeting Minutes were approved by the membership.

During the meeting, Board of Trustees President Gerald Anderson and I provided an update on SECO Energy’s successful 2023, specifically celebrating our 85th anniversary as an electric cooperative. This significant milestone represents decades of service, innovation, and community involvement that originated from a collective effort of rural households in 1938. Our journey has brought electricity to over 240,000 members and employment opportunities to Central Florida making 2023 a truly remarkable achievement.

In response to growth and the evolving energy landscape, SECO Energy introduced a new Strategy Map at the start of 2023. Our Mission steadfastly remains committed to providing reliable and innovative energy services and our Vision is to lead the industry in member satisfaction and engagement while becoming the preferred employer in our region. This strategic approach enables the Cooperative to focus on our core business, navigate industry changes and rising costs, operate more efficiently, enhance member engagement, and overcome labor and supply chain shortages.

In 2022, the SECO Energy Board of Trustees approved a multi-million-dollar investment in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) with plans to implement the technology across our service area. AMI is one of the most innovative services investments we can provide that will reach practically every member.

Reducing labor and contractor costs, identifying service anomalies, and almost instantaneous power outage detection make AMI a win for members and the Cooperative.

AMI allows us to connect and engage directly with you through the system’s ability to provide real insight into your home’s energy use. This technology is the first step for SECO to open the door to new ideas and innovations. Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems, or DERMS, will pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure. Soon, you will be able to enroll your smart devices, such as your thermostat, water heater, Wi-Fi-connected whole home generator, batteries, and electric vehicle, to connect with our DERMS provider.

We plan to incentivize members who take advantage of this newer technology that will help us consume less energy when demand is high. Watch for an announcement of the program launch in an upcoming edition of SECO News.

Best regards,

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

If you missed this year’s Annual Meeting or didn’t win a prize, don’t worry – there’s a second chance to win. Simply head over to www.Facebook.com/SECOEnergy and play 2024 Annual Meeting trivia.

HERE ARE THE TEN PRIZES UP FOR GRABS:

• Two (2) $250 SECO Energy bill credits

• Three (3) $100 Amazon gift cards

• Five (5) $50 SECO Energy bill credits

HOW DO YOU PLAY? On SECO Energy’s 2024 Annual Meeting trivia Facebook post, answer these five questions in the comments section:

1. What anniversary milestone did SECO Energy commemorate in 2023?

2. What was SECO Energy’s 2023 ACSI score?

3. How many Trustee Districts make up the SECO Energy Board?

4. What was the total number of members served by SECO Energy by the end of 2023?

5. What does AMI stand for?

NEED SOME HELP FINDING THE ANSWERS? No problem! Visit SECOEnergy.com > Your Co-op > Annual Member Meeting and watch the recorded virtual meeting. You can submit your answers by mail to SECO Energy, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585, or play online. Make sure to submit your answers before June 14th. Winners will be notified by June 21st. GOOD LUCK!

All members who voted on 2024 Annual Meeting business were eligible to win 1 of 101 prizes. To check and see if you’re one of the lucky winners, head over to SECOEnergy.com > Your Co-Op > Annual Member Meeting.

In case you missed out on the live feed of the Annual Meeting, you can watch the video posted on our website and YouTube channel. Don’t miss the chance to catch up on the latest updates and to find out if you’re among the fortunate prize recipients!

SECO Energy has been named a 2024 Tree Line USA Utility by the Arbor Day Foundation for 17 years in a row. Tree Line USA recognizes public and private utilities that help to preserve and enhance America’s urban forests. Nationally, Tree Line USA fosters the coexistence of reliable and safely delivered electricity with communities that maintain healthy trees.

To earn the Tree Line USA designation, SECO Energy meets five program standards: quality tree care, providing yearly worker training in best tree care practices, sponsoring a tree planting and education program, maintaining a tree-based energy conservation program, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration. Celebrate Arbor Day on Friday, April 26, by planting a tree. Be sure to call 811 before you dig and plant the tree away from overhead power lines.

SECO’s Surge MitiGator™ protection program takes the bite out of damaging spikes and surges, and you can too! Enroll in the Surge MitiGator™ program by June 30, 2024, for a chance to win one of three portable generators. Members in a current lease or have a previously purchased Surge MitiGator™ are automatically entered to win.

Scan the QR code or go to SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Surge MitiGator™ and complete the web form to get started. We’ll pick a winner in April, May, and June.

The Surge MitiGator™ program provides a meter-based arrestor that acts as the first line of defense to block electrical disturbances from entering through the electric line before they damage appliances and lead to financial loss. Surges are often caused by lightning, vehicle accidents involving SECO Energy’s infrastructure, small animals, fallen trees, and other unforeseeable events.

Lease the Surge MitiGator™ for a monthly fee* of only $5.95 or purchase the protection for $349. Both options include a 15-year manufacturer warranty.

SECO Energy recommends installing point-of-use devices to provide additional protection for sensitive appliances inside the home. These can be purchased at most major home improvement stores.

*Plus tax and applicable installation fees.

April is National Safe Digging Month, which serves as an important reminder to always know what lies beneath before breaking ground on any outside projects requiring digging.

It’s alarming to note that every year, millions of dollars in property damage, personal injury, and even fatalities occur due to accidental digging into buried utility lines. Whether you’re planning to install a fence, plant a tree, or embark on a construction project, it’s crucial to take proactive steps to know what’s below to avoid potential hazards underground before digging.

HERE’S HOW THE PROCESS WORKS:

1. Plan Your Project. Gather specific information about your digging project, such as street address, type of project, and timeline.

2. Call 811 or Submit a Request Online at Sunshine811.com. It’s free and easy. You’ll receive a ticket number and a list of public utility companies that will be notified of your intent to dig.

3. Wait Two Full Business Days. Affected public utilities will be notified of your intent to dig and will dispatch someone to the approximate location of these underground facilities on your property.

4. Confirm Utility Responses and Marks. Before breaking ground, confirm that all utilities have responded to your request and marked the appropriate locations.

5. Dig Carefully. If digging within 24 inches from the outer edge of each marked facility can’t be avoided, consider moving your project location.

Ensuring your safety and the integrity of SECO Energy’s infrastructure remains the utmost priority. By following these steps and calling 811 before digging, you not only safeguard yourself but our entire community.

Let’s use this month as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to prioritizing safety and ensuring that every digging project is approached with caution and foresight. Together, we can prevent accidents, protect infrastructure, and promote a safer environment for all.

Read the full April 2024 SECO News.

SECO News July 2022

Dear Members,

SECO Energy continues to deal with supply chain constraints due to the pandemic aftermath. Utilities across the state and the nation are experiencing shortages of raw materials, labor shortages, shipping delays and increased demand for utility products. We are challenged to procure transformers, PVC pipe, meter boxes and any equipment that relies on a microchip. This shift changes our business model to operating around the available materials. In fact, utilities across the state and the nation are feeling the strain of the supply chain issue. Learn more from the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association in its recent statement.

These constraints also result in increased cost of inventory and price escalation due to runaway inflation – which is at a 40-year high. In May, the price of natural gas hit a decade high $9 per million BTUs (British thermal units) and this significantly affects the cost of power SECO delivers to you from our wholesale provider, Seminole Electric Cooperative. Given the domestic and global events causing these market trends to continue, SECO must prepare to meet our business targets and member requests in an environment today that is extremely challenging.

We anticipate the continuation of cost increases and supply chain interruptions. Ultimately, these factors will result in our members paying more for their energy needs – just as we at SECO find ourselves paying more for the materials we buy to construct new services and maintain existing infrastructure.

Roughly 70 cents of every dollar SECO spends is to purchase power from Seminole. Members who read SECO News regularly and review their electric bill each month have seen a line item referred to as the PCA – or Power Cost Adjustment. This calculation allows SECO to adjust for the rise or fall of fuel costs in real time without formally adjusting the actual rate.

This is a common utility practice that prevents the over or under collection of funds from our members. The PCA factor was changed in April bringing our cost per thousand kilowatt hours from $121.00 to $128.05. Unfortunately, projections from Seminole require us to make yet another adjustment to the PCA – sooner rather than later.

The fuel cost adjustment was approved by the Board and takes effect on July 1 with an increase to $137.60 per thousand kilowatt hours consumed at the residential level. Know that utilities across the state and the nation for that matter are all in the same boat and are making fuel cost adjustments and raising rates.

Notwithstanding all of this, SECO will strive, as we always do, to minimize such impact on our members by keeping our rates as affordable as possible and making sure our rates remain competitive locally, regionally and nationally.

In a June report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), it forecasts the U.S. residential electricity price will average 14.6 cents/kWh between June and August 2022. SECO’s residential cost per kWh remains well below that and we’re hopeful we can hold that line through the remainder of the summer when members consume the most energy.

I realize that I’ve written to you largely about costs this month, but I want to close with the topic of reliability. Surveys show that the reliability of electric service is the most important driver of member satisfaction. Despite our collective current cost crunch, we continue to invest in expanding and maintaining our electric facilities throughout the entire service territory. With hurricane season upon us, I encourage you to view our System Improvement Map at SECOEnergy.com for Expansion and Reliability Projects to see where contractors and SECO Energy crews are working to enhance your experience as a SECO Energy member.

Sincerely,

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

Advice From The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Summer Fishing Days

Cast a line, the fishing’s fine! The best fishing time is when fish are most active just after sunup and as the sun is going down and for an hour after. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, anglers should fish during the full moon period when tides are higher than average. Also, one hour before and one hour after the high tides in your favorite fishing spot is an ideal time. Another indication of a good fishing day is when the breeze comes from the west, and the water is still or only slightly rippled. Fishing with family or friends, or enjoying quiet time alone makes for a great day!

The best fishing days are between the new and full moon according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. This summer, drop your line between July 1 – 13, July 28 – August 11 and August 27 – September 10. Read Florida Fauna & Flora this month to learn about red snapper.

Summer Energy Efficiency Savings

The long, hot days of summer are here. The EIA calculates the highest amount of electricity consumed in the U.S. is attributed to HVAC use. For Floridians, HVAC use is a longer span (typically early spring to late fall) than in other parts of the country and runs more frequently. It is likely the highest energy user in your home.

Energy efficiency and reducing energy costs are hot topics, especially in the summer months. SECO Energy offers several online tools to help members understand their home usage and identify energy wasters.

The first stop is SmartHub, SECO’s online account platform. See past bills to compare last year’s usage with 2022’s usage – is it higher? Is it related to the weather? Visit our Sunshine State Stats in the Newsroom Blog to see how temperatures fluctuate and affect your bill.

Your next stop is our online Home Energy Assessment – a home energy audit you conduct from the comfort of home. Fill out the assessment based on your home’s specifics (construction type, roof age, amount of insulation, etc.) and lifestyle. Submit your answers to receive personal energy-savings advice tailored to the data you input in the Assessment. Implement our suggestions, and you’ll be on your way to consuming less energy – and saving money.

The Energy Estimator is an online tool that explores the math associated with your energy usage. The Estimator will calculate the estimated cost for each of your home’s appliances and electronics. Submit your email address to receive no-cost and low-cost energy-savings suggestions via email.

You’ll find these energy-efficiency tools and more energy-saving tips at SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions. Use our online tools today to save energy and money tomorrow.

Florida Fauna & Flora: Red Snapper

Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced that Florida’s 2022 recreational red snapper season opened June 17 and runs consecutively through July 31. Visit myfwc.com for upcoming fall dates.

Red snapper in deeper waters tend to be redder than those caught in shallower waters. They have a long triangular face with the upper part sloping more strongly than the lower and earned the name snapper from their enlarged canine teeth.

Age wise, red snapper can live a long time—red snapper as old as 57 years have been reported in the Gulf of Mexico and can grow to 40 inches long and 50 pounds. Females are able to reproduce as early as age 2. Males and females spawn from May to October, depending on their location.

Red snapper feed on fish, shrimp, crab, worms, cephalopods (octopus or squid) and some plankton. Young red snapper are food for the large carnivorous fish that share their habitat, such as jacks, groupers, sharks, barracudas, and morays.

These fish are generally found at 30 to 620 feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico and along the eastern coasts of North America, Central America, and northern South America. They are rare north of the Carolinas.

Read the full July 2022 SECO News online.

SECO News June 2022

Central Florida is one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. Nearly a quarter million people moved to Florida over the last 12 months. Historical data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the three largest counties SECO Energy serves (Lake, Marion and Sumter) posted impressive population gains over the last decade.

SECO now serves over 222,000 homes and businesses in our seven-county service territory. In 2021 alone, SECO added 5,770 accounts, and in March 2022, we broke a 15-year record for the highest number of new accounts established in a month. The growth positions SECO as the third-largest distribution electric cooperative in the state and the seventh largest in the country out of 800 not-for-profit cooperatives.

While this edition of Wynn’s Wire focuses on Lake County expansion and improvement projects reliability in every part of our service territory is a priority. Watch for upcoming Wynn’s Wire columns for updates on projects in the other counties we serve. Better yet, visit SECOEnergy.com today to view our System Reliability and Expansion Map to see what projects are occurring in your area right now.

In 2021, SECO welcomed 2,038 new services in Lake County. This accounts for 35% of our overall 2021 new meter count. With the population increase and growing demand for safe, affordable, reliable energy, I’m excited to share SECO’s system improvement projects that benefit the SECO members in Lake County. These electric infrastructure improvements and expansions will increase members’ service reliability and add redundancy for quicker outage restoration.

South Lake County is growing extraordinarily fast. The population in Clermont, Fruitland Park, Groveland and Minneola are increasing at some of the highest rates in the state. SECO has nearly completed a new power substation named Sawgrass to handle the growing load in the southern portion of Lake County. The substation is state-of-the-art and will be a part of an overall design to provide redundant power sources to the members throughout the region to further avoid lengthy outages.  

The design of the Sawgrass substation utilizes two Duke Energy transmission lines in a looped configuration serving both sides of SECO’s distribution lines in the substation. This redundancy increases reliability for the members served from the Clermont and the Sawgrass substations. This two-way loop increases the ability of crews to restore service to members served by both substations through distribution backfeeding.

Members served by our Clermont substation may remember the lengthy transmission outage in October 2019 that lasted for over eight hours. While this very impactful, non-storm-related outage was caused by a neighboring utility’s transmission line issue, we are extending our efforts to avoid a future recurrence of outages that are caused by others. We are totally committed to take steps to reduce outage time and increase reliability, regardless of the cause.

Another new Lake County development called Wellness Way will also require infrastructure expansion. This area’s master plan includes almost 16,000 homesites and an additional 11 million square feet of non-residential commercial space. SECO Energy is exploring a plan for these new facilities, with the ultimate goal of high reliability.

In other parts of Lake County, crews recently completed what we call a ‘voltage conversion’ of the Astatula and Deer Island substations. In this maintenance project, the voltage, or electric potential, was increased on every transformer on every feeder served. The increased electric potential accommodates growing energy demand and improves service reliability for members served by both substations. 

Next year, SECO is developing plans for even more expansions and upgrades in the Groveland area. As I mentioned previously, Groveland is one of the fast-growing small cities in Florida. Due to an increase in commercial and industrial load, SECO is also planning an expansion to the infrastructure serving the Christopher Ford Industrial Park.

I again encourage all members to read upcoming editions of Wynn’s Wire for updates on projects in the other counties we serve and visit SECOEnergy.com to view our System Reliability and Expansion Map to see what projects are occurring in your area.

The explosive growth we are seeing makes SECO Energy an exciting place to work. We are always looking for talented individuals to join us on our growth journey – and we’re hiring for a variety of positions. Visit “Careers” on SECOEnergy.com for a position with a career path and great benefits that may be perfect for you!

Sincerely,

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

Advice From The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Summer 2022 Forecast

The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts summer weather in Central Florida will be hot and dry. The forecast indicates the average temperature will be above average from June through September. Rainfall will be less than average until August, when rainfall is predicted to be 3 inches above average. Watch for thunderstorms throughout the season. In July and August, tropical storms are predicted in the southeast and deep south.

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. Supplies sell out quickly when a storm threatens our area. Stock up today and have your emergency essentials on hand. Download a copy of our Hurricane Handbook for a starting list of essentials and learn what to do before, during and after a storm.

2022 SECO Energy Scholarship Awardees

Join us in congratulating our 2022 SECO Energy scholarship awardees! The high school seniors who are seeking a future career in the energy industry have been awarded a $3,000 scholarship to put toward a college, university, trade or vocational school in Florida.

Jonathan Troy Duran Estrella The Villages Charter High School

Paul Farrell Learning Academy

Brandon Scott Gallmeyer Tavares High School

Allyson Hicks The Villages Charter High School

Caleb Nolan Littlefield Homeschool

Kannon Matthew Pauling Tavares High School

Jordan Kanyé Riche Wildwood Middle High School

Marcial I. Rodriguez Citrus High School

Allison Nicole Shields Umatilla High School

Great job, students! We hope our current and previous scholarship awardees will contact SECO Energy for internship and future career opportunities. SECO is hiring! To view open positions, set up job alerts and submit an application, visit Careers on SECOEnergy.com.

Tree Line USA 15 Years of Excellence

SECO Energy has been recognized as a Tree Line USA Utility by the Arbor Day Foundation for 15 consecutive years. Tree Line USA recognizes public and private utilities that take part in activities that protect and enhance America’s urban forests. Tree Line USA promotes the coexistence of delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community trees.

SECO Energy achieved five program standards to be recognized as a Tree Line USA utility: follow industry standards for quality tree care; provide annual worker training in best tree care practices; sponsor a tree planting and education program; maintain a tree-based energy conservation program; and participate in an Arbor Day celebration.

2022 is the 150th Anniversary of Arbor Day, and the Arbor Day Foundation is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Since the Foundation’s beginnings, it has helped to plant and distribute almost 500 million trees in over 50 countries worldwide. Learn more about Arbor Day and its mission at arborday.org.

For tips on planting trees away from power lines and how trees can help reduce annual energy costs, visit Right Tree Right Place.

Read the full June 2022 SECO News online.

SECO Energy Recognized as a Tree Line USA Utility

SECO Energy has been recognized as a Tree Line USA Utility for 2022 by the Arbor Day Foundation. Tree Line USA recognizes public and private utilities who take part in activities that protect and enhance America’s urban forests. This is the fifteenth year SECO Energy has earned the Tree Line USA distinction.

Tree Line USA is a national program recognizing public and private utilities for best practices that protect and preserve America’s urban forests. This program is possible through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. Tree Line USA promotes the coexistence of delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community trees.

SECO Energy achieved five program standards to be recognized as a Tree Line USA utility. Utilities must follow industry standards for quality tree care; provide annual worker training in best tree care practices; sponsor a tree planting and education program; maintain a tree-based energy conservation program; and participate in an Arbor Day celebration.

2022 is the 150th Anniversary of Arbor Day which is celebrated the last Friday of April. The Arbor Day Foundation is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Since the Foundation’s beginnings, it has helped to plant and distribute almost 500 million trees in over 50 countries worldwide. Learn more about Arbor Day and its mission.

“Trees are essential to creating more urban green spaces in communities across the United States,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “In addition, they provide important benefits to residents, including clean air, clean water, and vital tree shade. Service providers like SECO Energy demonstrate how easily trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and residents.”

CEO Curtis Wynn congratulates SECO Energy’s team for their continued Tree Line USA recognition. Wynn stated, “Congratulations to the Vegetation Management team for upholding the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Line USA standards for 15 years. This is quite an accomplishment, and we are very proud of your dedication to quality tree care. SECO Energy invests heavily in its vegetation management program and follows best practices to safely maintain our existing rights of way and reduce power outages.

Wynn continued, “SECO Energy strives to be a good environmental steward. Properly maintained, healthy trees, that are planted in the right place, can help SECO members reduce their yearly energy costs.”

Visit Right Tree Right Place for tips on planting trees away from power lines and how trees can help reduce yearly energy costs. SECO Energy has also developed online energy efficiency tools to help members reduce energy use and costs. The Home Energy Assessment is an online energy audit tailored to the individual member’s home and lifestyle. Members input their home details and submit their email address to receive no-cost and low-cost tips to increase energy efficiency and lower their electric bills. The Energy Estimator calculates the cost of common household electronics found in most homes. Members who submit their data receive energy-efficiency suggestions and more ways to save.

“Like” SECO Energy on Facebook and follow @SECOEnergy on Twitter for prize drawings, news releases, and severe weather alerts affecting SECO Energy’s service territory. Manage your outage notification preferences at StormCenter. To see when SECO Energy crews/contractors are working in your area, visit our new System Improvement Map. To learn more about SECO Energy as a not-for-profit cooperative, visit About SECO Energy.

SECO Energy Celebrates 14 Years of Tree Line USA Recognition

SECO Energy is celebrating 14 years of being recognized as a Tree Line USA utility by the Arbor Day Foundation. Tree Line USA recognizes public and private utilities who take part in activities that protect and enhance America’s urban forests.

The Arbor Day Foundation inspires people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. There are five program standards that SECO Energy achieved to be recognized as a Tree Line USA utility. Utilities must follow industry standards for quality tree care; provide annual worker training in best tree care practices; sponsor a tree planting and education program; maintain a tree-based energy conservation program; and participate in an Arbor Day celebration.

Dan Lambe president of the Arbor Day Foundation congratulated SECO Energy on its achievement. Lambe stated, “Trees are a critical part of urban landscapes all across the United States. They provide important benefits to residents, including clean air, clean water and a tolerable climate. Service providers like SECO Energy demonstrate that it’s possible for trees and utilities to co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens.”

Jim Duncan CEO stated, “Earning the Tree Line USA designation for 14 years is a one-of-a-kind achievement for SECO Energy. Trees play a significant role in our members’ focus on energy efficiency. Planting the right tree in the right place can help SECO members reduce their yearly energy costs. Our participation in the Tree Line USA program helps us raise awareness with members and be good environmental stewards as well.”

SECO Energy Vice President of Reliability and Operations John LaSelva is pleased by the Tree Line USA recognition. LaSelva stated, “I am honored and humbled that SECO Energy continues to achieve the Tree Line USA designation. Our Vegetation Management team works to increase service reliability by overseeing tree care near our power lines. Trees that pose a danger to power lines are removed while healthy trees are allowed to flourish in urban landscapes. Congratulations to the Vegetation Management team for their hard work in earning this recognition for the 14th straight year.”

To learn more about how trees can reduce yearly energy costs, visit our Right Tree, Right Place page. The not-for-profit cooperative has also developed online energy efficiency tools to help members reduce energy use and costs. The Home Energy Assessment is an online energy audit tailored to the member’s home and lifestyle. Members input their home’s details and submit their email address to receive no-cost and low-cost tips to increase energy efficiency. The Energy Estimator calculates the cost of common household electronics found in most homes. Members who submit their data receive energy-efficiency suggestions and more ways to save.

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. Visit our About SECO page to learn more about the Central Florida not-for-profit electric cooperative.

Energy Insider – 1st Quarter

Autonomous Taxis Coming Soon to a Village Near You

Autonomous Taxis – Coming Soon to a Village Near You!

The future is now! Autonomous taxi company Voyage Auto has launched a pilot program in The Villages, Florida, specifically the Village of Virginia Trace. The self-driving taxi program, unveiled earlier this year, is as an added benefit for the residents in The Villages. This is simply a taxi service for folks who need to get to or from somewhere but do not have their own transportation or perhaps don’t feel comfortable driving. Ryan McCabe, Operations Manager with The Villages, states; “We believe in what Voyage Auto is trying to do. We couldn’t be happier with the idea.”

The thing that makes this different from other transportation services is that there isn’t a person in the driver’s seat! This vehicle is fully autonomous and a ride can be arranged using the Voyage mobile app. In the near future, Voyage will be expanding their presence in The Villages on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis. Virginia Trace was chosen for the pilot because of its close proximity to Lake Sumter Landing. It is likely the same criteria will be used in choosing which neighborhood is next. Mr. McCabe stated, “With golf carts and Voyage, the residents might not need a car to live here.”

For those concerned with this “out-of-the-box” idea, Tom Hauburger, Director of Product for Voyage, states, “The technology investment we make is centered on safety and comfort.” The Voyage team understands the highest level of safety is expected and consumer comfort is a close second.

Keep an eye out for upcoming “try-ride” events at a location near you. Customers will have the opportunity to experience a ride into the future. Try-ride event dates will be announced once all of the details are finalized and locations are chosen.

Visit Voyage for more information about this revolutionary idea!

SECO Earns Tree Line USA Distinction

The wind is blowing, the rain is coming down sideways and ZAP, your power is out. Power is of the utmost importance to your business. Power drives the machines, lights and most likely everything essential to your operation. The last thing you need is a power outage. However, this is Florida where storms develop quickly and in some cases are severe enough to threaten your reliability.

When storms happen, trees pose the greatest hazards to the electric lines serving your facility. For this reason, SECO Energy has a services agreement with tree trimming contractors and also arranges for a very large contingent of tree trimming contractors to aid with restoration activities prior to a major storm or hurricane. Our vegetation management efforts are ongoing and a very important function to ensure reliability of your electric service. As a matter of fact, for twelve consecutive years, SECO Energy has been awarded the Tree Line USA Utility distinction from the Arbor Day Foundation. We are very proud of this achievement.

SECO Energy’s award-winning Vegetation Management team is comprised of five professionals who manage the program. According to April Hurst, Supervisor of Vegetation Management, “SECO’s goal is to prevent tree-related outages. We plan, direct and execute activities to clear the right-of-ways for any vegetative hazard posed to the electric lines from the substation all the way to the transformer that serves member facilities.” Doing this requires a massive amount of planning, supervision and the actual execution of the plan.

On average SECO Energy spends about $10,000,000 per year to execute the vegetation management plan. Our program is very aggressive and our proactive approach has greatly reduced the number of tree-related outages. “Although what we do is not always esthetically pleasing or pretty, it is necessary for the health of the tree and for line clearances – healthy trees planted in the right place do not cause outages,” advises Mrs. Hurst.

To ensure correct methods for trimming trees, SECO Energy hires certified arborists. Crews that specialize in tree trimming perform the actual work. The correct trimming methods maintain the health of the tree and minimize the threat to the electric system. Follow up inspections are performed by SECO professionals to ensure work has been performed correctly.

How can you help? Take notice of trees/tree limbs in close proximity of electric distribution lines serving your facility. Even if your service is underground, at some point it feeds into an overhead line. When adding landscape, be sure and plant the right tree in the right place – where there is little likelihood the tree will ever impact electric facilities. Talk to your Key Account consultant regarding any concerns you have.

For more information on our vegetation management program or for clarification of what SECO will trim versus your trimming responsibilities, visit our tree trimming page. Want to meet SECO vegetation management team in person? Join us on Saturday, April 27, 2019 for Earthfest at Arbor Day event in Tuscawilla Park in Ocala!

12 Annual Earth Day Celebration Sponsored by CEMEX

12th Annual Earth Day Celebration

If you are looking for a fun family event in Sumter County this April, look no further than the 12th Annual Earth Day Celebration in Center Hill, Florida. So what is this you may ask? The event is a partnership between the Sumter County School Board and CEMEX. This FREE event features a tour of the CEMEX mine and provides insight on the importance of mining and how it’s done while protecting and conserving our natural resources.

The Earth Day celebration includes many local environmental agencies who share useful information on a number of topics from water conservation to preventing pollution. Represented this year will be the UF/IFAS Extension Service, National Resources Conservation Service, Phosphate Research Institute, Florida Native Plant Society, Sumter County Master Gardeners and the Florida Forestry Service. SECO Energy will also be onsite to educate attendees on electrical safety and energy conservation.

Food and entertainment are part of the celebration. Enjoy a Grumpy’s famous ice cream and hot dogs cooked by Ring Power Corporation. Meet the animal ambassadors from the Florida International Teaching Zoo and learn all about bats. You can even hold a baby alligator and learn how to sculpt sand. The ever-popular Kids Fossil Dig will be open for children ages three to third grade along with the opportunity to plant a tree. The Same in Lame Jazz Ambassadors and the South Sumter High School Naval National Defense Cadet Corps will open the event with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner. Chorus and band groups from South Sumter Middle School, Wildwood Middle School and Wildwood Elementary School will perform their favorite songs.

The 12th Annual Earth Day Event is scheduled for April 13, 2019 at the CEMEX mine located at 530 W. King Highway in Center Hill. The fun begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.

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 Joins Earthfest at Arbor Day in Ocala

SECO Energy’s Vegetation Management team participated in the City of Ocala’s Earthfest at Arbor Day in the Great Outdoors on Saturday, April 22, at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala.

Hundreds of guest visited Tuscawilla Park in downtown Ocala, to enjoy the lovely spring weather and visit with vendors and participants in celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day. Visitors to SECO Energy’s booth took home over 125 free trees, lots of additional give-aways and the children enjoyed the face painting.

SECO’s Vegetation Management team of certified arborists, who have been specially trained in all aspects of arboriculture, were on-hand to lend advice to the new tree owners. SECO’s arborists shared proper tree planting, pruning, and long-term care and maintenance advice for specific tree species. Arborists also answered additional tree-related questions and advised planters where to best plant their new trees to save on energy costs.

In April, SECO was pleased to announce that the utility was once again recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Line USA Utility. This is the tenth year SECO has earned the honor of this designation.

John LaSelva, SECO’s Vice President of Operations stated, “I hope all who visited the SECO team at Earthfest at Arbor Day enjoyed the face painting, prizes and free trees. SECO is proud to share its tree-related knowledge with the public to promote greener landscapes. Would you like to save energy and lower your monthly energy costs? Consider planting trees. Trees not only beautify outdoor spaces and provide cleaner air – they are also a simple energy-efficiency tool. Trees planted near your home offer shade during the summer, resulting in lower energy costs.”

Learn more about tree-line safety, how trees can save energy and planting the right tree in the right place on our website. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Earns Tree Line USA Utility for Tenth Year

SECO Energy is proud to announce it has once again been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Line USA Utility. This is the tenth year SECO has earned the honor of this designation.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the Tree Line USA program exists to recognize best practices in public and private utility arboriculture, demonstrating how trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens.

SECO successfully earned its Tree Line USA Utility designation by adhering to the Arbor Day Foundation’s five core standards. SECO practices quality tree care, trains utility employees and contractors annually about best practices, sponsors tree planting and public education, offers a tree-based energy conservation program and participates in an Arbor Day Celebration.

Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation President, praised SECO’s tenth Tree Line USA designation. Lambe stated, “Your commitment to proper tree-care practice benefits your customers in numerous ways, including providing cleaner air and water, increasing property values and improving quality-of-life. Trees also conserve energy and reduce peak demand, a crucial benefit to customers and providers alike.”

John LaSelva, SECO’s Vice President of Operations stated, “I am extremely proud of the Vegetation Management team for its decade-long commitment to the Arbor Day Foundation. SECO’s team of certified arborists have the tools and knowledge to promote a healthy urban forest while reducing tree-caused outages.”

Enjoy a family-friendly event and visit with SECO’s Vegetation Management team at Earthfest at Arbor Day in the Great Outdoors on Saturday, April 22. The event is located at Tuscawilla Park, at 829 NE Sanchez Avenue in Ocala.

Learn more about tree-line safety and how trees can save energy on our Reliability page. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.

SECO Donates to Habitat for Humanity

SECO Energy is adding to the beauty of the urban forest and energizing the community by donating trees and shrubs to Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter. The collection of cypress trees, loropetalum bushes, bougainvillea and lily hybrids will be planted at various Habitat projects in Lake and Sumter counties.

SECO Energy is nationally recognized as a Tree Line USA utility by the National Arbor Day Foundation for nine years in a row. SECO achieved Tree Line USA by meeting five program standards. Utilities must follow industry standards for quality tree care; provide annual worker training in best tree-care practices; sponsor a tree-planting and public education program; maintain a tree-based energy conservation program; and participate in an Arbor Day celebration.

Ken Lacasse, Manager of System Reliability, explains that trees and utilities can co-exist in an urban landscape. “To get the most benefit from your trees, plant the right tree in the right place to save energy and keep it away from overhead lines. As a certified arborist, I recommend planting tall trees such as oaks and pines at least 70 feet away from overhead lines and low-growing trees such as azaleas and crape myrtles at least 15 feet from lines. Larger trees near the home will offer more shade, which will reduce cooling costs, and won’t interfere with power lines.”

SECO’s donation to Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter makes a difference in the communities it serves. Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter’s programs are designed to meet the needs of local communities. To learn more about Habitat for Humanity Lake-Sumter, visit www.habitatls.org.

To learn more about how trees can help consumers save energy, visit www.secoenergy.com. At SECO Energy’s website, consumers can find more information about planting the right tree in the right place and about SECO’s vegetation management program. “Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” SECO on Twitter for cooperative updates and news releases.

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Archive

Advice From The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Summer Fishing Days

Summer Energy Efficiency Savings

Florida Fauna & Flora: Red Snapper

Advice From The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Summer 2022 Forecast

2022 SECO Energy Scholarship Awardees

Tree Line USA 15 Years of Excellence

Autonomous Taxis – Coming Soon to a Village Near You!

SECO Earns Tree Line USA Distinction

12th Annual Earth Day Celebration

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