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SECO Energy Announces 2025 Virtual Annual Business Meeting

SECO Energy will host its 2025 Annual Business Meeting virtually on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 6 p.m. Members can join the webcast by visiting SECOEnergy.com and clicking the virtual Annual Meeting banner at the top of the homepage. Links to the broadcast will also be published on SECO Energy’s Facebook, X, and Instagram pages.

 

Members who tune into the Virtual Annual Meeting will be introduced to SECO Energy’s nine-member Board of Trustees, Board President Gerald Anderson will deliver the President’s Report, and CEO Curtis Wynn will provide a cooperative update.

 

SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn encourages members to take part in the upcoming Annual Meeting and make their voices heard.  “Members, we need your vote on Annual Meeting business,” said Wynn.

 

SECO is giving away 100 Annual Meeting prizes including five $1,000 cash prizes, SECO bill credits of up to $500, and randomly selecting 15 members during the live broadcast to win a $50 bill credit. To be entered into the prize drawing chance to win, submit voting ballots online at SECOEnergy.com, complete the ballot included with the Annual Meeting Notice, or call (352) 793-3801.

 

On the evening of the Annual Meeting, a live Member Engagement Panel will open for questions and comments starting at 5 p.m. Members may participate by emailing SECO2025AM@secoenergy.com or by calling (352) 329-MEET. Selected questions and comments appealing to the broader SECO Energy membership may be addressed live during the panel.

 

Member votes will be tallied, and prize winners will be announced at the end of the Annual Meeting broadcast on March 27. The list of prize winners will be available at SECOEnergy.com after the Meeting’s conclusion. Cash prize winners will be contacted to arrange delivery. Bill credit prizes will appear on the winners’ next billing statements.

 

SECO Energy is a not-for-profit, cooperatively structured utility that believes in fostering member engagement and offering innovative energy services. As SECO Energy’s membership continues to grow, the shift to a Virtual Annual Meeting format has been proven to reduce costs while increasing member participation in Annual Meeting voting and business matters.

 

Visit SECOEnergy.com to read the 2024 Annual Meeting Minutes and vote to approve. Members without internet access may pick up a copy of the 2024 Annual Meeting Minutes at one of SECO Energy’s five Member Service Centers located in Eustis, Groveland, Inverness, Ocala, and Sumterville.

SECO News March 2022

 

Dear Members,

 

SECO Energy is experiencing accelerated growth in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors while operating with strong fiscal responsibility. Florida is amid a population uptick. We expect the expansion potential and increasing energy demand to be our norm for a time.

 

In 2021, we added upwards of 5,700 new active services systemwide. This level of growth in our service area and Central Florida is exciting, challenging and has a positive effect on our financial position. SECO must meet the increasing demand for energy, maintain existing infrastructure and preserve reliability. SECO is very busy keeping up with our growing region and maintaining our existing infrastructure to serve you.

 

As a not-for-profit cooperative, significant financial investments are made to serve new members and improve your service reliability. At yearend 2021, SECO’s investment in facilities topped over $1 billion and continues to grow. This ongoing facilities’ investment averages over $6 million per month.

 

We have retained our position as the third-largest Florida electric cooperative and seventh largest nationally out of about 800 distribution co-ops. Among our co-op peers, a growing infrastructure supporting more than 220,000 metered accounts is extraordinary. Our facilities include 48 substations and 13,000 miles of line to reliably serve members.

 

This past year, with Board of Trustees approval, SECO returned $6.46 million in Capital Credits to current and former members. Since inception, SECO has returned over $80 million in Capital Credits. Assigning and returning margins to our members makes us different from other electric utilities. This is what we like to call “the cooperative
difference.”

 

We control costs, maintain healthy equity, return excess margins like a true co-op should, and provide competitive rates. It is clear there is a difference when serving members in a not-for-profit environment. And that’s the cooperative difference.

 

We pledge to provide you with the most reliable and lowest cost electricity possible while not losing sight of the high premium you place on customer service.

 

Best regards,

 

 

Curtis Wynn

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

SECO News MARCH 2022 Virtual Business Only! 2022 Virtual Annual Meeting

Virtual Business Only 2022 Annual Virtual Meeting

 

Members, tune in to watch our 84th Annual Meeting live via virtual webcast on Thursday, March 24, at 4:30 p.m. To access the meeting, click on the Virtual Business Meeting homepage banner on SECOEnergy.com. Links to the webcast will also be published on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

 

Though this year’s meeting is a virtual business-only Annual Business Meeting, we need your vote to approve the 2021 Annual Meeting Minutes. You can vote on Annual Meeting business by mail, electronically or by phone. All members who cast a vote are counted as present in person for determination of quorum as stated in the Bylaws Article III, Section E, #4.

 

We have 100 great prizes up for grabs! All members who vote on Annual Meeting Business (2021 Annual Meeting Minutes) are eligible to win a prize. The grand prizes are a 2012 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab truck, a 2019 EZGO TXT gas-powered golf cart and three $1,000 cash prizes. Other prizes include SECO Energy electric bill credits, Wi-Fi programmable thermostats, energy savings kits and more!

 

Review the list of prizes on page three. To cast your vote electronically, visit SECOEnergy.com and click on the 2022 Virtual Business Meeting Vote homepage banner or text VOTE to (352) 320-2200 and follow the link. To vote by mail, fill out the ballot in your 2022 Official Annual Meeting Notice and enclose it with your electric bill payment.

 

To vote by phone, call (352) 793-3801 and an agent will assist. Do you have a comment or question for us? Engage with SECO Energy during the 2022 Annual Business Meeting, and your question or comment may be addressed live. Drop us a note via email at SECO2022AM@SECOEnergy.com, give us a call at (352) 329-MEET (answered on March 24 only) or send a message on Facebook or Twitter starting at 3:30 on March 24.

 

Good luck, and thank you for voting! We’ll see you virtually on Thursday, March 24, at 4:30 for our 84th Annual Meeting.

 

 

SECO News MARCH 2022 Annual Meeting Prize List

2022 Annual Business Meeting Prize List

 

2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO EXTENDED CAB TRUCK
2019 EZGO TXT GAS-POWERED GOLF CART
$1,000 CHECKS (3)
GENERAC GENERATOR
$250 SECO ELECTRIC BILL CREDITS (5)
NEST LEARNING THERMOSTATS (10)
HONEYWELL SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
PREMIUM ENERGY SAVINGS KITS (5)
SENSI SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
$100 SECO ELECTRIC BILL CREDITS (5)
LUX SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
SURGE MITIGATOR SURGE PROTECTION 1-YEAR LEASE (5)
RADIO SMART THERMOSTATS (10)
SMART POWER STRIPS (5)
ENERGY SAVINGS KITS PLUS (5)
AMAZON ECHO DOTS (4)
12-PACK LED LIGHT BULBS (5)
STARTER ENERGY-EFFICIENCY KITS (5)

 

 

SECO News MARCH 2022 Celebrate 25 Years of Our Surge Protection Program with Free Installation

Celebrate 25 Years of our Surge Protection Program with Free Installation

 

SECO Energy is celebrating 25 years of its Surge Protection Program with savings for you! We’re offering free installation for all new Surge MitiGator enrollments until May 31. That’s a $25 savings for you during our 25th Surge Protection Anniversary.

 

SECO’s made in the USA meter-based surge arrester has proven reliable over the past 25 years by reducing or eliminating surges BEFORE they enter your home through the meter. More than 40,000 members are already enrolled in the program.

 

The Surge MitiGator has a beastly 15-year warranty and is designed to protect your home’s large-motor appliances. Household appliances and sensitive electronics such as televisions and computers can be damaged or destroyed by power surges. These also require point-of-use devices that can be purchased at hardware or big-box retailers for adequate coverage.

 

Start at the meter base with the Surge MitiGator for the best protection. You can lease the MitiGator for only $5.95 plus tax per month with free installation – a $25 savings. The purchase price ranges from $349 to $399 plus tax – and this includes free installation. Visit SECOEnergy.com > Surge MitiGator and complete the webform to learn more or enroll during this limited free installation promotion.

 

Read the full March 2022 SECO News online.

 

SECO Energy Celebrates 83rd Annual Meeting Virtually

SECO Energy celebrated its “Just Business” 83rd Annual Meeting of the Membership on Thursday, March 25. Because of the continuing COVID-cautious environment and the need to limit large gatherings, the not-for-profit cooperative held the Just Business Meeting virtually.

 

Members tuned in via Facebook live, YouTube and live stream to watch the cooperative’s second virtual Annual Meeting. Board President and District 4 Trustee Richard Dennison called the Meeting to order and closed the voting platform at 4:30 p.m. SECO’s VP of Corporate Communications and Energy Services Kathryn Gloria led the invocation and asked the virtual audience to join her in the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. Ms. Gloria introduced the Trustees and welcomed District 9 Trustee-elect Morgan Hatfield, who began her duties at the Trustees’ Meeting on Monday, March 29. Ms. Gloria also introduced CEO Jim Duncan, Cooperative Attorney Scott Gerken and Executive Administrator to the CEO and Board Nora Brown, who served as Recording Secretary during the Meeting. Board Secretary/Treasurer and District 3 Trustee Gerald Anderson certified the Official Annual Meeting Notice that was mailed to all cooperative members per the terms of the Bylaws.

 

Mr. Dennison began his President’s Report by welcoming the virtual audience. He thanked the members who voted electronically, in person, by phone or by mail, and announced that SECO achieved a quorum by virtue of votes cast on Annual Meeting business. Mr. Dennison stated, “Florida cooperatives are required by statute to hold an Annual Meeting and must achieve a quorum to conduct official business. I am happy to announce that member voting participation has indeed helped us achieve a quorum this year. Thank you so much to all who cast a vote this year.”

 

Following the President’s Report, CEO Jim Duncan began his CEO Report. Mr. Duncan welcomed the virtual audience, performed the traditional military salute and first responders’ recognition. He acknowledged the Board of Trustees’ service and employees’ hard work and dedication to members.

 

Mr. Duncan also formally announced his plan to retire as CEO. Duncan stated, “Today is bittersweet for me. Earlier this year, I conveyed to the Board my plan to retire from SECO Energy in January 2022. That making the 83rd Annual Meeting my last as CEO. The decision to retire was a difficult and emotional one. My wife Connie and I have been married for 53 years, and we are looking forward to more vacations, scuba diving and family time with our sons and grandchildren.”

 

CEO Duncan’s state of the company address included an overview of his 42-year SECO career, the cooperative’s financial health, significant meter growth and reliability improvements during his tenure as CEO. Duncan stated, “Much has changed during my three decades as CEO. If you’ve been a member for decades, you may remember the days when our unflattering but true moniker ‘Sometimes Sumter’ was coined. Not only was our reliability marginal, but our rates were also some of the highest in the state. During my tenure as CEO, we dramatically improved service reliability through increased investments in our electric infrastructure and a strengthened vegetation management program.”

 

Cooperative Attorney Scott Gerken certified the 2021 Annual Meeting voting results. In total, 4,576 members voted on 2021 Annual Meeting business. As to the 2021 Bylaws Revision: 4,263 members voted “Yes,” 93 members voted “No,” and 220 members abstained. As to the 2020 Annual Meeting Minutes approval: 4,368 members voted “Yes,” 7 members voted “No,” and 201 members abstained. Mr. Gerken announced, “The membership clearly approves the 2021 Bylaws Revision and 2020 Annual Meeting Minutes.”

 

SECO Energy established a special phone number, email address and social media presence for the Virtual Annual Meeting. A panel of SECO employees interacted with members who posed questions and comments that were read and answered during the meeting by CEO Jim Duncan.

 

Mr. Duncan concluded the Virtual Annual Meeting by saying, “I appreciate you joining us and participating in the cooperative governance process.” He reminded members to stay tuned for the live prize drawing.

 

The meeting ended with the announcement of prize winners. All members who voted were entered into the random drawing for 100 prizes. Russell Rager from Tavares won the 2011 GMC Canyon 4X4 Extended Cab. A commercial member under The Stardust Collection account from Lake Panasoffkee won the golf cart that was provided at cost by The Villages Golf Cars. The four $1,000 winners are James Wilson from The Villages, Christine Hankla from The Villages, Kenneth A. Merritt from Center Hill and Leonard J. George from The Villages. Other prizes including Apple TVs, Instapots, toolsets, Amazon Fire tablets and airfryers will be shipped directly to winners. SECO will arrange for delivery of grand prizes. View the complete list of prize winners.

 

“Like” SECO’s Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates. If you missed the virtual meeting, visit SECOEnergy.com>Your Co-op>Annual Meeting to view the video.

SECO Energy 2020 Annual Meeting Goes VIRTUAL ONLY for Public Health and Safety

SECO Energy announced that its 82nd Annual Meeting is going virtual only in the interest of public health and safety. The SECO Energy Annual Meeting is the cooperative’s pinnacle event. Based on Florida’s declared public health emergency in response to coronavirus developments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisories and SECO’s corresponding need to activate its Emergency Response Plan, the Board of Trustees and senior leadership have determined the need to hold a virtual ONLY Annual Meeting instead of hosting the large crowd who typically attends.

 

The Virtual Annual Meeting will be live streamed online on Saturday, March 28, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Members can tune in by visiting the website and clicking on the Virtual Annual Meeting homepage banner. Board President Jerry Hatfield and CEO Jim Duncan will deliver their respective addresses via the Virtual Annual Meeting streamed live. The results of member votes on the Bylaws Revision and 2019 Annual Meeting Minutes will be announced by Cooperative Attorney Scott Gerken. Vice President Kathryn Gloria will announce the prize winners from the names drawn from the list of members who cast votes.

 

To encourage members to vote on the Bylaws Revision and 2019 Annual Meeting Minutes, SECO Energy is shifting its traditional in-person door prize drawing to a voting member drawing. All members who cast a vote are eligible to win a prize from the comfort of their home. A complete list of prizes is available on SECO’s website.

 

Members can vote electronically by visiting the website and clicking on the Vote homepage banner or by texting VOTE to (352) 320-2200. Members also have the option to complete the by-mail ballot on the Official Annual Meeting Notice and mail with their electric payment. Members who are not tech-savvy can visit a Member Service Center or call (352) 793-3801 for voting assistance. To be eligible for the prize drawing, members must cast their vote before the Virtual Annual Meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 28.

 

Prizes include a 2010 Chevy Colorado 4×4, two 2016 EZGO RSV golf carts, cash prizes ($1,500, $1,000 and two $500s), electric bill credits, WiFi thermostats, Instapots, air fryers, tool sets, Ring doorbells, Amazon Fire and Apple TVs, Fire HD tablets with Alexa, Fitbits, a 43-inch Visio TV, twenty $100/$50 VISA gift cards and more. View the full prize list online.

 

Prize winners will be announced at the end of the Virtual Annual Meeting and also published on the website. Prizes will be shipped to each winner. SECO will arrange delivery of the truck and golf carts along with the title/registration documents. Winners of the $1,500 and $1,000 prizes will receive an IRS Form 1099 and will be required to sign an IRS Form W-9 before the checks can be issued.

 

SECO Energy CEO Jim Duncan states, “The on-site Annual Meeting is an event that we look forward to hosting every year. We will certainly miss visiting with members and seeing their smiling faces for this year’s Annual Meeting, but the decision to change the format to a Virtual Annual Meeting is in the best interest of our members and employees. I hope members plan to watch the Virtual Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m.”

 

Members who want to interact with SECO live during the Virtual Annual Meeting can call (352) 329-MEET or email SECO2020AM@secoenergy.com starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 28. The phone number and email will only be available during the Virtual Annual Meeting timeframe. For members who aren’t able to watch virtually, a video production of the Virtual Annual Meeting will be available on SECO Energy’s YouTube channel the following week.

 

Learn more about SECO Energy’s Virtual Annual Meeting on our website. “Like” SECO’s page on Facebook page and “follow” @SECOEnergy on Twitter for news releases and cooperative updates.