NOV EMB ER
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2020
SECONEWS Last month I announced a higher memberfavorable Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) or “Hot Bucks” credit. This month, I have more good financial news. During the September Trustees’ Meeting, your Board approved a record-high Capital Credit retirement of $6.1 million to current and former members. Look for your Capital Credit retirement on your November bill.
Current members will see the retirement amount on the November billing statement as a line item labeled “Capital Credit Ret.” All active commercial members with retirements over $600 will receive a check. Former members who receive a retirement over $10 will receive a check as long as they’ve kept SECO advised of an updated mailing address. If you move out of SECO’s service area, keep your mailing address updated so we can send future Capital Credit retirements your way.
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For many, the COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainty of 2020 have been stressful. I am pleased that our ...YOUR BOARD members will receive a tangible Th e co n ce p t o f C a p i t a l Credits is unique to not-forAPPROVED A RECORD- benefit of the not-for-profit cooperative business model profit, cooperatively structured HIGH CAPITAL CREDIT with a $6.1 million Capital Credit businesses. You and your retirement this year. Since we fellow 210,000+ cooperative RETIREMENT OF $6.1 energized the first few hundred members own a portion of SECO MILLION TO CURRENT members’ services in 1938 as Energy’s equity. Your energy Sumter Electric Cooperative, Inc. purchases build patronage capital. AND FORMER to now doing business as SECO Ownership is defined through Energy, we have retired $72.9 the annual process of allocating MEMBERS. million to current and former each member’s share of the comembers. op’s margins from the prior year. Individual Capital Credit allocations represent the It is our privilege to be your electric provider. percentage of the yearly amount of electric service purchased by each member. Sincerely, Capital Credits are the accumulation of all prior years’ revenues after the co-op’s operating costs Jim Duncan and expenses are paid. These credits are allocated Chief Executive Officer on a pro-rata basis to each SECO member’s account as Capital Credits. Annually, SECO examines INSIDE THIS ISSUE the cooperative’s financial position and makes • Old Farmer’s Almanac a recommendation to the Board of Trustees on the “retirement” of Capital Credits. This year’s • AMI FAQ $6.1 million retirement means SECO is returning a • Toys For Tots portion of the cooperative’s equity to current and former members. • Florida Fauna & Flora Hurricane Handbook NOVEMBER 2020 | SECO NEWS
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DUNCAN’S DIGEST EXTRA
PREPAID METER UPGRADE SERVES AS AMI PILOT PROJECT
You’re hearing from me twice this month due to important news that will affect the 6,300 members currently enrolled in the SECO Energy MyWay PrePay program. Currently, the prepaid program uses an electric meter with an older cellular data communications system to send automated daily meter readings back to SECO. Members enrolled in the prepaid program can log in to their online accounts/ apps to view their daily energy use and to use a flexible “pay-as-you-go” approach to their energy use. Unfortunately, the cellular communications infrastructure currently used in these meters is becoming outdated with the advent of LTE and 5G. The meters and backbone system must be updated to remain operational as a prepaid program before year-end 2020. At the same time, this equipment upgrade allows SECO to fulfill a secondary purpose as a pilot project for a potential future AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) system. Lastly, it allows SECO to offer a future time-of-use (TOU) rate to members with electric vehicles to save money by charging in lower-cost off-peak periods. We have partnered with Honeywell to replace the existing and soon-to-be outdated prepaid meters with a device that offers more advanced utility-based capabilities. Recently, Honeywell joined forces with Verizon to bring AMI meters to utilities using 4G/5G Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular data. The new AMI meters use two-way communication protocol between the utility database and the meter using the same data communications infrastructure used in your cell phones. In November and December, SECO-contracted technicians will replace old prepaid meters with new Honeywell AMI meters that use Verizon cellular communications technology. Bringing an
AMI program into our service area with its mix of rural, suburban and metropolitan areas will be a technical challenge. This pilot project using Honeywell’s meter and Verizon’s latest cellular technology may well prove to be the answer to our members’ needs. Immediately upon installation at our prepaid account locations, the new Honeywell AMI meters will supply daily usage readings through two-way communication protocol. In the future when the Meter Data Management system is integrated with SECO’s online account platform, Smart Hub, members with the Honeywell meters will be able to see 15-minute interval usage data - to have an even closer look into their energy use habits. AMI systems save significant labor dollars for many utilities. The new Honeywell meter also offers SECO the ability to detect o u t a g e s , t ro u b l e s h o o t a n d reconnect/disconnect service remotely - which means improved efficiency for SECO and faster service for members who need to transfer service in a move, disconnect service or establish brand new service with SECO. We have high hopes for the success of this pilot project and will review results with SECO’s Board of Trustees. If the system is successful, the Board may decide to move forward with systemwide AMI deployment in the future after evaluating a full business case. This will pave the way for all of our members to benefit from a more advanced look at their energy usage behavior and the ability to embrace energy efficiency measures if they so choose.
Jim Duncan Chief Executive Officer
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WHO WILL INSTALL THE AMI METER? A SECO-contracted meter technician will install the new AMI meter and remove the old one. All SECO contractors carry company ID, and their trucks are clearly marked with a SECO Energy Authorized Contractor decal. WILL MY SERVICE BE INTERRUPTED WHILE THE METER IS REPLACED? Yes, but just briefly. You will experience a brief interruption of a few minutes while the meter is exchanged. Technicians will courtesy knock before performing the meter exchange and will leave a door hanger as well. You do not need to be home for the meter exchange. WILL THE METER’S CELLULAR TRANSMISSION AFFECT OTHER DEVICES IN MY HOME? No. The cellular data of other devices in your home will not be affected or interrupted. IS THE HONEYWELL METER SAFE? Yes. The Honeywell meter uses an industry standard cellular communications system, just like your cell phone. The components of the meter and communication module are UL (Underwriter Laboratories) certified. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ENHANCED CAPABILITIES OF AMI METERS? A fully-developed AMI system allows members to review their energy usage in almost real-time. SECO can transfer, reconnect/disconnect, and troubleshoot the service remotely. When an AMI system is deployed for all members, you can choose your billing date, set usage threshold alerts, have access to money-saving dynamic rates and much more.
I AM A MYWAY PREPAY MEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO OPT-OUT OF RECEIVING AN AMI METER. WHAT CAN I DO? Without an AMI capable meter, the prepaid program cannot function properly. At this time, MyWay PrePay members can choose to unenroll from the prepaid program by requesting to change their account type to a postpaid, traditionally billed account if they would like to opt-out. Members can visit SECOEnergy.com > Contact Us, call (352) 793-3801 or email customerservice@secoenergy. com to opt out.
NOTE: Postpaid accounts are subject to a security deposit. SECO will complete an Equifax Utility Score Check upon request to change a prepaid account to a postpaid, traditionally billed account.
NOVEMBER 2020 | SECO NEWS
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Once again, SECO Energy employees are spreading Christmas cheer by taking part in our annual corporate Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive. We’ve had friendly competition between employees and departments in years past to collect the most bicycles and other donated toys. SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven program has pledged $5,000 this year to complement employees’ Toys for Tots donations. Retired Marines and other volunteers operate Toys for Tots. Volunteers pick up donations and distribute the toys to children in need. All donated toys stay local and are distributed in the area they were donated. We foresee a great need for children’s toys this year as many local families were affected by the COVID-19 shutdown. Members can take part, as well. Join SECO in spreading Christmas joy by donating a new unwrapped toy for our annual Toys for Tots drive. Our five Member Service Centers in Eustis, Groveland, Inverness, Ocala or Sumterville serve as public drop-off locations from November 2 to December 7. SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven program rounds up members’ bills to the nearest dollar and uses the extra pennies to help members who need bill payment assistance or donations for local charitable causes such as Toys for Tots. If you would like to join your fellow cooperative members in making a difference in our communities one penny at a time, visit SECOEnergy.com > Your Co-op > Pennies from Heaven to enroll in the program. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Members who would like to register to receive toys donated through Toys for Tots can visit www.ToysforTots.org > Request a Toy.
Don’t forget to look for the last six digits of your account number in this month’s SECO News. You can email us at customerservice@secoenergy.com or call if your number appears. Six winners will be drawn at random from all submissions. Winners receive a $25 gift card.
Justin Allender from Clermont is the October 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 SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Electric Vehicles page for more details. Watch SECO News for next month’s charger winner. NOVEMBER 2020 | SECO NEWS
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TOYS FOR TOTS Â completing our Toys for Tots Word Search. Donate a Get into the holiday spirit by new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots at one of our Member Service Centers from November 2 to December 7.
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BASKETBALL
BICYCLE
BOOKS
CHARITY
DIFFERENCE
DOLL
Basketball DONATION MARINE Bicycle TOTS Books Charity Doll Donation Difference Football
Local FOOTBALL LOCAL SANTA SPONSOR Marine TOYS TRICYCLE Santa Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com Sponsor Tots Toys Tricycle
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Do you live in a neighborhood with area light posts/poles? Please refrain from using these to display your holiday decorations. For safety reasons, SECO does not allow members or homeowners’ associations to use our poles for decorating purposes. Light poles and posts are not made for or rated for the added weight of decorations, signs or banners. We also prohibit members from adding decorations, signs, advertisements, banners or sports equipment to SECO poles. Nailing, stapling or tacking items to poles degrades their structural integrity. Sharp protrusions can also injure or puncture a SECO employee or contractor or damage their protective equipment such as gloves and sleeves. The pole’s ground wire can also be damaged. More important, we don’t want our members to be injured while hanging lights or decorations from a pole not meant to support the weight of the décor or ladder leaned against it. Learn more about our safe clearance requirements around poles, meters, transformers and secondary enclosures at SECOEnergy.com > Safety > Keep It Clear.
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ADVICE FROM THE & USDA WEATHER STATS
SECO ENERGY’S SERVICE TERRITORY FALLS INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S “ZONE 9” FOR PLANT HARDINESS. Zones are determined by the average annual extreme temperature over the last 30 years in the area. Zone 9’s extreme minimum temps range from 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit – which is quite warm compared to the rest of the nation. Visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov to learn more. Plant bulbs this fall for beautiful blooms in the spring. For a winter flower garden, The Old
Farmer’s Almanac recommends planting grape hyacinth or winter aconite. Create spring blooms by planting bluebells, daffodils, fritillary, bearded or Siberian iris, ornamental onion and spring starflowers. These bulb varieties like well-drained soil and full sun – perfect for Florida!
NOVEMBER 2020 | SECO NEWS
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ENERGYEFFICIENCY EXTRA SCHEDULE AN HVAC TUNE-UP
NORTHERN BOBWHITE QUAIL
fauna & flora
N
orthern bobwhite quails are medium-sized birds with round bodies, short tails and
short necks. Their plumage is reddish-brown with white and gray streaks. Bobwhites are named for their distinctive “bob-white” call. Bobwhite quails feed and roost in coveys of 8 to 25 birds. They forage on the ground for seeds, insects, fruits and plants. Females lay 12 to 16 eggs in a shallow nest built on the ground hidden beneath vegetation. Adults measure about 10 inches from the tip of beak to tail. This quail is found throughout most of Florida
Fall is officially here, and cooler temperatures have arrived in Central Florida. Before the winter chill sets in, schedule an HVAC tune-up with a licensed technician. HVAC units that receive regular service function more efficiently and use less energy to heat (or cool) your home. Preventative maintenance will extend the life of your HVAC unit and help you avoid an unexpected, costly repair bill. Set a calendar reminder to change your unit’s air filter monthly or follow the manufacturer’s suggested filter change schedule.
980010 For more energy-efficiency tools, visit SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Energy Efficiency. Our Home Energy Assessment is an online energy audit that provides energy-efficiency advice tailored to your home’s features and lifestyle. The Energy Estimator calculates the amount of energy used and associated costs for the electronics, appliances and just about anything that uses electricity in your home. Submit with an email address to receive low-cost energy-efficiency tips specific to your home.
except the southern tip. Muted plumage makes them hard to spot in their preferred habit of grassy fields and pine woods. Pesticide use and loss of habitats are contributing factors to the decline in northern bobwhite quail numbers. Its conservation status is “near threatened.”
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NORTHERN BOBWHITE QUAILS ARE THE ONLY GALLIFORM (an order of ground-feeding birds that includes turkey, pheasant, chickens, peafowl and more) native to eastern North America.
NOVEMBER 2020 | SECO NEWS
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BOARD BIOS MEET THE TRUSTEES JOYCE ANDERSON DISTRICT 2 TRUSTEE _____
District 2 Trustee Joyce Anderson lives in Sumterville and has been a SECO member since 2017. Mrs. Anderson was first elected to the Board in February 2020. With 23 years of experience in the utility industry, Mrs. Anderson is honored to be the first woman elected to SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees.
Check back next month to meet District 5 Trustee Ray Vick.
JERRY HATFIELD
GERALD ANDERSON
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY/TREASURER
District 4 Trustee Member since 1999 Resides in Ocala
District 9 Trustee Member since 1970 Resides in Umatilla
District 3 Trustee Member since 2013 Resides in The Villages
SCOTT BOYATT
JOYCE ANDERSON
RAY VICK
District 1 Trustee Member since 2004 Resides in Clermont
District 2 Trustee Member since 2017 Resides in Sumterville
District 5 Trustee Member since 1974 Resides in Inverness
MIKE MUFFETT
JOSEPH KUSIAK
WILLIAM JAMES
District 6 Trustee Member since 1984 Resides in Summerfield
District 7 Trustee Member since 2002 Resides in Dunnellon
District 8 Trustee Member since 2002 Resides in Leesburg
RICHARD DENNISON
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, November 16, at 2:30 p.m. in the Corporate Offices at 330 South US HWY 301 in Sumterville. A Trustees’ meeting will also be held on Monday, December 14, 2020.
24/7 Job Hotline: secoenergyjobs.com Report an Outage: stormcenter.secoenergy.com
8 SECO Energy.com NOVEMBER NEWS SECO 2020 Energy| SECO is an equal opportunity provider and employer.