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SECONEWS My background by trade is accounting and finance. I have a healthy belief in data analysis to project trends. The percentages below certainly get my attention and should grab yours as well.
For the Gulf Coast, the probability of at least one major hurricane making landfall is 44% which is above the historical average. For the U.S. east coast including Florida, the probability of at least one major hurricane making landfall this year is 45% which is also above average.
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While these statistics are troubling, the fact is that living on the Florida peninsula surrounded by water, we are bound to feel the effects SECO ENERGY IS of tropical storms and STORMREADY hurricanes. Preparing before they happen is critical.
The Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University (CSU) published its Atlantic hurricane season forecast AND STRONGLY in April. These experts ENCOURAGES YOUR SECO Energy is predict the 2020 Atlantic StormReady and strongly hurricane season will have FAMILY TO PRACTICE e n co u ra g e s yo u r fa m i l y above-normal activity. This HURRICANE to practice hurricane includes the probability of preparedness. Our storm major hurricanes (Category PREPAREDNESS. hardening efforts include 3, 4 and 5) to make landfall replacing aging distribution along the U.S. coast and in poles, upgrading transmission poles from the Caribbean based on historical and 2020 wood to concrete and trimming trees that probability trackers. encroach on power lines.
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Historically between 1878 and 2017, Florida had a 51% probability of a hurricane spinning into the state. The probability of a major hurricane was 21%. CSU’s probability tracker for 2020 reflects an increased chance of 68% of a hurricane affecting the state. The probability that at least one major hurricane will make Florida landfall is 31%.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE • Generator Safety • Winners’ Circle • EOC Contacts • Florida Fauna & Flora • Hurricane Handbook JUNE 2020 | SECO NEWS
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Are you considering purchasing an in-home generator as a back-up power source during unexpected power outages? Know the difference between stationary and portable generators and learn safety tips that save lives. Stationary generators are permanently affixed with an approved disconnect and transfer switch that isolates your home’s circuits from SECO Energy’s electric system. This isolation eliminates the risk of backfeeding onto utility lines. Installing a stationary generator is not a DIY project. Contact a licensed electrician.
065511 Portable generators are more common than stationary. Portable generators use extension cords to plug desired appliances into the generator.
Generators emit deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas that is odorless and colorless. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends installing a battery-operated CO detector in your home. Place the detector where the alarm will wake you up – just outside bedroom doorways is a good choice. Never run a generator outside an open window or in an enclosed area such as a garage. Also, never use a generator in the rain. You can be shocked or killed. Always read your unit’s safety and instruction manual before operating. Visit SECOEnergy.com > Safety > Generator Safety for more safe operating tips and watch our video to learn how to size a generator correctly.
Welcome ELECTRA as our new IVR virtual assistant. Thank you, members, for voting to help us name our newest SECO representative. ELECTRA assists with billing inquiries, outage reporting, checking the status of a current outage and automated payment arrangements. ALL MEMBERS WHO VOTED WERE ENTERED TO WIN ONE OF FIVE GREAT PRIZES.
WINNERS: $250 SECO BILL CREDIT Amanda Robertson, Clermont RING DOORBELL Larry Bocharski, Deland
AMAZON ALEXA John Halpin, Ocala
AMAZON FIRE TABLET Warren Hammersla, The Villages
NEST LEARNING THERMOSTAT Scott McConnell, Lake Panasoffkee
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CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS!
JUNE 2020 | SECO NEWS
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StormReady also includes our $1 million investment in our outage map, reporting tools, status checker and communications platform called StormCenter. Members can proactively enroll to receive outage communications through email, text, voice messages or all three. StormCenter identifies the service locations affected by an outage and proactively sends a notification with the estimated restoration time, crew status and more. Once service is restored, you’ll receive a message that includes the outage cause if known. You can set do not disturb times if you don’t want to be called in the middle of the night about an outage or restoration. To choose notification preferences, visit StormCenter on the website and click on the Manage Notifications tab.
smartphone or tablet is easy. Click “Report Outage” and enter the account holder’s last name and house number (or the account or phone number). Find the status of an existing outage on the Check Status tab.
175011 Create a StormReady plan for your family that includes gathering emergency supplies, reading our Hurricane Handbook at SECOEnergy. com, enrolling in county alerts and saving your county Emergency Operations Center (EOC) number on your phone. Prepare for the worst, hope and pray for the best and know that it is our privilege to serve as your energy provider. Sincerely,
640014 Reporting a new outage or checking the status of an existing outage with your
Jim Duncan Chief Executive Officer
EOC CONTACTS Thousands of SECO residential members and small business owners have been unable to pay their electric bills since the economic effect of COVID-19 hit. Can you help? Enroll in our Pennies from Heaven program to round up your monthly bill to the nearest dollar. The donated pennies fund bill payment assistance for SECO members. The average donation is $6 per year. Enroll at SECOEnergy.com > Your Coop > Community. If you prefer to make a onetime donation, send a check to SECO Energy, Attn: Corporate Communications, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585.
AS PART OF YOUR FAMILY’S STORMREADY PLAN, sign up for emergency alerts from your local Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Visit your county’s EOC website for resources such as shelter information, storm planning, evacuation orders and more. To enroll in your county’s emergency alerts, visit FloridaDisaster.org/alertflorida/. Enter the county or city and follow the enrollment link. Program your county’s number on your phone to have at your fingertips. Citrus County EOC (352) 527-2106 or (352) 746-5470 Hernando County EOC (352) 754-4083 or (352) 754-4111 Lake County EOC (352) 343-9420
For members who have already enrolled, thank you for your generosity and your willingness to help your neighbors and communities. Your pennies make a difference in the lives of members in need. If you need help, text or call Florida 211 for resources in your area supported by SECO Pennies from Heaven funding.
Levy County EOC (352) 486-5213 Marion County EOC (352) 369-8100 Pasco County EOC (727) 847-8137 Sumter County EOC (352) 689-4400
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.
JUNE 2020 | SECO NEWS
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BLUE CRABS
The SECO Energy Hurricane Handbook is your one-stop guide to being StormReady before, during and after a storm.
fauna & flora
B
lue crabs are found in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. This crab is an
omnivore – eating both plants and animals. Its typical
The Hurricane Handbook defines hurricane category strength, outlines our restoration priority and dispels the myth that SECO disconnects service in advance of an approaching storm. Before a storm arrives, bookmark both StormCenter and our Daily Restoration Plan map on your smartphone or tablet. Enroll in your county’s alert notifications at FloridaDisater.org. We’ve included a seven-day supply stock-up list for you and your pets and advice for members who require electricity for medical equipment. Back-up generation is critical for these special needs members.
diet is small fish, plants, annelids and almost anything else it can ingest.
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Crabs grow by shedding their shells or molting. Blue crabs molt about 25 times during their 3-year lifecycle. Crabbing requires a Florida saltwater fishing license unless you are trying to catch blue crabs from the shore with fishing line or rope. Chicken legs and oily fish are popular bait choices. In Florida, crabbers can harvest female blue crabs, but it is illegal to harvest females carrying eggs. For conservation purposes, return female blue crabs to the water. Females are easily identified by their redtipped claws. Blue crab males have blue claws.
BLUE CRABS CAN SWIM. Many crabs walk or run along the waters’ bottom, but crabs in the Portunidea family have paddle-shaped backlegs called swimmeretes that rotate allowing blue crabs to swim.
What to do during a storm? Hunker down and stay informed. Remain indoors and prepare to wait out the weather safely. SECO Energy crews are dispatched to begin restoration only after winds are under 35 mph. Read about the difference between a tornado watch versus a warning. Read the sections on Electric System 101 and Generator Safety. Assess your home or business to make sure it’s safe before you return. If you experience damage, turn off your main breaker if it is safe to do so. If appliances are wet, turn off each appliance’s breaker and then unplug. Check our above ground and underground service diagrams to assess electric damage and know when to call an electrician for repairs. Focus on your family’s safety by heeding storm watches and warnings. Stock up on hurricane essentials - buy early. When a storm approaches supplies sell out quickly.
Richard Dennison
Ray Vick
President District 4
District 5
Jerry Hatfield
Mike Muffett
Vice President District 9
District 6
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, June 22, 2020, at 2:30 p.m. in the Corporate Offices at 330 South US HWY 301 in Sumterville.
Gerald Anderson
A Trustees’ meeting will also be held on Monday, July 20, 2020.
Secretary-Treasurer District 3
Scott Boyatt District 1
24/7 Job Hotline: Report an Outage: secoenergyjobs.com stormcenter.secoenergy.com
Joyce Anderson
4 SECO Energy.com JUNE 2020 SECO NEWS SECO| Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
District 2
Joseph Kusiak District 7
Bill James District 8