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2021
SECONEWS Dear Members,
generator backup still consume (and pay for) utility-supplied power when the sun isn’t shining – at night, rainy afternoons and cold winter mornings. 466903
Solar system inquiries from members are on the rise. Currently, nearly 2,600 SECO Energy If allowable by city/county ordinance, members have chosen to members can go completely off-grid if the invest in member-owned system has a battery to store power generated solar systems. SECO while the sun is shining to use during times is a reliable source when the sun doesn’t shine. During utility of information about outages, solar systems without a backup power solar power for our members, source do not continue to but unfortunately, we hear generate power as most RECENTLY, from members who’ve been inverters require electricity misinformed by a contractor to operate. By design, this MEMBERS or misunderstood the solar requirement prevents power REPORTED SOLAR system’s generation capabilities generated by a solar system and the financial investment. from backfeeding onto the REPRESENTATIVES utility’s electric system – CLAIMING THEY Some solar contractors use which in turn can cause ARE WORKING ON misleading sales pitches – damage, injury or death to we’ve seen the ads: No-cost unsuspecting lineworkers. BEHALF OF SECO – solar. No electric bill. Free THIS IS UNTRUE. solar panels. Power during If you’re interested in solar, an outage. Without question, SECO is here to help. We investing in solar technology is costly. At an recommend obtaining three quotes from average of $2.73 per watt (per the NREL and reputable contractors. Review Better Business dependent on the type of system), a 10-kW Bureau ratings and visit the Florida Solar residential system costs $27,300.00 (offset Energy Industries Association at flaseia.org by a current federal tax credit). If you finance for contractor recommendations. the system, you will pay interest over the term of the loan. If you lease a system, the leasing company receives the federal tax credit rather Continued on page 2 than you. Before investing, crunch the numbers on pvwatts.nrel.gov to estimate potential INSIDE THIS ISSUE generation capacity and financial performance. • Pennies Change Lives
Cost, however, is only one consideration. The Sunshine State is not always sunny. Members who own a solar system without battery or
• Shelter/Rescue Donations • Winners’ Circle • Florida Fauna & Flora JULY 2021 | SECO NEWS
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The name of the game is buyer beware. R e c e n t l y, m e m b e r s re p o r t e d s o l a r representatives claiming they are working on behalf of SECO – this is untrue. One of the most appalling scenarios we encountered this year came from a Marion County family who financed a solar system and had already signed the contract before reaching out to SECO. Can you guess which home in the photo has rooftop solar panels?
incurs the expense of cutting the trees down, their solar system will not generate productively. And if they cut the trees down, their home will not receive the cooling benefit of tree shade. Don’t let this happen to you. Do your homework BEFORE you sign a contract. Visit SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions. You’ll learn about the capabilities and limits of solar power. Upon request to Solar@ SECOEnergy.com, an Energy Services Specialist will conduct a Solar Assessment to determine your home’s conduciveness to solar. We’ll also answer your questions about panels, inverters, insurance, net metering and more. Becoming an educated consumer is your best protection. Sincerely,
The solar panels are not even visible due to the dense tree coverage. Unless the homeowner Jim Duncan Chief Executive Officer
ADVICE FROM THE
Whether you live in an urban or rural area, predatory animals may be closer than you think. The number of Floridians encountering bears in populated areas is increasing. The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists what to look for to determine if a bear has visited your home and how to deter it. If you suspect bear activity: Look for fur left behind, crushed vegetation, teeth and claw marks and hindfoot tracks like a human footprint. Bears are attracted to food. To deter bears: Use bear-proof containers for garbage or items with a strong scent, cover compost, change lever doorknobs (which bears can open) to round knobs. Clean outdoor cooking and fish-scaling areas thoroughly. Turn to page 7 to read about the Florida black bear in this month’s Florida Fauna & Flora. 2
JULY 2021 | SECO NEWS
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven program was established to make a difference in our local communities one penny at a time. Every cent collected is distributed for the benefit of your fellow members. Members enrolled in Pennies from Heaven allow SECO to round up their bill to the nearest dollar automatically. As an example, if the bill is $97.72, you will pay $98.00. The extra 28 pennies go directly to Pennies from Heaven. SECO Energy employees also contribute to Pennies from Heaven through individual donations and corporate fundraisers. Enroll today to be a part of this worthy program. Visit SECOEnergy. com > Your Co-op > Pennies from Heaven to enroll. Even easier, scan the QR code with your phone’s camera to open a link that takes you directly to the Pennies from
943902 Heaven page. Not tech savvy? Fill out the paper Pennies from Heaven enrollment form below and enclose it with your payment. SECO Energy absorbs any small administrative costs associated with the Pennies program. Just a few cents every month can change lives. If you’d like to provide a donation* by check instead, please mail it to us at: SECO Energy Pennies from Heaven 330 S US Highway 301 Sumterville, FL 33585 Requests for bill payment assistance are administered through several area agencies. Call 211 or reach out to a social service agency that offers utility assistance. *Pennies from Heaven donations are not tax deductible.
SCAN QR CODE
ENCLOSE WITH BILL OR MAIL TO: SECO Energy Pennies from Heaven 330 S US Highway 301, Sumterville, FL 33585 P E N N I E S F R O M H E AV E N
MEMBER NAME SERVICE ADDRESS CITY ACCOUNT NUMBER (OPTIONAL) PRIMARY PHONE NUMBER
I agree to have my bill rounded up each month and to donate the extra change to the Pennies from Heaven Program.
EMAIL (OPTIONAL) JULY 2021 | SECO NEWS
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The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is here, and forecasters predict there will be above-normal named storm activity this year. According to the National Weather Service at weather.gov, a typical lightning flash is about 300 million volts and 30,000 amps – and carries enough energy to power a 100-watt incandescent light bulb for three months. Florida storm season brings almost daily thunderstorms with high-voltage lightning. To prepare, SECO is giving away three new portable generators! We’ll pick one winner each month in July, August and September. To be eligible to win, lease or purchase SECO’s Surge MitiGator™ meter-based surge arrester. Members in a current surge lease or prior purchase will automatically be eligible. Lightning is the most common cause of power surges that can damage or destroy your home’s appliances or electronics. Other causes of surges are vehicle accidents involving SECO facilities, small animals or birds contacting electric lines or fallen trees. SECO’s Surge MitiGator helps prevent unnecessary financial loss by reducing surges BEFORE they enter your home through the meter. The Surge MitiGator has a beastly 15-year warranty and is designed to protect your home’s largemotor appliances. You can lease the MitiGator for only $5.95 plus tax per month plus a $25 installation fee. The purchase price ranges from $349 to $399, with installation included.
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JULY 2021 | SECO NEWS
Enroll in SECO’s Surge MitiGator to take the bite out of damaging surges and spikes and be eligible to win a generator. Members currently enrolled in surge are also eligible as winners are drawn from all current surge protection enrollees. Visit SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Surge MitiGator. Click on the enroll icon to complete an enrollment webform.
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Thank you, members, for making our Surgeo Loves Pets charitable initiative an outstanding success! For each new Surge MitiGator™ sign up between February 1 and June 15, your not-for-profit electric cooperative donated $5 from the Pennies from Heaven program to a local shelter or rescue on the member’s behalf in Citrus, Lake, Marion or Sumter County. 2,461 members enrolled resulting in donations totaling $12,305 to the shelters listed below:
CITRUS COUNTY • •
Critterville Inc. $200 Citrus County Animal Services $500 • Humane Society of Citrus County $500 • Precious Paws Rescue, Inc. $200 • St. Francis’s Sunny Side Up Farm Animal Rescue $200 • Ziggy’s Haven Parrot Sanctuary $200
• • • • • • • • • • •
MARION COUNTY • • • • • •
$1,800
• •
LAKE COUNTY
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AFHAR-A Forever Home Animal Rescue, Inc. $200 Florida Boxer Rescue $200 From Trails To Happy Tails $200 Hoffmeyer Animal Rescue $200 Howey Horse Haven Rescue $200 Humane Society of Lake County $1,000 Lake County Animal Shelter $605 Leesburg Humane Society $200 Sugarloaf Mountain Ranch, Inc. $200 The Animal League $200 The Cat Protection Society $200
• • • • • • •
$4,100
SUMTER COUNTY •
$3,405 • HIDDEN ACCOUNT NUMBERS: email us at customerservice@secoenergy.com or call if your number appears. Winners receive a $25 gift card.
Beauty’s Haven Farm and Equine Rescue Inc. $200 Endangered Animal Rescue Sanctuary $200 Forest Animal Rescue $200 Front Range Equine Rescue $200 Fur Kids Pet Rescue Inc. $200 Humane Society of Marion County $1000 Kindred Spirits Sanctuary $200 Marion County Animal Services $500 Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary Inc. (Owls Ocala Inc.) $200 Pets in Distress Inc. $200 Quality of Life Rehab and Foster $200 Sheltering Hands $200 SPCA of Marion County $200 SPCA of Ocala $200 Vocal (Voices of Change Animal League) $200 Forest Animal Rescue $200
Sumter County Animal Control $1,000 YOUR Humane Society SPCA of Sumter County, Inc. $2000
$3,000 JULY 2021 | SECO NEWS
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Michael Underwood from Ocala is the latest winner of a SECO Energy branded Level 2 EV charger. We’re giving one charger away each month while supplies last. To enter, text “EV” to (352) 320-4500 for a link to enter. Or click on the EV Charger Giveaway homepage banner. Learn more about the benefits of electric vehicle ownership on our EV website pages. You’ll find an EV savings calculator, information about CO2 reduction, an EV and PHEV model finder and a nationwide charger-finder map. Visit our Electric Vehicles website section for more details. 306502 Watch SECO News for next month’s charger winner.
Have you engaged with our virtual assistant Electra who can answer thousands of calls without missing a beat? Ask Electra for assistance instead of waiting to speak with a representative. Each week, we’ll draw one winner who will receive a $25 gift card. Winners are drawn from all members who called and successfully took care of business with Electra. WINNERS ARE: Jan Chapple from Oxford Jacquelyn Thomas from Eustis Anna Hazel from Floral City Byron Lowe from Ocala
Winners in our Go Green and Win: Paperless Billing and Bank Draft incentive Wendy Albertson from The Villages is the winner of a $200 SECO Energy bill credit. Bexaida Martinez from Clermont is the winner of a NEST thermostat. Scott Evans from Tavares is the winner of an Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa.
Read Winners’ Circle next month for more winners. Want to win next month? Visit SECOEnergy.com and scroll through the homepage banner arrows to view our drawing promotions. 6
JULY 2021 | SECO NEWS
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FLORIDA BLACK BEAR
#MOVEOVERFL What do emergency or law enforcement vehicles, sanitation vehicles, wreckers or tow trucks and SECO Energy utility vehicles have in common? Florida’s Move
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he largest land mammal in Florida and the only bear found in the state is the black bear. Males weigh 250 to 450 pounds, while females weigh 125 to 250 pounds. Females give birth to 1 to 5 cubs that are born blind and weigh only 8 to 15 ounces. Black bears are a Florida conservation success. Florida’s bear population dropped to under 500 in the 1970s. In 1974, they were listed as Threatened and placed on the Endangered and Threatened Species List. With a population of over 4,000, bears were removed from the protected list in 2012. Florida black bears are athletic – they run up to 35 mph, climb 100 feet up a tree in 30 seconds and are active swimmers. Black bears travel large areas of land to survive. A male’s home range is about 60 square miles, while females have a home range of about 15 miles. Bears are most active at dusk and dawn, and are coming in closer contact with people. Read this month’s Advice from The Old Farmer’s Almanac on page 2 to learn how to spot the signs of bear activity close to your home.
Over law or Statute 316.126 requires drivers to move over a lane – safely – when these vehicles are parked on the side of the road. 613513 What should I do if I’m unable to change lanes? If unable to move over safely, drivers must reduce their speed to 20 mph less than the posted speed. For example, the speed limit posted on the roadway is 55, which means you are required to reduce your rate of speed to 35 or less. When the posted speed is 25 mph, drivers must slow down to 5 mph. Failure to Move Over puts defenseless workers and you at risk. You can strike a worker or a parked vehicle. Drivers will be ticketed, pay a fine and incur points on their driving record. For safety, #MoveOverFL – it’s the law.
FLORIDA BLACK BEARS have a remarkable sense of smell. They can detect scents up to a mile away. Source: Florida Wildlife Federation
JULY 2021 | SECO NEWS
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MORGAN HATFIELD DISTRICT 9 TRUSTEE _____
Mr. Ray Vick represents District 5 on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees. Trustee Vick has held various Board Officer positions during his Board participation, including President. Elected to the Board in 1980, Trustee Vick resides in Inverness and became a SECO member in 1974.
GERALD ANDERSON
JOYCE ANDERSON
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY/TREASURER
District 4 Trustee Member since 1999 Resides in Ocala
District 3 Trustee Member since 2013 Resides in The Villages
District 2 Trustee Member since 2017 Resides in Sumterville
SCOTT BOYATT
RAY VICK
MIKE MUFFETT
District 1 Trustee Member since 2004 Resides in Clermont
District 5 Trustee Member since 1974 Resides in Inverness
District 6 Trustee Member since 1984 Resides in Summerfield
JOSEPH KUSIAK
WILLIAM JAMES
MORGAN HATFIELD
District 7 Trustee Member since 2002 Resides in Dunnellon
District 8 Trustee Member since 2002 Resides in Leesburg
District 9 Trustee Member since 2019 Resides in Paisley
RICHARD DENNISON
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, July 26, 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, August 23, 2021.
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SECO Energy.com JULY 2021 SECOopportunity NEWS SECO Energy is an |equal provider and employer.
Report an Outage: stormcenter.secoenergy.com 24/7 Job Hotline: secoenergyjobs.com