DE C EMB ER
|
2022
Dear Members,
‘Tis the season for giving and sharing the magic of the holidays. I commend our SECO Energy employees who generously support our corporate giving efforts and other worthy charitable causes. One cause close to many SECO Energy employees’ hearts is our annual United Way Employee Giving Campaign. Many of our employees pledged a portion of their 2023 earnings to local United Ways. Next year, United Ways across our Central Florida counties will benefit from these generous pledges. SECO Energy employees pledged $38,843 to local United Ways through the employee-led 2023 United Way Pledge Drive. Our employees have been actively supporting United Way for almost 20 years. During that time, employees have pledged over $1,083,287 to support local families through the United Way. Most of our employees live in Citrus, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties, receiving the highest dollar amounts in donations. The 400+ SECO Energy employees choose the county and the program their donated dollars will benefit.
Not only do our employees assist local communities through United Way, but they also help fill Santa’s sleigh with donations for our corporate Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots donation drive. Starting in November, employees brought new, unwrapped toys for the drive. All toys donated are dispersed in the local area where they were collected. Many of our members joined in the effort by dropping off toys at our Member Service Centers. Thank you for your generosity. Retired Marines and other volunteers picked up donations in early December to distribute to children in need in time for the holidays. Members who want to register to receive toys donated through Toys for Tots can visit ToysforTots.org > Request a Toy. From the SECO Energy family to yours, we wish you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Sincerely,
Curtis Wynn
UNITED WAY PLEDGES BY COUNTY: Lake and Sumter Counties: $15,929 Marion County: $14,257 Citrus County: $4,182 Other Counties $4,476 The total pledge for 2023 is $38,843
• Electric Safety • 12 Ways To Pay • Winners' Circle: Generator DECEMBER 2022 | SECO NEWS
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ELECTRIC SAFETY Everyone who uses electricity should be aware of its risks and dangers. Over 51,000 American homes are damaged or destroyed by fire caused by electrical failures each year, and 500 lives are lost (Electrical Safety Foundation International). Adults over 65 and young children are at the highest risk of injury or death from a home fire. You should learn the basics of your home’s electrical system and how to prevent electrical fires. Outdated wiring is a common culprit of electrical fires. Flickering lights, tripped breakers, or a burning smell could indicate overloaded circuits. Hire an electrician to investigate. If the home’s wiring is outdated, the electrical outlets are as well. Outlets that are damaged, loose or warm to the touch must be repaired or replaced.
requirements. Electricians can update breaker panels and add extra electrical outlets that will avoid circuit overload. Electrical safety extends outside the home. Never touch utility equipment such as underground transformers or overhead power lines. Always consider power lines to be energized and dangerous. Stay away from downed lines and call 911 and SECO Energy to report immediately. Teach children electrical safety as well. Never allow children to play on or near electrical equipment or climb a substation fence. Children should not climb trees near energized lines. Keep remotecontrol toys, hobby drones and kites away from overhead lines.
ES FROM HEAVEN DONATES $3,485 E AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY Home wiring and troubleshooting is a job best left to a professional. Contact a reputable electrician who is licensed, insured and adheres to local code
YOUR HVAC (HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING) UNIT IS LIKELY THE LARGEST ENERGY USER IN YOUR HOME. BEFORE WINTER'S COLD TEMPERATURES ARRIVE, SCHEDULE AN HVAC SERVICE CALL TO ENSURE YOUR UNIT IS OPERATING EFFICIENTLY. The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts winter 2022 – 2023 will be cold with above-normal rainfall. The forecast calls for temperatures 1 to 4 degrees below average, with the coldest temperatures in January. Preventative maintenance and routine filter changes extend the life of your HVAC unit. A qualified technician will thoroughly inspect the unit and recommend maintenance or repairs. A well-working HVAC unit operates more efficiently and uses less energy. 2
DECEMBER 2022 | SECO NEWS
Learn more about electrical safety at SECOEnergy.com > Safety > Electrical Safety.
Set a calendar reminder to change your unit’s air filter monthly or follow the manufacturer’s suggested filter change schedule. For more ways to reduce energy usage, visit SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions and complete the Home Energy Assessment and Energy Estimator. The Home Energy Assessment is an online energy audit that provides energy efficiency advice tailored to your home’s features. The Energy Estimator calculates the energy used and associated costs for your home’s electricity users. Submit your answers with your email address to receive immediate low-cost energysaving advice.
SECO ENERGY OFFERS MEMBERS 12 WAYS TO PAY THEIR MONTHLY ENERGY BILLS. MOST PAYMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE WITH NO CONVENIENCE FEE.
PAY ONLINE
BANK DRAFT
Our account manager SmartHub allows
Draft your monthly amount from a bank
you to view and pay your bill, enroll in
account of your choice – the ultimate in
bank draft or eBill and compare energy
convenience. Enroll in bank draft with
usage by month or year.
SmartHub.
IN PERSON
BY PHONE
Five Member Service Centers open in
1 (877) 371-9382, 24 hours a day, seven
Eustis, Groveland, Sumterville, Ocala
days a week. Accepts Visa, MasterCard,
and Inverness with walk-in, drive-thru
Discover, AMEX, debit card or electronic
facilities and kiosks
check.
PAY NOW
BY MAIL
Instant payment using your account
SECO Energy (Dept. 3035), P.O. Box
number and form of payment through
11407, Birmingham, AL 35246-1407
SmartHub – no registration required.
MYWAY PREPAY
FIDELITY EXPRESS
Pay for energy before you use it. View
Locations accept cash, check or money
daily usage and receive phone or text
orders. Not recommended for MyWay
notifications.
PrePay members. $1.50 processing fee.
MONEYGRAM
WESTERN UNION
Available at many retail locations and
In-person payments received in real time.
for MyWay PrePay enrolled members.
Max amount per transaction is $1,000.
$1.50 processing fee.
$1.50 processing fee.
BUDGET BILLING
VANILLADIRECT PAY
Levels out bills by averaging most recent
Pay with cash at thousands of locations.
12 months usage. Debit/credit balances
Barcode required via SmartHub. $1.50
accumulate based on seasonal usage.
processing fee.
DECEMBER 2022 | SECO NEWS
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SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven program transitions to the SECO Energy Foundation in January 2023. The SECO Energy Foundation will expand community outreach and member bill payment assistance. The Foundation is funded by SECO Energy rounding enrolled members’ bills up to the nearest dollar and donating the pennies to the Foundation. The average donation per member whose bill is rounded up is $6 annually.
G E NE RATO R
Congratulations to our three members who enrolled in SECO Energy’s Surge MitiGator Surge Protection program and won a generator! SEPTEMBER Jack Bonniwell from The Villages
At year-end, all SECO members will be automatically enrolled in the SECO Energy Foundation unless they have proactively advised us over the last five months that they wish to unenroll. There are multiple ways (see below) to unenroll from the Foundation’s electric bill round-up program. Please update your SECO Energy Foundation enrollment status before December 31, 2022. TO UPDATE YOUR SECO ENERGY FOUNDATION ENROLLMENT STATUS: Visit SECOEnergy.com > Contact > SECO Energy Foundation. Send an email to CustomerService@ SECOEnergy.com. Call (352) 793-3801 Write to SECO Energy, Attn: Corp Comm, P.O. Box 301, Sumterville, FL 33585.
Are the last six digits of your account number below? Email customerservice@secoenergy.com if your number appears. Winners receive a $25 gift card.
036101 201023
528103 788605
OCTOBER Barney Newbern from Leesburg NOVEMBER Kenneth Christensen from Clermont The Surge MitiGator takes the bite out of damaging surges and spikes. Members can lease the protection for $5.95 per month plus tax and $25 installation fee or purchase for $349 to $399 plus tax and free installation. Learn more about the Surge MitiGator, visit SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Surge MitiGator and fill out our handy web form.
750301 118002
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, December 19, 2022, 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, January 23, 2023. SECO Energy.com SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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DECEMBER 2022 | SECO NEWS
Report an Outage: stormcenter.secoenergy.com 24/7 Job Hotline: secoenergyjobs.com