January 2022 SECO News

DEAR MEMBERS, On behalf of the Board of Trustees and SECO Energy, please join us in welcoming Curtis Wynn as our new CEO. Mr. Wynn takes the helm on January 4, stepping into Jim Duncan’s role as he retires after a distinguished 43-year SECO career.

He also serves or has served on a variety of boards including: immediate past board president, National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA); past president, vice president and secretary-treasurer of North Carolina Electric Membership Cooperative; board member, North Carolina’s Association of Electric Cooperatives; board member, Meridian Cooperative (formerly Southeastern Data Cooperative – SEDC); and past nominating committee member, CoBank.

SECO Energy provides electric service to 220,000+ homes and businesses across seven Mr. Wynn’s energy industry MR. WYNN WILL counties in Central Florida. SECO career is rooted in Florida. From TAKE THE CEO HELM Energy is a three-time J.D. Power 1981 to 1997, he worked at West ON JANUARY 4TH, award-winning electric utility and Florida Electric Cooperative. His STEPPING INTO JIM is a front runner statewide and tenure culminated there as Vice DUNCAN’S ROLE nationally with the American President of Member Services, Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

Information Technology, AS HE RETIRES. Marketing and Economic Development. Mr. Wynn has served as President Welcome, Mr. Wynn. We look forward to working and CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative in North with you and seeing our cooperative into the Carolina. Roanoke is a not-for-profit electric future supporting our strategic goal of providing cooperative that serves 14,500 metered accounts. affordable, reliable electric service.

Mr. Wynn is married with three children. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Management Information Systems from Troy University. Based on his electric cooperative career that spans almost 42 years, SECO’s Board of Trustees expects that Mr. Wynn will continue Mr. Duncan’s legacy of success at SECO. In reviewing his bio, Mr. Wynn’s resume reflects a long list of awards and accomplishments showing a history of supporting creative solutions that are turning the challenges of the energy industry evolution into major opportunities.

Sincerely,

Richard Dennison Board President and District 4 Trustee

• Payment Mailing Address • Second AMI Pilot • Winners’ Circle • Florida Fauna & Flora JANUARY 2022 | SECO NEWS

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For members who prefer to pay their monthly energy bill by mail, our payment mailing address has changed. The new payment address is: SECO Energy DEPT # 3035 PO BOX 11407 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35246-3035 This change is effective on January 1.

If you are considering a more modern and secure payment option in place of writing a paper check, visit SECOEnergy.com > My Account > 12 Ways to Pay. Using SmartHub, you can enroll in bank draft, schedule a credit/debit card payment or pay by e-check. SmartHub also allows you to opt out of receiving a paper bill in favor of an eBill sent to your email address each month after your meter is read. This helps us keep rates low by saving time and money – both for you and SECO.

SECO Energy’s Pennies from Heaven Program donated $3,485 to help fight cancer.

From October 1 through November 15, 2021, for every member who enrolled in our Surge MitiGator surge protection, your not-for-profit electric cooperative donated $5 from the Pennies from Heaven program to a local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

697 members enrolled resulting in donations totaling $3,485.

Take the bite out of damaging surges and spikes with the Surge MitiGator. Power surges are caused by lightning, vehicles crashing into SECO poles, small animals, birds or fallen trees.

SECO’s made in the USA meter-based surge arrester reduces 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 large-motor appliances. Household appliances and sensitive electronics such as televisions and computers can be damaged or destroyed by power surges and also require point-of-use devices for adequate protection.

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. To enroll, visit SECOEnergy.com > Surge MitiGator and complete the web form.

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JANUARY 2022 | SECO NEWS

In 2014, SECO Energy engaged with a smart meter vendor in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) pilot project of about 1,200 meters. After the pilot, we installed 36,000 meters in our territory. Unfortunately, the product did not perform as expected. The meters and communications equipment were removed

AMI meters supply daily usage readings that will integrate with SECO’s online account management platform SmartHub. Through this SmartHub integration, members will have much more insight into their energy consumption and habits. AMI also has the potential to reduce labor costs and can expedite member requests for service

and returned to the vendor.

reconnection or disconnection. Meter tampering and line loss can also often be identified using AMI. Immediate identification of outages is also a strong advantage of an AMI system. Distribution automation in an AMI system can improve power quality, optimize efficiency and provide comprehensive data for planning, engineering and maintenance.

Since then, we’ve kept an eye on the market.

In 2018, we conducted workshops with eight different major smart meter vendors. Each offered a slightly different product and provided varying performance expectations based on the type of communications systems their brand offered. Because SECO’s service territory is a mix of dense suburban areas, metropolitan areas and sparsely populated rural areas, we require a product that will perform in a variety of terrains. Several vendors offered to build a hybrid to accomplish that. Unfortunately, it comes with a hefty price tag. Thus, we decided to take small steps to determine what product is best for SECO. Late in 2019, SECO announced a pilot project that replaced 6,200 outdated prepaid meters with Elster/Honeywell AMI meters that used Verizon 5G technology.

The Board of Trustees recently approved an additional pilot project for a broader comparison and benchmark using Landis+Gyr technology. Both the Elster/ Honeywell and the Landis+Gyr pilot projects will help us gain the experience of operating an AMI system.

To identify the strengths and weaknesses of both AMI products/vendors, SECO requires a test period that spans all seasons to glean the data and field experience in real-time.

SECO can analyze the data gathered from both pilots once complete.

Technology is changing rapidly, and we must choose a product and vendor that will serve SECO into the future. AMI is likely one of the largest equipment and technology investments we will make in the coming decade. Watch SECO News for updates as we evaluate our pilots.

Are the last six digits of your account number below? Email customerservice@secoenergy.com or call if your number appears. Winners receive a $25 gift card.

204611 950016

597311 295401

075105 040007

JANUARY 2022 | SECO NEWS

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THE GREAT FLORIDA BIRDING AND WILDLIFE TRAIL

A

re you looking for an outdoor adventure?

Take a hike on The Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail to observe native Florida animals, birds, butterflies and trees. There are 510 designated sites in the panhandle, east, west and south Florida.

In our local area, you’ll find sites in both the east and west. In Citrus County make a visit to the Crystal River Preserve State Park, Flying Eagle Preserve and Withlacoochee State Forest. In Lake County, look for the Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area, Lake Louisa State Park and the Seminole State Forest. In Marion County enjoy the Ocala National Forest Salt Springs, Rainbow Springs State Park and World-Famous Silver Springs State Park. In Sumter County you’ll find the Lake Panasoffkee Wildlife Management Area and the Marsh Bend “Outlet” Park.

The Florida Department of Transportation and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida support the Trail. The program is overseen by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Millions visit THE GREAT FLORIDA BIRDING AND WILDLIFE TRAIL every year. Its economic impact is over $1 billion for the state, but the Trail’s goal is to encourage conservation of our native habitats and species.

Engage with our virtual assistant Electra on the phone for a chance to win a $25 gift card. Winners who self-served using Electra are: Joseph Hrytzay from Sorrento Daizebel Ortiz from Tavares Carol Bullock from Inverness Conrad Penchion from Ocala Joan McDonald from Lady Lake The latest winner of a SECO Energy Level 2 EV Charger is Irene Jaronczyk from The Villages. To enter, text “EV” to (352) 320-4500 for a link to enter.

Or click on the EV Charger Giveaway homepage banner. Visit our Electric Vehicles website section to learn more about the benefits of owning an EV. Winners in our Go Green and Win: Paperless Billing and Bank Draft Incentive Kelli Wilson from Ocala is the winner of a $200 SECO Energy bill credit.

William Barnes from Floral City is the winner of a NEST thermostat.

Benjamin Mohr from Clermont is the winner of an Amazon Echo Dot with Alexa.

Congratulations to our recent winners!

Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, January 24, 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, February 28, 2022.

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