April 2016
As you opened your March billing statement, I hope you were pleasantly surprised to see that SECO Energy’s “Hot Bucks” are hotter than ever. In fact, as of March 1st, residential members are now paying $114.60 based on 1,000 kWh, which is average usage for residential members in our area. Over the past 27 months, SECO Energy has lowered the cost of electricity seven times; this latest reduction equates to a 10.3% decrease over this time frame. The reduction appears as a credit on your bill under the line item “Hot Bucks.” The term refers to the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) portion of your bill.
BILL DECREASE JAN ‘14
NOV ‘14
JUN ‘15
(1,000 kwh) AUG ‘15
OCT ‘15
Jim Duncan, CEO DEC ‘15
MAR ‘16
SECO $127.75
$120.70
$118.20
$117.20
$116.20
$115.60
$114.60
We work closely with our wholesale power provider, Seminole Electric, to ensure that we offer members the lowest rate possible and still eke out a small margin (required of us as a not-for-profit electric cooperative). When the wholesale price goes down, usually due to reduced fuel costs, SECO Energy lowers the PCA factor and members see their bills decrease. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, when wholesale power costs are lower, SECO Energy shares the savings with members. Lowering the cost of power is a joint effort between SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees, our employees and our wholesale power provider, Seminole Electric Cooperative.
Hotter Bucks = Lower Bills
Energy has lowered your electric cost seven times in two years.
Hotter Bucks CONCLUDED
Controlling costs is essential for members and the communities we serve. I know how carefully many of you track your expenditures. I want to assure you that our company’s management team and employees work diligently to keep costs down and control expenses to match your effort.
satisfaction among midsize utilities in the south. I believe our continued commitment to offer members low electric rates, outstanding reliability and strong community support are just a few of the reasons why members are satisfied with the service they receive from their cooperative.
I think it’s safe to say that SECO Energy is one of the most affordable, reliable electric utilities in Central Florida. Hands down, we offer the best customer service. I know this because in 2015, SECO Energy was ranked by J.D. Power as highest in customer
To read more about our commitment to members and our communities, visit SECOEnergy.com. Next month, look for a snapshot overview of our 2016 Annual Meeting of the Membership or watch the video on our website, Facebook or YouTube channel.
Win an iPad mini! ®
Register for a SECO Energy online account through SmartHub.
Visit our completely redesigned website at SECOEnergy.com today and click on “My Account” to sign up for SmartHub®. All SECO Energy members who register online with SmartHub by May 15 will be entered in a drawing to win an iPad mini! Using a computer, tablet or smartphone, members can access and manage their SECO account(s) via SmartHub. Seasonal members can use SmartHub to change their mailing address and also gain instant access to current and previous bills. SmartHub allows members to track their energy use and is helpful for members on a budget. Access these convenient features: • Access current bills – no need to wait for USPS • View and pay your bill online via debit or credit card • Subscribe to receive text or email alerts • Sign up for automatic bank draft or MyWay Prepay • Update mailing address and phone number • Access billing history and view previous bills • Compare yearly or monthly energy usage • View social media news feeds • Plot high, low and average temperatures against energy use • Record energy-saving events (appliance purchases, filter changes) Give SmartHub a try.
Get the app for your mobile device − search for “SmartHub” in the App Storesm for iOS in the Google Play™ store for Android™or use QR codes to the right.
for iOS
for Android
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Contact us at (352) 793-3801 or email customerservice@secoenergy.com for help with registering or with questions. Don’t forget, register by May 15 for a chance to win! Members currently using SmartHub are automatically entered (920601).
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Nature’s reflections
Want a quick and easy way to reduce energy consumption? Change your HVAC filter regularly. Routinely changing your HVAC filter improves your home’s air quality and reduces energy costs. Also, remember to change the filter on your refrigerator. Clean refrigerator filters provide cleaner water and ice, which can reduce spending on bottled water.
Florida’s Cypress Trees Beautiful conifers and beneficial wetlands trees Two types of cypress trees are found throughout Florida. The massive bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), grows to 150-feet tall and more than six feet in diameter. It is believed to be the largest tree in North America east of the Rockies. It has small, flat, feathery-like leaves growing on both sides of horizontal branchlets. Leaves and small round cones shed in the fall, hence the name “bald” cypress. Pond cypress (Taxodium ascendens) is somewhat smaller with needle-like leaves that wrap tightly around the twigs. It is also deciduous meaning it sheds annually. Both trees are known for their “knees” and wide buttressed or fluted trunks that add support. Knees are a part of the root system which grows above the soil and varies in height. Some experts believe the knees supply oxygen to the roots of the trees and serve as support to anchor the tree in wet environments. Typically, pond cypress have fewer knees and are less buttressing than bald cypress trees. Both like full sun, acidic soils, easily adapt to wet or dry conditions and live for hundred of years.
Start saving energy & lowering costs today by visiting FilterChange.coop or call (888) 939-9788. SECO members can purchase discounted HVAC and refrigerator filters and set up filter change email reminders. Members receive free shipping and returns. 752900 Visit SECOEnergy.com to learn more about the filter change program and additional ways to save energy. Proceeds from the filter change program benefit SECO’s Pennies from Heaven program.
Typically, bald cypress grow in and along flowing water, while pond cypress is more limited to still or slow-moving water. Pond cypress grown in soils poor in nutrients experience slower growth, giving the trees a stunted or dwarfed appearance. These trees are often called dwarf cypress or hatrack cypress. These are the classic trees of most southern swamps. They love wet areas and crowd out most other trees on such sites. Cypress swamps provide wildlife habitat and food, water recycling, flood control, excellent groundwater recharge and recreation in parks and preserves. Approximately five percent of Florida’s landscapes are dominated by cypress swamps.
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Cypress lumber is prized for its durability, decay resistance, and appearance. Pecky cypress is simply the result of a natural fungus (polyporus amarus) that causes voids to form in the wood. Today, harvesting of both varieties has increased to produce two major products: lumber and landscaping mulch. l Column & photo by: Sandi Staton sandi.staton@gmail.com
SAFETY Corner
TRU ST E E S Ray F. Vick
President • District 5
Jerry D. Hatfield Vice President • District 9 Robin R. Henion Secretary-Treasurer • District 7
Stay Safe
Scott D. Boyatt
After a Vehicle Accident with Downed Power Lines
Dillard B. Boyatt
Vehicle accidents are scary, especially if the accident involves power lines or poles. Remember these 5 steps to help you stay safe. 1 Stay in your car − only exit the car if it is on fire 2 Remain calm 3 Call 911 immediately. Tell the operator that a power line or pole is down 4 Warn bystanders to stay away 5 Warn first responders the line could be energized Broken power lines can still be energized; touching these can be fatal. Please share this information with family and friends. It could save a life.
Richard J. Belles
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.
District 1 District 2 District 3
Richard Dennison District 4
Earl Muffett District 6
Bill James District 8
Jim Duncan CEO
SECO’s Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, April 25, at 2:30 p.m. in the Corporate Offices located at 330 South US Highway 301 in Sumterville. A Trustees’ meeting will also be held on May 23, 2016. SECO 24/7 Job Hotline
www.secoenergyjobs.com (855) 483-2673
“Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Midsize Utilities in the South” 483600
SECO Outage Hotline
www.secostormcenter.com (800) 732-6141 For J.D. Power award information, visit jdpower.com.
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