August 2015
J.D. Power Ranks SECO Energy Highest in Segment The J.D. Power 2015 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction study was released in July. We are humbled and honored to announce that SECO Energy ranks highest among midsize utilities in the South region. The J. D. Power study ranks midsize and large electric utilities in four geographic regions: East, Midwest, South and West. Companies in the midsize utility segment serve between 100,000 and 499,999 residential customers, while companies in the large segment serve 500,000 or more. The study measures customer satisfaction by examining six key factors: power quality and reliability; price; billing and payment; corporate citizenship; communications; and customer service. SECO CEO Jim Duncan stated, “This J.D. Power award is the culmination of a decade of hard work and steady improvement in the service we provide to our members. I credit our Board’s governance, our management team’s leadership and, most important, our employees’ dedication and hard work. Our highest priority is serving our members with reliable, low-cost service while supporting our local communities. We’re honored that SECO Energy members have recognized our company with this award.” Board President Ray Vick commented, “The J.D. Power award marks a significant milestone and frames a positive future for our company, which has a deeply rooted history as Sumter Electric Cooperative, founded in 1938 with a mission of rural electrification.” The mission has changed over time, and in an effort to enhance the company’s image as a utility serving seven Central Florida counties, the cooperative has slowly adopted the name “SECO Energy.” A notice was recently published in the Sumter County Times of intention to officially do business as (d/b/a) SECO Energy, and the name was registered with the Florida Department of State. SECO Energy’s Corporate Communications team developed the new logo to strengthen its brand identity. Colors remain the same for familiarity, and the plug was preserved as a tribute to the previous logo. CEO Jim Duncan added, “The partial circle or arc over the top speaks to SECO Energy’s presence in The Sunshine State – its beautiful sunrises, sunsets, solar power, 800011 continuous energy flow, Florida oranges and, truly, anything under the sun. The logo commemorates the significance of the company’s identity today and in the future as SECO Energy.” Continued next page...
We’re Turning Up the Heat—Again In a world where the price of everything seems to keep going up, a decrease in the cost of energy is practically unheard of. Keeping rates affordable is a priority for SECO Energy and for our power producing partner, Seminole Electric Cooperative. Together we work hard to hold down expenses and to pass along savings when possible.
SECO Energy, your not-for-profit electric cooperative, operates solely for your benefit. Whether it’s giving energy advice to help you save, returning dollars to you in the form of Capital Credits or lowering your overall cost of power, it’s all about you —our member-owners. ■
Bill Decrease
OCT 2014
$117.20
JAN 2014
$118.20
$130 $128 $126 $124 $122 $120 $118 $116 $114 $112
$120.70
think “Hot Bucks” couldn’t get any hotter, they flame. Effective August 1st, your cost of electricity will drop AGAIN. The decrease will appear in your Power Cost Adjustment or PCA – one of the components of your monthly bill. If you remember, just a couple of months back in the June SECO News, SECO Energy reduced the PCA thus allowing for a higher credit on your bill. The latest reduction decreases it further and equates to a whopping 8.3% decrease over the past 20 months. Since the reduction is applied through the PCA, all SECO members benefit from the savings. The latest decrease denotes that SECO Energy members pay one of the lowest residential rates (based on 1,000 kilowatt-hours or kWh) in the state.
$127.75
That’s right! Just when you
JUNE 2015
AUG 2015
Based on 1,000 kWh k h 539010
... J.D. Power concluded.
Executive Management Team: Kathryn Gloria, VP of Corporate Communications & Energy Services; Nora Brown, Senior Executive Assistant; Gregg Morrell, VP of Corporate Services & Human Resources; Jim Duncan, CEO; Ben Brickhouse, VP of Engineering; Gene Kanikovsky, CFO; John LaSelva, VP of Operations
Enhancing member communication is one of SECO’s current priorities. The company is currently evaluating its website and storm center platforms and researching technology that promotes twoway communication with members. Visit the company on Facebook and Twitter today for the latest company news, energy-efficiency resources and community outreach events. ■
SAFETY FIRST!
670017
Always stay clear of dangling or downed power lines. When reporting downed lines please provide the closest service address or the 911 address. Keeping you safe is our priority and a valid address helps expedite repairs.
My Co-op Deals Your SECO Co-op Connections Card is a moneysaving tool and the card connects you with a variety of discounts. Here are a few: With over 25 years experience Fusion Electrical Contractors specializes in electrical service and remodel work. They are offering a 10-20% discount. Contact (352) 470-3444 for service. Invest in energy efficient windows and save. Windows of Central Florida is offering free estimates and a $250 discount on window replacement and installations of $10,000 or more. For more information, call (352) 217-8151. 626701 For a local listing of other participating businesses and for the national deals, visit www.connections. coop. If you are a local business owner interested in participating in the program, call (352) 793-3801 and ask to speak to Eneida Robaina. Email customerservice@secoenergy.com to receive a new card or print one online at SECOEnergy.com . Click on and create an account or sign in to print a personalized card. Downloading a mobile Co-op Connections card for both Android and Apple devices is also available. ■
NATURE’S reflections Florida’s Fl id ’ M Marsh hR Rabbit bbi A smaller version of the Eastern Brown Cottontail Florida’s marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) is a slightly smaller, reddish brown version of the eastern cottontail with short broad ears, smaller feet and a small grayishbrown tail instead of the “puff ” cotton tail of its cousin. It is about sixteen to eighteen inches long and can weigh up to three and a half pounds. The marsh rabbit is always found close to water in both the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of the southeastern United States. In Florida, its habitat includes wetlands of both fresh and saltwater marshes. It eats a variety of plants found in and around wetlands including sedge, maidencane, grasses, subterranean bulbs, broadleaf herbs and weeds. The marsh rabbit is a strong swimmer and is considered a semiaquatic mammal. When threatened, it takes to the water where it may swim or float with just its eyes and nose exposed. If cut off from water, it will run a zigzag trail similar to its cousin. While it can run as fast as 30 mph, its shorter legs make it somewhat less agile on land. Other unique characteristics of the marsh rabbit is its ability to climb and to walk on its hind legs for brief periods. It is most active from dusk to dawn. Predators include most carnivores: owls, especially the Great horned owl, foxes, bobcats, coyotes and alligators. Hurricanes and coastal flooding can also take a significant toll on young ones and nestlings. Breeding occurs year round but peaks between December and June. A covered nest is built made of rushes, grasses and leaves most often in a log or stump. The female lines the nest with grass and soft fur pulled from her breast. A female marsh rabbit can breed at nine months and may produce an average litter of twoto-four young, six-to-seven times a year. She can breed again right after giving birth. The young rabbits are weaned and foraging on their own in just four weeks. The Lower Keys marsh rabbit is a subspecies native to the Florida Keys and is on the Protected Species List. This rabbit’s decline coincided with the residential and commercial development of the string of islands off the coast of Florida. Column & photo by Sandi Staton – sandi.staton@gmail.com
member expressions On behalf of all of us at the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County, we sincerely thank you for your sponsorship. ... Your consideration for the children of our community is greatly appreciated. Your donation will help shape the future of your community Clubs for nearly 1,000 youth! Thank you for making great futures possible! The Boys & Girls Club of Marion County is honored that you have chosen to make a difference toward the advancement of club kids. Support such as yours serves to demonstrate the care and concern for your community. ... Thanks again to everyone at your organization who made this possible and for thinking of Club kids! 475102
Stan Creel, CPO & Carswell Ponder, DOD Boys & Girls Club of Marion County
On Behalf of Villagers For Veterans, Inc. and the entire volunteer team, thank you for your very generous donation of $550.00 in support of the second annual Villagers for Veterans Event. The “INDY Orchid Gala” benefiting The Independence Fund Track Chair Initiative, was a tremendous success, raising $139,602.00 to provide our most severely wounded veterans with Track Chairs that are sure to play an important part in their healing process and a return to normalcy. It is through the generosity of individuals like you that we can
continue to provide our wounded heroes with the tools that are needed to help them gain some of the independence and freedom that has been so compromised as a result of their service to this wonderful nation.
SECO TRUSTEES Ray F. Vick President • District 5
Jerry D. Hatfield Vice President • District 9
Robin R. Henion Secretary-Treasurer • District 7
Scott D. Boyatt District 1
Marie Bogdonoff
Dillard B. Boyatt
Founder, President
District 2
Richard J. Belles I just want to drop a line to let you know how wonderful Matt Hudson is. He just finished my free energy audit and he did a great job explaining everything to me. He checked my whole house and even explained how some things work to me. He explained about energy usage, air conditioning and made some solid and knowledgeable suggestions to me. He also felt very safe to have in my home, so respectful and informative. Thank you for hiring such wonderful people! Great customer service is so important and you have a great guy to carry that out!
Gayle A. Payne Groveland, FL
The Innovate Sumter Awards Dinner was a fantastic success! We appreciate you sponsoring such an important event to honor thriving local businesses. Your gracious support makes what we do possible, and we can’t thank you enough.
Sumter County Chamber of Commerce
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 win@secoenergy.com (or call) if your number appears. Six winners are drawn at random from all submissions.
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, August 24th 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 September 28, 2015. 408001 SECO 24/7 Job Hotline www.secoenergyjobs.com 855-483-2673 SECO Outage Hotline www.secostormcenter.com 800-732-6141