July 2016
D U N C A N’S D I G E S T Do you want to engage with SECO? I can think of at least ten ways for you to connect with us. You can: 1 Call
2 Email
3 Tweet
4 Fill out a web form
5 Upload Instagram photos
6 Watch our YouTube channel
SECOEnergy.com
www
7 Send a Facebook private message
8 Comment on the Newsroom blog
JIM DUNCAN, CEO
9 Check-in or comment on Facebook
SECO Energy is
10 Visit us in person at one of our five locations
the 2015 J.D. Power
Now that you know how to engage with SECO Energy, let’s count the reasons why. You can:
“highest in customer
2 Enroll in SECO’s Surge Protection Program
midsize utilities in the
award winner for
1 Request a free home energy audit
3 Order deeply discounted HVAC filters with free delivery
4 Visit with a member services representative about your bill
satisfaction among
south.” Your satisfaction is critical to our
5 Make a payment at a kiosk or in person with a representative
6 Ask questions about your home’s conduciveness to rooftop solar
7 Enter trivia contests on Facebook and win a $300 electric bill credit
continuing quest to
remain at the top of the
8 Establish an online account through SmartHub to view past billing
J.D. Power rankings.
9 Watch this year’s Annual Meeting video and learn about company news 10 Find the estimated time of restoration for an outage affecting your area
In this day and age, we know we can’t just push information to you and meet today’s expectations. The communication must allow two-way dialogue, and we do our best to be responsive 24/7 and 365 days a year (366 this year since it’s leap year). I hope you’ll engage with us soon. We are always privileged to hear from our members. SECO Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 499002
COMMUNITY SUPPORT SECO Energy’s 2016 scholarship awardees are truly the best of the best! As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, SECO supports the communities we serve. In the 20 years since we began the scholarship program, we have enabled 257 young people to begin their dreams of a college education. Here at SECO, we are proud of our scholars and would like to introduce them to our members.
Pictured left to right: District 4 Trustee Richard Dennison; District 7 Trustee & Secretary/Treasurer Robin Henion; District 3 Trustee Richard Belles; Ana Mata, Citlali Barragan-Hernandez, Raul Bayas, Elijah Hughes, Shelby Smith, Merari Flores Saldana, Richanda Pierre, Karla Carvajal, Melissa Moreno, Cayley Buckner, CEO Jim Duncan, Megan Elliott, District 8 Trustee Bill James; James Cato and District 5 Trustee & President Ray Vick
The twelve scholars this year were each awarded a $3,000 scholarship for the university, accredited college or vocational/technical school of their choice. Since the program’s inception in 1996, we have pledged over $500,000 in scholarships to young people in our service area.
Congratulations, 2016 scholarship awardees! Merari Saldana West Port High School majoring in Psychology at the University of Florida.
Megan Elliott -
Tavares High School majoring in Mechanical Engineering at University of Central Florida.
Citlali BarraganHernandez Belleview High School majoring in Biology at the University of Florida.
James Cato -
Lake Weir High School majoring in Business Management at Warner University.
Cayley Buckner -
West Port High School double majoring in Ecology and Creative Writing at Warren Wilson College.
Melissa Moreno -
West Port High School plans to obtain a doctorate in Optometry from the University of Florida.
Shelby Smith -
South Sumter High School majoring in Biology at Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in Georgia.
Ana Mata Belleview High School majoring in Business Administration/General Studies at the University of Florida.
Elijah Hughes South Sumter High School majoring in Chemistry at Santa Fe College and is the first member of his family to go to college. 815010 Karla Carvajal Wildwood Middle-High School majoring in medicine/ pre-med at College of Central Florida and is the first member of her family to go to college. Raul Bayas -
Vanguard High School majoring in Computer Engineering at Santa Fe College.
Richanda Pierre -
West Port High School attending Florida Atlantic University with plans to work in physical therapy.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Shading for Savings Summer is here and staying cool is a top priority. The sun’s rays make keeping your home cool difficult. Shading your windows can help reduce solar heat gain and save on energy consumption. There are a number of good exterior options to choose from when attempting to block out the heat. Solar screens, installed on exterior frames, cover the entire window blocking the sun’s heat before it gets to the glass. Exterior shutters do the same but require manual opening and closing. Both provide a bit of privacy in addition to energy savings. Awnings and trees are another good choice for window shading when placed on the east and west sides of your home. For added benefit, plant deciduous trees that lose their leaves in fall. You’ll want the heat from the sun to help warm your home in winter. Interior window shading options include ref lective film, shutters, and coverings such as drapes, blinds, or shades. Interior shutters and window coverings, although very effective at blocking the heat, will need to stay closed during the day - completely obstructing your view. Ref lective film, on the other hand, ref lects the sun’s rays without obstructing the view. Choose the option that is right for you.
3´ min.
3´ min. transformer front
3´ min.
10´ min.
Access to Underground Facilities SECO employees are currently out and about in the community inspecting padmount transformers (big green above-ground boxes). In order to quickly and safely restore power after an outage, our Operations employees need a clear path to access this equipment. Landscape safely – keep fences and plants at least ten feet away from the front of the transformer and at least three feet away from the sides and rear of the transformer. We are communicating proactively with members and asking them to relocate fences or plants that are obstructing transformers. If the obstructions are not cleared near the transformers, SECO will be forced to remove anything that blocks our access. 520803 For more information about SECO Energy products and services, visit SECOEnergy.com .
Nature’s reflections No-see-ums
Can’t see them, but you can sure feel the bites Something is biting you, but don’t see anything? If it’s summer in Florida, it’s probably No-see-ums. The tiny, most irritating insect sometimes called sand gnats or sand flies, are actually part of a family of small flies known as the biting midge (Ceratopogonidae). At less than .03 mm long, all that can be seen is a tiny speck, yet it is the smallest blood-sucking insect on the planet. Like the mosquito, only the female bites. The bad news is, there are said to be 47 different species in Florida alone, and 4,000 worldwide. This makes it virtually impossible to know which of the species is biting since they all have similar behaviors. And frankly, once bitten, no one cares what species it is, but how to get them to stop biting. No-see-ums are found during warm weather in all coastal areas, virtually the whole state. They are plentiful and most annoying at the beach, in the pool, when fishing or just enjoying the outdoors. Since they are all over Florida, if you are outside under the right circumstances, they can find you. The worst biting activity occurs early in the morning and late afternoon, or during an overcast day when there is little or no wind. Adult female midges take a tiny bit of blood as a source of protein for their eggs. The number of eggs depends on the size of the adult and the amount of blood. Somewhere between 25 and 110 eggs are produced per blood meal. Eggs are laid in wet sand and hatch in three to five days as long as temperatures are at least 80° F. They are short lived, but their numbers make that a moot point. The midge uses small cutting teeth on the elongated mandibles in its mouth to make a tiny cut in the skin – the bite. The amount of blood taken is insignificant. 517902 The irritation comes from the chemical in the saliva that is injected to prevent blood clotting and gumming up their microscopic beaks. The reaction to these chemicals causes the itchy, painful welts that can last for days. Over time, one’s immune system builds up a tolerance to these bites and the welts stop forming. The best preventative measure is avoidance during peak biting times. Repellents labeled for biting midges may offer some degree of relief. Column by Sandi Staton – sandi.staton@gmail.com
TRUSTEES Ray F. Vick
Summertime Storms in Florida Are Fierce They bring rain, wind and lightning that can create damaging electrical surges and spikes. Surges can cause catastrophic damage or degrade the circuitry of your appliances over time, resulting in premature failure. SECO’s made in the U.S.A. meter base surge arrester works to reduce most surges to a safe level BEFORE they enter your home. The meter base surge arrester protects the large motor appliances in your home such as the air conditioner, washer, dryer, refrigerator, stove and dishwasher. SECO members can lease surge protection for only $5.95 per month, with a $25.00 installation fee, or can purchase* the protection for $349.00 with installation included. SECO’s surge protection is the first step in protecting your appliances. Our product offers a warranty up to $5,000 per appliance, per occurrence with a lifetime maximum of $500,000.
President • District 5
Jerry D. Hatfield
Vice President • District 9
Robin R. Henion
Secretary-Treasurer • District 7
Scott D. Boyatt District 1
Dillard B. Boyatt District 2
Richard J. Belles District 3
Richard Dennison District 4
Earl Muffett District 6
Bill James District 8
Jim Duncan CEO
Enroll today at SECOEnergy.com or call (800) 732-6141. *For residential services greater than 200 amps, surge protection is available “for purchase only” at a cost of $399.00 plus tax with installation included. 649901
SURGE
TRIVIA Answer the three trivia questions below about SECO’s comprehensive surge protection program on our Facebook page and be entered into a random drawing for a $300 bill credit and other prizes. All answers can be found in our surge protection article above. Good luck! 1 Where is the product made? 2 How much is the lease charge per month? 3 How much is the warranty per appliance?
Help us build our online community of Facebook fans. Share SECO’s trivia post on your Facebook page for an extra entry into the random drawing. Winner announced August 15.
SmartHub iPad mini winner:
Congratulations to Robert Taylor of Lake Panasoffkee! As a registered SmartHub user, Robert’s name was drawn at random to win an iPad mini. Sign up for SmartHub today at SECOEnergy.com view and pay your bill online, enroll in paperless billing, view account history and more.
Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, July 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 August 22, 2016. SECO 24/7 Job Hotline www.secoenergyjobs.com (855) 483-2673 SECO Outage Hotline www.secostormcenter.com (800) 732-6141
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