September 2015
D U N C A N’S D I G E S T Over the ten years since named hurricanes blew through Florida, SECO Energy has continued to invest in system improvements that “harden” our infrastructure in preparation for not only the next major hurricane but also for small storms that occur. Moreover, these upgrades improve system reliability on blue-sky days as well. After the hurricanes of 2004 when some utility providers’ systems did not hold up well to the wind, rain and storm surge, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) enacted Administrative Code (Rule 25-6.0343) requiring municipal and co-op utilities to file annual reports with the PSC. Investor-owned utilities also file with, and are accountable to the PSC. SECO Energy’s design and construction standards, policies, and procedures comply with Rural Utilities Service (USDA-RUS) guidelines and the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC). Our distribution facilities are designed to withstand 110 mph winds, and the system is evaluated continuously for storm hardening and system upgrades. Annually, our company spends about $27 million on system maintenance, $9 million on improvements, and $8 million on vegetation management – all ensuring the most reliable, efficient delivery of power to you.
In 2007, SECO developed a rigorous program to conduct the following inspections: eight-year rotational five-year rotational three-year rotational inspection cycle: inspection cycle: inspection cycle: Every distribution pole Thermographic imaging Vegetation management on the system All components of every substation All underground facilities
of critical circuits All transmission poles
around lines, transformers, pedestals, etc. 410018
After researching results of previous years’ pole inspections, SECO began a five-year plan in 2011 to replace all wood transmission poles with spun concrete poles that are set 30 feet into the ground. The data made it clear that woodpecker damage, toward the top of the pole, is the leading cause of poles deteriorating prematurely and that pole rot at the bottom was not a large contributor. Given the hurricane-force wind risk and the ravenous woodpeckers in our area, spun concrete was the answer. The photos to the left tell the “before and after” story from an occurrence on July 29th with a wood pole in the transmission corridor between the Anderson and Lake Panasoffkee substations. The broken pole shows substantial woodpecker damage. Ironically, the new concrete pole to replace the one that broke that night was set just prior to the wood pole breaking. The conductors were transferred the next day to AFTER BEFORE the concrete pole. It’s also important to note that on the night this wood pole broke, members did not experience an interruption due to the combination of state-of-the-art substation design (called a “ring bus” system) and quality construction. The system redundancy is intentionally designed with backup power sourcing from the Bushnell substation into the Lake Panasoffkee substation, allowing the power flow to continue automatically through another circuit despite the wood pole failure. This ring bus design redundancy has been applied to most substations across our system to create parallel power source options when anomalies occur. Our Lady Lake substation is another example of the inspection cycle resulting in proactive system improvements. Substation inspections are comprehensive - with many of the large components being removed from service, taken apart and inspected in detail. The most recent Lady Lake substation preventative maintenance inspection Continued next page ...
...System Improvements Concluded (part of the eight-year cycle) revealed that the power transformer’s condition could have resulted in potential catastrophic failure and a complete substation outage (that would have affected 4,163 members). A temporary mobile transformer was installed at the substation while a new unit was purchased (an item carefully reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees due to the dollar value). Our Board recognized the critical need of this item and approved the $466,800 purchase in February. The photo to the right shows the new 93,000 pound transformer being lifted into position inside the substation using a massive rented crane. If you want to see the high-speed transformer replacement video, visit our YouTube channel or our Facebook page. Our efforts to keep you informed about work in your area to improve the reliability of your electric service are just as important as the improvements themselves. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and make sure that your primary phone number is up to date through your online account or smart-phone app, called SmartHub. Log in or establish an account today at SECOEnergy.com or download the app from your phone store. Thank you for reading, and tune in to Duncan’s Digest again next month to learn more about Capital Credits – your pro-rata share of SECO’s margins and the most tangible benefit of co-op membership. Sincerely, Jim Duncan, CEO
Winners of the 40 Ways to Save Challenge In July’s SECO News, CEO Jim Duncan challenged members to share their most effective energy–saving change. We received a lot of entries and all those submitted on Facebook, as requested, were entered in the random drawing. Those that were submitted by USPS are much appreciated too. Your energy efficiency ideas are very creative! We appreciate the responses, photos and enthusiasm for reducingg energy usage as a means to lowering your electric bills. Margaret Carlock ock And the winners are: of Inverness is the winner of thee Amanda Kula $500 bill credit. of Clermont is 341100 the winner of the Louise programmable Morningstar WiFi thermostat. of Webster is the winner of a oneThanks to all for playing! Keep an year supply of eye out for more incentives to raise HVAC filters.
awareness about energy savings.
Most hurricanes occur in August, September and October – BE PREPARED – read our Florida Storms guide. Find it online or pick one up at any of our locations.
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.
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Scammers , Phishers & Thieves O
H MY!
They sound legitimate. They seem professional. Even the phone number on your caller ID displays SECO Energy. They tell you that your electric account is delinquent and you should make payment right away to avoid immediate disconnection of service. They continue by adding how simple it is to take care of the matter by credit card or pre-paid debit card. They sound convincing but they are not SECO Energy; they are impersonators trying to steal your hard-earned money – or worse – your identity. Unfortunately, scams are on the rise and the scammers are becoming more and more sophisticated. A technique called “spoofing” or “phishing” can actually make you think the call is coming from your utility, bank or other business when in fact it is not. Although spoofing is illegal under federal law, this doesn’t stop criminals looking for a quick payoff. Therefore, always be wary if someone is calling and asking for sensitive information. Also, remember that SECO Energy sends multiple notifications by mail if your account is delinquent – and we won’t call and demand debit/credit card information by threatening an immediate disconnection of service. Although SECO Energy initiates “robocalls” offering public service information, outage information, emergency updates, and billing reminders, these are automated courtesy calls. If you are in doubt about any call, please hang up and dial us directly to confirm your account status – (352) 793-3801. According to Florida’s Attorney General, scams are on the rise even though that office and the Federal Trade Commission are working hard to crack down on those looking to take advantage of others. However, you are your best defense against predators. Protect yourself by using caution before giving your personal/financial information over the phone 243900 – no matter how convincing the person sounds.
Contact us before you buy If you are considering purchasing a new air conditioning or heating unit, call us before you buy. Allow our team of energy services professionals to check the efficiency of your existing unit. We can help you decide if an upgrade is to your benefit by helping you make an informed decision. We offer an unbiased opinion and we’ll be the first to tell you if your money could be better spent on other energy–related upgrades. Email us at energyservices@secoenergy.com to get a second opinion.
NATURE’S reflections Florida’s Mockingbird State bird of five states, and ours since 1927 The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is a medium-sized songbird about ten inches tall with a fifteen-inch wingspan. Still, it weighs in at just two ounces. It is best known for its persistent singing and the wide variety in its repertoire of borrowed tunes. It can imitate the songs of other birds, insects or amphibians, as well as mechanical sounds like cell phones. The slightly larger males sing the most and often sing on bright moonlit nights. It has a slightly curved bill, pale yellow eyes, and its legs and tail are somewhat long for its body. Its grayish-black color, two parallel white wing bars, and broad white wing patch, most prominent in flight, distinguish this bird from others. It can also fly backwards. According to the National Audubon Society, Florida’s population of mockingbirds has declined by almost half in the past forty years, although there are still plenty around. The biggest reason for their decline is believed to be urban sprawl which has claimed much of their habitat. Omnivorous, and a natural pest controller, it consumes large quantities of insects, earthworms, meal worms, lizards, weed seeds and berries. The mockingbird is usually monogamous for the length of a breeding season and some mate for life. The average lifespan is about eight years. In the spring, males perform their antics and acrobatic flights to impress a mate. Working together, the pair builds a twig nest in a dense shrub or small tree about three to eight feet off the ground. Nests are lined with finer materials. Eggs are pale blue-green with reddish-brown spots. In Florida, the average clutch size is three to four eggs; incubation takes about twelve days. Fledglings leave the nest in another ten days. Parents continue to feed the young, up to five times per hour for several days, until they learn to fly and forage for themselves. One pair may raise three broods a year. Mockingbirds are extremely territorial. These strong nest defenders will quickly swoop down to chase away any perceived intruder. The mockingbird is protected against harm or molestation by local, state and federal laws. Column & photo by Sandi Staton – sandi.staton@gmail.com
in memoriam SECO Energy Board: 1991-2010 Board President: 1996-2002; 2004-2009 Seminole Electric Delegate: 1991-2008 Seminole Electric President: 2000-2003
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
Wilson G. G Sheppard Sh d passedd away Saturday, August 8th, at the age of 91. Mr. Sheppard was born in Groveland and was a third generation Lake County native. He served in the Navy as gunnery officer on a destroyer in the Pacific during World War II. Mr. Sheppard returned to Lake County to begin a career as a CPA by attending Bowling Green College of Commerce – majoring in Economics and Business Administration, with a minor in Mathematics. Mr. Sheppard remained in the Naval Reserves for fifteen years after his honorable discharge from active duty. But, he was much more than a CPA in central Florida from 1952 through 1999. Mr. Sheppard was a strong community supporter, volunteering for service on many local organizations, such
as the Lake County Planning and Zoning Board and the Lake County School Board. He also received his certification as a small claims/county court mediator and volunteered for four years in the Lake County Court system. Mr. Sheppard resided in rural Lake County east of Mount Dora with his wife, Shirley, who passed away in early 2015. Bringing a unique and positive view to the SECO Board of Trustees, Mr. Sheppard remained a dedicated leader committed to member service for nineteen years. During that time, the cooperative experienced record growth, and Mr. Sheppard’s advice and counsel were instrumental in meeting members’ expectations. The people of SECO Energy will always be grateful for Mr. Sheppard’s leadership.
My Co-op Deals Your SECO Co-op Connections Card is a money-saving tool that connects you with a variety of discounts. Here are a couple of the many deals: Pro Auto Care of Eustis is offering $15 off any service over $50, $35 off service over $250, and $50 off service over $500. Key West Resort is providing 10% off regular room rates. Contact Alex Cooke at (352) 508-5344 for availability. 080012 For a listing of other participating businesses, 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.
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
SECO’s Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, September 28th 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 October 19, 2015. SECO 24/7 Job Hotline www.secoenergyjobs.com 855-483-2673 SECO Outage Hotline www.secostormcenter.com 800-732-6141
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