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2020
SECONEWS SECO Energy’s The array was built to offset the Engineering department utility-supplied power that is required recently embarked on to serve the load in the substation’s a solar and battery switchgear enclosure. You can see the solar energy storage pilot array from the road, but the energy storage project. If you travel batteries are housed in a cabinet outside of the County Road 470 substation switchgear. near our Sumterville 460014 headquarters, you may Solar systems – whether installed residentially or have noticed the new commercially – produce energy from the sun in the 6,000-watt solar array installed form of direct current (DC). Inverters are installed just outside the fence on on each solar panel to convert the southeast corner of our the DC power produced by the THE GOAL OF THE Sumterville substation. panels to alternating current
PROJECT IS TO LEARN (AC) that is usable in homes The goal of the project is to and businesses. MORE ABOUT SOLAR learn more about solar arrays, battery storage and how ARRAYS, BATTERY The solar panels will produce battery-stored energy feeds an anticipated average of 25 STORAGE AND HOW back into our system. This kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day BATTERY-STORED knowledge will also prepare or approximately 750 kWh SECO employees assisting ENERGY FEEDS BACK per month. Each panel is members who are interested connected to a micro-inverter INTO OUR SYSTEM. in solar and battery storage that maximizes efficiency by investments at their homes or businesses. converting DC to AC power at the panel. The battery storage is configured for charge by the 146401 We contracted with local solar array vendor solar system. Solar Trek to construct the 6,000-watt groundmounted solar array Continued on page 3 and battery storage INSIDE THIS ISSUE system. The • SECO Champion panels are positioned • Area Light to face south • Farmer’s Almanac for maximum sun exposure. • Energy Estimator • Florida Fauna & Flora FEBRUARY 2020 | SECO NEWS
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SURGEO
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THE MITIGATOR™
POWER SURGES ARE SUDDEN, POWERFUL INCREASES IN VOLTAGE THAT CAN DAMAGE OR DESTROY HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND SENSITIVE ELECTRONICS. The common cause of power surges is lightning, but small animals, trees, birds or vehicles crashing into SECO Energy poles or lines also cause surges.
LENGTH OF WARRANTY: 15 YEARS
For just pennies a day, SECO’s Surge MitiGator™ helps take the bite out of damaging power surges and spikes that can occur at your home. The Surge MitiGator™ is installed at the electric meter to help prevent high voltage spikes and surges from entering your home and sending voltage into your large appliances. Sign up online before March 31 and receive $25 off installation. Lease the Surge MitiGator™ for only $5.95 per month plus tax with free installation for 200-amp residential services. For services over 200 amps, installation is reduced to $75. Or you can purchase the protection for $349 to $399 with free installation for online enrollments. This valuable protection is “Made in the USA” and includes a beastly warranty. Sign up for the Surge MitiGator™ protection online at SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Surge MitiGator to receive $25 off installation.
ADVICE FROM THE
OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH OF LOVE! Are you planning a wedding? The Old Farmer’s Almanac has chosen the best days to get married in February 2020 are 12th and 13th just in time for Valentine’s Day on the 14th. Take your new spouse on a honeymoon camping trip on the 16th and 17th. Thinking of buying a new home? The best days to buy are the 2nd and the 7th. If you are selling a home, the best days to sell are the 28th and 29th. The best days to ask for a loan are the 11th and the 15th.
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This stored energy is released onto SECO’s electric system twice per day, at 9 a.m. and before 6 p.m.
amount of energy required to charge the batteries and how much energy the battery inverter uses to convert DC to AC voltage.
The pilot project offers a variety of data for SECO’s Engineering staff to collect and study. SECO will measure the amount of AC power produced by the panels and the amount of energy the battery inverters will use to convert AC to DC then back to AC voltage. Also, SECO will assess the
Ultimately, we will monitor the collected data to compare the costs and benefits of energy storage and the impact of possible investments in future large-scale solar enterprises.
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Sincerely,
Jim Duncan Chief Executive Officer
SECO Energy’s online StormCenter outage reporting and communications platform also includes LightFinder – our easy, convenient area light outage reporting tool. Use LightFinder to report area light malfunctions including a light outage, a day burner, flickering light or another issue.
A green light icon indicates there is no known area light issue. When an area light trouble ticket is issued, the icon turns red. Lights represented by an orange icon have been repaired in the last 24 hours. Member-owned lights are shown as a blue icon and inactive lights are indicated by a gray icon.
344601 SECO repairs most area light issues in less than 24 hours.
LightFinder is available 24/7 at SECOEnergy.com > StormCenter. Choose the LightFinder tile. In the search bar, find the area light by entering the pole number or near address to locate. An icon represents each SECO-served area light. Click on the icon to report the light malfunction. Review the light’s details and add comments if needed. Include your email address in the submission to receive updates about the light’s repair status.
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. Winners receive a $25 gift card.
FEBRUARY 2020 | SECO NEWS
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SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
ENERGY ESTIMATOR
Are you interested in determining the energy use per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of the electronics and appliances in your home? Our online Energy Estimator calculates the amount of energy and associated cost.
fauna & flora
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wallow-tailed kites are easily recognizable with their black and white plumage and deeply forked tails. Males and females are similar in appearance, size and weight. An average swallow-tailed kite’s body measures 20 to 27 inches and weighs 11 to 21 ounces. This kite’s impressive wingspan measures 3.7 to 4.5 feet. Swallow-tailed kites are migratory raptors. In the spring, it travels from Central and South America to Florida to breed. Wetland forests are the kite’s preferred nesting grounds. Kites build nests in loblolly pine or bald cypress trees. Their diet includes insects and small animals, including frogs, anoles and snakes.
510700 Historically, kites could be found as far north as Minnesota. In the U.S., kites are found mostly in Florida with small numbers in other southeastern states. Swallow-tailed kites are not listed as endangered or threatened by the federal government. The species’ greatest threat is habitat destruction. The future of swallowtailed kites depends on the protection of lowland forests throughout its breeding range.
With spring around the corner, are you thinking of adding a new hot tub, buying an electric golf cart/car or building a new swimming pool? Use the Energy Estimator for an estimate of how your energy usage and costs may change. To use the Estimator, gather information about your home’s electronics’ wattage and hours per day usage. Don’t forget about water heating, refrigeration, laundry, cooking, lighting and miscellaneous electronics. The Energy Estimator will break down the energy costs for each item annually and monthly. Calculations are based on 1,000 kWh usage with SECO’s current Power Cost Adjustment (PCA/Hot Bucks) credit applied. Explore the Energy Estimator tool at SECOEnergy.com > Energy Solutions > Energy Efficiency. Input the wattage and daily hours used for each electronic and appliance in your home. To receive energysavings suggestions via email, provide your email address and submit.
Jerry D. Hatfield
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, February 24, 2020, 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, March 30, 2020.
District 3
Richard Dennison
Ray Vick
Vice President District 4
District 5
Bill James Secretary-Treasurer District 8
Scott D. Boyatt 24/7 Job Hotline: Report an Outage: secoenergyjobs.com stormcenter.secoenergy.com
Gerald B. Anderson
President District 9
District 1
Dillard B. Boyatt District 2
4 SECO Energy.com FEBRUARY | SECO NEWS SECO2020 Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Earl Muffett District 6
Joseph Kusiak District 7