November 2015 SECO News

November 2015

Check your November bill Capital Credits posted As you open your November bill, keep in mind that you are a member of a not-for-profit electric cooperative and build ownership in SECO Energy through your energy purchases.

Ownership is defined through the annual process of allocating each member’s share of the co-op’s margins from the prior year.

Capital Credits are the accumulation of all prior year’s revenue after the co-op’s expenses have been paid. These credits are allocated on a pro rata basis to each SECO Energy member’s record and represent a portion of their patronage with the cooperative in the prior fiscal year.

Through sound financial stewardship, SECO Energy has been able to return (retire) Capital Credits to members consistently for many years. The most recent retirement of a record $4.6 million was approved by the Board of Trustees at their October meeting.

Since SECO’s inception, the co-op has retired more than $47.3 million to current and former members.

Check your November bill for a line item labeled Capital Credits to determine the amount of your retirement. If you have questions about Capital Credits, visit SECOEnergy.com in the For Members section under Capital Credits.

Commitment to the Cooperative Purpose

Best regards,

$3,007,441

$2,170,993

$2,887,288

$4,198,737

$4,600,000

1980-’09

$3,374,489

$27,068,386

Jim Duncan, CEO

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

$

Capital Credits Retired to Members: Over $47.3 Million

FCC Solar Project Breaking Ground The solar project between the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) in Coleman, Constellation, SECO Energy and Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. broke ground recently. With site evaluation and the interconnect agreement in place, the beginning phases of construction are in full swing. 465601 Constellation was awarded the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) contract earlier this year to implement $45 million in water and energy conservation measures at FCC. The firm has begun to install a 2-megawatt solar generation project on the site. Constellation estimates that the system will generate more than 3.7 million kilowatt hours annually to offset the FCC’s energy usage. Together, these measures are anticipated by the BOP to save the facility $79 million in energy costs over the next 19 years, helping to fund the project.

GRESCO presents Capital Credit check to SECO Just like you are a member of SECO Energy, SECO is a member-owner of other cooperatively structured organizations with whom we do business. GRESCO, one of SECO’s key utility suppliers, stocks equipment and supplies to meet our needs. As a fellow co-op, GRESCO is a not-for-profit company, and its services keep SECO from having to stock a large inventory of electrical items.

SECO returns Capital Credits to you, our members, and GRESCO allocates SECO’s share of its margins annually to our coop and returns Capital Credits to SECO as their Board approves the retirements.

SECO’s portion of GRESCO’s most recent retirement is $146,016 and was delivered at the check presentation pictured to the left.

SECO Energy CFO Gene Kanikovsky, GRESO Account Manager Justin Favis, SECO Energy CEO Jim Duncan and GRESCO General Manager Todd McLellan pose with the “ big check” representing SECO’s Capital Credit retirement amount.

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

266601

Safety/Efficiency Tip! Feeling the chill?

It’s that time of year again. For safety and efficiency, it’s time to change your filter and have your heating unit serviced by a qualified technician. 290014

NATURE’S reflections Florida’s Fl l id d’ R Red dR Rat SSnake k Also known as the ‘Corn Snake’

If you are considering purchasing a new HVAC unit, allow our team of energy services professionals to evaluate your existing unit – for free. We can determine if an upgrade is beneficial and help you make an informed decision. We offer an unbiased opinion as your energy-savings partner and will be candid if your money could be better spent on other energy-related upgrades.

Email us at energyservices@secoenergy.com.

“Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Midsize Utilities in the South” For J.D. Power award information, visit www.jdpower.com

The Red Rat Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) is one of two native rat snakes in Florida. It is usually orange, tan, or brown but may be gray. It is brightly colored with large reddish blotches, often called saddles, along its back and a “V” mark on top of its head. Rat snakes are found primarily in southeastern portions of the U.S. and are in every county in Florida. Only the Lower Keys population of the Red Rat Snake is protected as a State Species of Special Concern by Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.

Its average length is thirty to forty-eight inches, but can grow to seventy-two inches. It is the best climbing species of snake in Florida.

Farmers called it a Corn Snake, because it came to feed on the rodents that eat harvested corn. While its diet primarily consists of small rodents such as rats, mice and shrews, it also eats lizards, small birds, bird eggs, insects, frogs and fish. It is considered a nocturnal hunter. This species kills its prey by constriction, as it has no toxic venom or fangs. The Red Rat Snake is harmless and beneficial to humans as a rodent predator.

However, due to its likeness in appearance to the venomous Copperhead (found only in the Panhandle of Florida), it is often killed as a result of mistaken identity.

The Red Rat Snake is shy and secretive, spending most of its time in trees, under brush and mulch piles, or inside old buildings or other structures such as barns and attics. Being a snake, it can give a fright if discovered in or under a flower pot. 912215 Like other snakes during cold weather, rat snakes brumate, a process in which they burrow underground and slow down their metabolic processes until the temperature warms up. Then, in spring the male sends out a chemical signal to attract a female, courtship begins and breeding occurs. In summer, the female will look for a protected and warm location where she may lay up to thirty eggs. Once laid, the female leaves the nest and never returns. Once hatched, the young are about four to five inches long and on their own.

Normally, the Red Rat Snake has a lifespan of eight years, but has been known to live twenty-three years in captivity.

Column & photo by Sandi Staton – sandi.staton@gmail.com

expr e ssions

619502 6195 61 9502 02 Lorie [SECO Energy Services Specialist], I want to just follow up with you to let you know that the [HVAC] visit/analysis went very well with Dustin [Energy Services Specialist].

I was very impressed with him. He was very knowledgeable, professional and took all the time necessary to answer our questions.

He is a great rep for SECO in the marketplace. As a result, our concerns [about the HVAC system] have been greatly minimized.

Thanks again for your help as well.

Jim Metzgar SECO member, The Villages A brief note to let you know how much I enjoy your columns in the SECO News. The pictures are beautiful and the articles well written and very informative.

I used to read and then throw them away, but last year I began to cut out each of your columns and my wife has been putting them into a scrap book. She is sending it to my Mother who is in a nursing home and plans to put each month’s new column on another page and send them to her so she can add them to the scrapbook.

I wish I had thought about doing that some years ago, but better late than never!

Thank you,

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

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

Harry Vandenberg SECO member, Floral City I just wanted to let you know your articles in the monthly billing insert are a learning tool in our family. I save your articles and read them aloud to our grandchildren and then ask them four questions on what they heard. I’ve been doing this for a couple of years and “we” have learned a lot on Florida nature.

Keep up the great work!

Mike Muhlbaier SECO member, Lake Panasoffkee

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.

SECO’s Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, November 16, 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 December 21, 2015.

019014 SECO 24/7 Job Hotline www.secoenergyjobs.com 855-483-2673 SECO Outage Hotline www.secostormcenter.com 800-732-6141