Currents-December 2023

DECEMBER 2023

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE: CHANGE OF SCENERY Warm up on the Emerald Coast this winter.

RIDE ALONG Families had a blast at the fourth annual Touch-a-Truck event.

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS December 2023

Michael S. McWaters

Sunny skies Executive VP/CEO

One of the best things about the holiday season is that it gives us so many chances to appreciate being part of a community. Maybe your town has a tradition that everyone looks forward to each year, or you meet up with old friends to celebrate and catch up.

Many people will gather with family, which can be a community of its own.

If you’re reading this, you’re also part of a cooperative community.

It’s one that began 86 years ago this month with the mission of bringing electricity to this area, and we continue to find new ways of improving life for our consumer-members every day. I know I’m proud to be part of this community. I hope you are, too.

That’s one of the reasons we work so hard to make it possible for you to take control of your electricity use and the ways you do business with SVEC. The SmartHub app makes it easy to manage your account on the go and track your energy usage over time. Our simple payment options allow consumer-members to pay their bill each month or pay for electricity as they use it.

We also realize that some consumer-members may be interested in taking advantage of solar power to reduce their electric bills. If you are considering making an investment in solar for your home, SVEC offers some tools that can help you make

an informed decision. After all, solar energy may not be the best option for every home.

The new solar calculator on our website can provide an estimate of how much energy your home might generate from solar and give you an idea of how long it would take for your solar energy system to save enough money to pay back your investment.

You can read more about that tool and others in this newsletter.

You can also read about our Operation Round Up program, which recently passed the $500,000 mark for grants awarded. When we started this program almost five years ago, I don’t think any of us could have imagined all the creative ways our local teachers are using the funds to bring education to life for our students. It has been our privilege to award these grants, and we look forward to providing many more with your support.

As this year comes to a close, I hope we can all look ahead to the exciting possibilities of a new start, while also taking time to reflect on everyone who helped us reach this point. I know that all of us at SVEC will continue to be grateful for the support we get from this wonderful community. I hope all of our consumer-members have a merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. 

Suwannee Valley Currents is a monthly newsletter published by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, © 2023. It is distributed without charge to all consumermembers of the cooperative.

WE BELONG TO THOSE WE SERVE Business Office: 800-447-4509 11340 100th St. Live Oak, FL 32060 Lobby Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday Drive-thru Kiosk Open 24 Hours 24/7 Power Outage Reporting 800-752-0025 svec-coop.com facebook.com/sveccoop @SVEC_COOP_FL

SVEC’S OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY ON FRIDAY, DEC. 22 AND MONDAY, DEC. 25.

The office will also be closed for New Year’s Day on Monday, Jan. 1. The 24-hour outage reporting system is always available, as is our drive-thru payment kiosk. We will have standby crews ready to restore power if needed.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! REMEMBERING

Sidney Lord

SVEC was saddened at the passing of Sidney Lord, District 5 Trustee for the co-op. Mr. Lord was a fifth-generation Live Oak farmer who represented the members of his district for 24 years. He enjoyed spending time at church and with his grandchildren. He also spoke fondly of his co-op roots, as Mr. Lord's father helped build the power lines that reached their home when he was 2 years old.

Instagram.com/sveccoop

Tree Giveaway

SVEC is giving away 125 dahoon holly trees on a firstcome, first-served basis.

Come by the co-op’s Live Oak office, 11340 100th St., starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, to pick up your free tree.

Capable of reaching 40 feet in height, dahoon holly trees must be planted farther than that from overhead power lines. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences considers the dahoon holly to be one of the most wind resistant trees native to our area.

SVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

On the cover:

ARBOR DAY

Questions about solar? SVEC has the answers.

See story Page 4.

There is a limit of one tree per member, and you must provide proof of membership, such as an SVEC bill, to pick up a tree.

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Suwannee Valley Currents

Suwannee Valley Currents

DECEMBER 2023 | 3

A touch of sun SVEC tools can help you decide if solar is right for you Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative wants to be a resource for our consumer-members who are interested in installing a solar energy system on their home.

Installing solar panels is a major investment and may not make sense for every home. That’s why SVEC provides helpful tools on our website that can guide your decision-making. Just go to the “Energy Efficiency” tab on our homepage and click on “Solar Energy.”

There, you can find information about our monthly energy credit, look up tax incentives, get answers to some common

questions and even use our Solar Calculator to learn about the generation potential of your home, as well as the estimated time in which you can expect to see a return on your investment. The calculator which was developed by CLEAResult, a leader in energy efficiency solutions, can even be used to evaluate proposals received from solar contractors.

If you have more questions, you can always reach out to one of our friendly member service representatives at 800447-4509 for all the information you need before starting a project. 

Monthly Energy Credit

Frequently asked questions IS MY HOME SUITABLE FOR SOLAR PANELS? Solar panels are built to work in all climates, but some rooftops may not be suitable for solar systems due to age or tree cover.

If there are trees near your home that excessively shade your roof, rooftop panels may not be the best option. The size, shape and slope of your roof are also important factors to consider.

WILL I SAVE MONEY BY GOING SOLAR? The amount of money you can save with solar depends upon multiple factors — how much electricity you consume, the size of your solar energy system, if you choose to buy or lease your system and how much power it is able to generate given the direction your roof faces and how much sunlight hits it.

CAN I INSTALL SOLAR MYSELF? Right now, the best way to install solar is through a qualified professional who holds a certification to do so and works with high-quality solar panels. The industry-standard certification is awarded through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners.

All solar energy generated and delivered to SVEC's electric grid during a billing cycle will be credited by an amount equal to the product of: 1. The energy that is generated and delivered to the electric grid by the consumer-member, and 2. The base cost of power provided to SVEC by Seminole Electric Cooperative plus the applicable Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (WPCA) factor for the month.

Information courtesy of energy.gov.

Thinking of installing solar?

HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW As with any other major home purchase, you should try to get quotes for your solar project from at least three contractors. SVEC recommends selecting a contractor who is licensed and insured.

A great place to find reputable solar contractors is the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association.

In preparing their quotes, contractors should review your past electricity consumption before sizing your solar system. SVEC members can view and print copies of past bills using the co-op’s SmartHub account management tool. The contractor should provide a detailed cost breakdown, realistic figures on the amount of energy your system will produce and an estimated payback period.

Remember, if a contractor’s offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Solar panels do not produce power at night or during afternoon thunderstorms which are frequent in our area during the hot summer months. Fortunately, SVEC can provide power to your home during those times.

Also, ask the contractor about a maintenance schedule, and be aware that if it’s hard to get a contractor to come to your home to give you a quote, it will be even harder to get them to fix a problem.

It’s important to know that during an outage, interconnected solar systems without a battery backup are inoperable. This is a necessary safety precaution to stop power from being backfed from solar systems onto SVEC lines and injuring or killing co-op workers. That’s why SVEC requires members installing solar systems to enter into an interconnection agreement, which requires that industry and government standards for the manufacture and safe installation of solar equipment are met.

For more information, see the Interconnection Agreement for Customer-Owned Renewable Generation Systems form in the Energy Efficiency section of our website.

Finally, to help avoid potential errors or delays in the installation/interconnection process, SVEC highly recommends that you first speak with one of our member service representatives at 800-447-4509.

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Suwannee Valley Currents

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Gingerbread Slice-and-Bake Cookies ¾ cup dark brown sugar, 1¾ cups all-purpose flour packed 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 stick salted butter, room 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon temperature 1 teaspoon ground ginger ¼ cup molasses ½ teaspoon ground allspice 1 extra-large egg ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1½ teaspoons maple extract ¼ teaspoon ground cloves turbinado sugar ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, salt, cloves and nutmeg in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar and butter. Beat with a mixer until fluffy, about 1 minute. Drizzle in the molasses, beating well and scraping down the bowl halfway through.

Beat in the egg until combined, then beat in the maple extract. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in two or three batches, beating until just combined after each addition.

Lay out a sheet of plastic wrap. Shape half of the dough into a thick log on the plastic. Wrap the dough in the plastic. Shape into a firm 7-inch log, about 2 inches thick. Repeat with the remaining dough to make another log. Chill until firm. Heat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice the dough logs into ¼-inch-thick rounds. Place them 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

Bake, switching and rotating the pans halfway through, until the edges of the cookies are set, about 12 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes, then move the cookies to cooling racks.

bright ideas

When you save energy, you save money. Check back here monthly for new ways to make your home or business more energy efficient.

You’ve probably turned on the ceiling fan on a warm day to create a cool breeze in your home. But did you know that changing the direction the blades spin is an easy and efficient way to stay warm during the cooler months?

Most ceiling fans allow you to set

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Warm up on the Emerald Coast

BY VISIT FLORIDA STAFF

Cooler weather does not freeze out opportunities for outdoor fun. Winter on the beach may conjure up images of brisk breezes and empty shores, but the reality of winter along Northwest Florida's Emerald Coast is warm, sunny days filled with a variety of sporting activities that keep one's toes in — or near — the sand.

Heading out in a kayak or canoe can take the chill off, and there's no prettier and more pristine river than the Blackwater. The crystal-clear Blackwater is one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the country and a natural draw for paddlers.

Cast a line — yes, even in January

No matter the season, a walk along the shore is an essential part of every trip to the Emerald Coast. The winter beach offers a serene setting for picnics, long walks or simply settling into a beach chair with a good book.

Anytime is a great time to cast a line in Northwest Florida.

Even in the chillier winter months, the lure of sport fishing draws anglers of all abilities. And Destin, known as "the world's luckiest fishing village," is the premier spot for casting a line in the winter.

whether they rotate counterclockwise or clockwise. A counterclockwise spin will cool you off, while switching to a clockwise spin will help circulate warm air that is trapped near the ceiling. This can keep you and your family more comfortable without having to adjust the thermostat.

For experienced anglers, renting a pontoon boat and heading just offshore is the way to go. In winter, the emerald waters of the Gulf are full of redfish. This time of year, the redfish juveniles — fish hatched in late fall — will be found inshore in shallow water, while the adults will be a bit farther out.

While a ceiling fan can move warm and cool air around, it doesn’t actually change the overall temperature in a room. So be sure to save money by turning a fan off when you leave the room since it won’t cool or warm the air while you’re gone.

The most adventurous anglers will want to head out on a deep-sea trip for triggerfish, vermilion snapper, white snapper, grouper and amberjack — all running in the cooler water during the winter months.

To learn more about how to save energy, click on the “Energy Efficiency” tab on the SVEC website, svec-coop.com. 

To learn more about how to save energy, click on the Energy Efficiency tab on the SVEC website, svec-coop.com.

Florida’s Emerald Coast offers year-round opportunity for both adventure and relaxation.

Take to the water

facebook.com/sveccoop instagram.com/sveccoop twitter.com/SVEC_COOP Suwannee Valley Currents

While the water temperature of the Gulf of Mexico during the winter hovers around a refreshing 61 degrees, some folks are not inclined to get their toes wet. But there are plenty of ways to be on the water if not in it, from renting a boat and navigating the shoreline as you practice your skipper skills to kayaking and canoeing on the bay or one of the area's rivers.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Natural wonders

Those who are looking to do a bit more will find Henderson Beach State Park the place to be. The park offers nature lovers the chance to roam through evershifting coastal scrub forest on the nature trail or marvel at the grandeur of the dunes from atop the boardwalk. Picnic pavilions offer al fresco waterfront dining.

Warm up, eat up!

Take off the chill of the approaching evening with a warm and creamy crab and spinach dip from The Back Porch, or indulge in the casual waterside eatery's rich crab and seafood gumbo. For more formal fare, try Louisiana Lagniappe's corn and crab bisque, hot shrimp salad or oysters Lagniappe to warm up.

Cozy accommodations

The oceanfront Henderson Park Inn is a delight in winter, with its glittering view of the Gulf, quiet location just at the end of Henderson Beach State Park and private terraces for every room. Be sure to request a fireplace room when booking this luxurious beachfront inn. There's nothing better than the pounding of the emerald waters as the soundtrack for a cozy night in front of the fire.  DECEMBER 2023 | 7

Photos courtesy of Florida State Parks

INGREDIENTS

Annual Touch-a-Truck event brings fun and learning The co-op’s fourth annual Touch-a-Truck event invited children to explore a diverse range of service vehicles and meet the people who operate them. When they weren’t learning about the vehicles, kids enjoyed activities like inflatables, face painting, barrel cart rides and more.

This year SVEC introduced bucket truck rides, which were a big hit. In all, 17 organizations participated, and more than 700 people showed up to have fun and meet some of the dedicated individuals who serve our community.

Honoring our veterans

Just before Veterans Day, SVEC honored area veterans with a check presentation to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8095 in Jasper. Combined with a $5,000 matching grant from one of the co-op's lenders, CoBank, the $10,000 contribution will kick-start the post’s fund for updates to its building, which was constructed by Hamilton County World War II veterans in 1946.

Operation Round Up® shares $500,000 Most of our consumer-members participate in Operation Round Up, rounding up their bill to the next dollar each month and putting the change toward helping local students. The program has been in place for nearly five years and has made a tremendous impact.

We recently passed the threshold of $500,000 in grants awarded since the beginning of the program.

While each participating consumer-member only contributes an average of 50 cents a month, every small donation adds up to classroom tools and equipment that help students in our area get a better education.

It’s just one of the ways SVEC gives back to the community.

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Suwannee Valley Currents