Currents-January 2024

JANUARY 2024

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE: NEW AND IMPROVED SVEC installing nextgeneration meters NEW FAVORITES Explore off-the-beaten-path Florida winter traditions LEADING LIGHTS SVEC floats and trucks highlight local Christmas parades

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS January 2024

Michael S. McWaters

Bigger and better in the new year Executive VP/CEO

Having grown up with the transformative power of electricity, it might be hard for most of us to believe that in Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative’s earliest days, local residents had to work hard to convince their neighbors that electricity would change their lives. After President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Rural Electrification Act in 1936, visionary people in our community had to go door to door explaining the benefits of this new technology until enough people signed up to form their own cooperative.

Back then, the cost of membership was $5, which wasn’t always easy to come by. Today, that cost hasn’t changed. That’s because we believe that everyone deserves access to affordable and reliable electric service. To keep our quality of service where consumer-members like you expect it to be, we’re constantly making repairs and updating our system. After all, what passes for reliable and convenient service is changing all the time.

One ongoing update to our system that some of you may have already received is our upgraded meters. This next step in the evolution of our automated metering infrastructure is an exciting development that will give our consumer-members even greater insight into their electricity usage. It will also help our dispatchers and crews identify the location of an outage faster, shortening the time to fix the problem. In most cases, we’ll probably know where an

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outage is even before you can call to report it.

It’s funny to think how much advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technology has changed the way our consumer-members think about their energy usage and we respond to outages as a cooperative. Fifteen years ago, the first AMI technology installed on our system was limited to households on the outskirts of our area, and the information it collected couldn’t be easily shared with the member.

You can learn more in this newsletter about that history and the ways the new AMI technology will help us serve you better. The changeout is an ongo-ing process, but we’ve already installed more than 3,500 new meters, with the system expected to be fully updated by the middle of 2025. If you’re on the lookout, SVEC will be contracting with Allegiant Utility Services to change out the meters, so watch for their trucks with the red logo.

And if you’re already missing that holiday spirit, be sure to check out the community page for some photos of SVEC’s participation in a couple of local Christmas parades last month.

It’s always a pleasure to be part of our local Christmas parades.

As we look ahead to the new year, I’m sure everyone is thinking of ways to build on last year’s successes. I know I’m excited to see all the new heights we can reach together. And as always, you can count on us to light the way. 

Suwannee Valley Currents is a monthly newsletter published by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, © 2024. 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

Don’t get left in the dark REGISTER MEDICAL NECESSITIES WITH SVEC

SVEC recognizes that many of our members have unique needs. In some cases, they may be immobile or reliant on medical equipment or oxygen.

It is important for members with medical needs requiring care dependent on electricity to register with SVEC so we can let you know of planned or extended outages. You should also keep the information SVEC has on file for you current. To update your information, please visit our office or download the Medical Necessity Form at svec-coop.com/member-services/ medical-necessity.

REGISTER WITH COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The Florida Division of Emergency Management allows citizens with special needs to register with their county emergency management agency.

Information submitted to the register will only be

used for planning and, if necessary, to provide emergency or disaster services. Residents of all Florida counties can register using the online Florida Special Needs Registry, snr.flhealthresponse.com.

Residents of Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties can also request a special needs registration form by visiting or calling their county’s emergency management office.

Columbia County: 263 NW Lake City Ave. Lake City, FL 32055 386-758-1383

Lafayette County: 194 SW Virginia Circle Mayo, FL 32066 386-294-1950

Hamilton County: 1133 U.S. Highway 41 NW, Suite 1 Jasper, FL 32052 386-792-6647

Suwannee County: 617 Ontario Ave. SW Live Oak, FL 32064 386-364-3405

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

Visit svec-coop.com and go to the “Smart Thermostat Program” link under the “Energy Efficiency” tab for more information.

New charge will help pay for hurricane damage

Instagram.com/sveccoop SVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

On the cover:

An Idalia Cost Recovery Charge (ICRC) will go into effect starting February 1.

This charge of 0.92 cents per kWh usage, is necessary to recover the portion of the estimated $55 million cost of restoring SVEC’s electric system that FEMA does not reimburse.

We empathize with the potential strain this situation may place on the budgets of some of our consumer-members. However, please be assured that we are doing everything in our power to keep rates affordable without compromising the quality of service we provide. The charge will be dropped as soon as we collect the amount that is not reimbursed by FEMA.

Meter upgrade brings advantages like capturing electricity usage data that can be shared via the co-op’s SmartHub app.

See story Page 4.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Suwannee Valley Currents

JANUARY 2024 | 3

A clearer signal Meter upgrade brings advantages Fifteen years ago, when Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative installed its first advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technology, it was used only to read the most remote meters on the cooperative’s system.

“At the time, we had 12 meter readers, and all we wanted to do was make them more efficient,” Director of Member Services John Robinson says. “We selected routes where they could only read 100 to 150 meters a day and automated them. Then our meter readers could focus on the routes where they could get 300 to 400 meters a day. So initially, we covered only about 30% of our system with the new meters.”

It didn’t take long for the cooperative to recognize the benefits of installing those advanced meters across the entire system. Not only did they end the need to read each meter in person, but they could capture electricity usage data that could be shared with consumer-members via the co-op’s SmartHub app.

NEW AND IMPROVED

“The AMI technology we’ve been using isn’t obsolete,” he says. “It gets the job done. But we’re trying to keep up with the information needs of our members.”

As the tools and information members want at their disposal change, SVEC updates its technology to keep up.

While the new meters will collect only total household electricity usage data as they always have, consumer-members will be able to analyze it in more detail.

“The meters we’ve been using provide enough information for someone to track their hourly electricity usage,” Robinson says. “The new meters will allow members to drill down to 15-minute intervals to get an even better idea of what is driving their usage. For example, they might look and see that their usage peaks between 7:00 and 7:15 a.m. on weekdays when their water heater is working to keep their shower hot.”

The new generation of meters will also help the cooperative respond to outages faster, and sometimes even before they are reported.

Currently, once a member reports an outage, SVEC staff must send an electronic signal down the line to find which meters do not have power and use that information to determine the general area where the fault is located.

“The new meters will automatically report when they lose power, so we’ll be able to dispatch our crews more quickly and accurately to the location of the problem,” Touchton says.

You may see them taking photos of your meter before and after installing the new one.

SVEC will review the photos to make sure your new meter was correctly installed, and the new meter’s number is recorded.

For the month when your meter is exchanged, you will notice usage reported for both the old and new meters on your bill. Adding them together will give your total usage for the month. After that, your bill will show only usage for the new meter. 

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

is

To help update its meters, SVEC working with Allegiant Utility

A meter changeout typically takes about five minutes.

Powering

Today, SVEC is updating its meters again to bring even more efficiency to its operations and more useful information to consumer-members.

More than 3,500 meters have been upgraded so far, with the rest expected to be replaced in the next 18 months.

Manager of Power Technical Systems Trevor Touchton describes this upgrade as the third generation of AMI technology, behind the first generation of AMI meters which made reading meters more efficient and the second generation which provide consumer-members across the entire system some basic information to better understand their electricity usage and bills.

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Services. When your meter gets upgraded, this contractor’s workers will arrive at your house in a vehicle marked with the Allegiant logo and knock on your door to see if anyone is home. If no one is home and they need access to a locked gate to get to the meter, they will leave a door hanger asking you to schedule a visit for when you’ll be home. When they change out the meter, your home will be without power for only about 30 seconds.

SVEC has thousands of new meters in storage ready to install across the entire system.

Allegiant contractor Quincy Cole prepares to change out a meter.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Suwannee Valley Currents

The data SVEC meters collect can be viewed using your SmartHub app. SmartHub is the easy way to track your energy usage and set up notifications to let you know: • When your bill is available.

• When a payment is due.

• When your payment has posted.

• When your bill is overdue.

• If there is a problem with your payment method.

Get started today at svecsmarthub.com.

JANUARY 2024 | 5

One-Pan Chicken Pasta INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon minced garlic, divided 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 cups chicken broth 1-1/4 cups crushed tomatoes 8 ounces penne pasta 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

South Florida Garlic Fest

panko and 1 teaspoon garlic. Cook, stirring, until the panko is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken, Italian seasoning, salt and the remaining 1 tablespoon garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the chicken is no longer pink on the outside, about 2 minutes. Add broth, tomatoes and penne.

Bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, until the penne is cooked and the sauce has reduced and thickened, 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the broiler to high. When the pasta is cooked, sprinkle mozzarella over the penne mixture. Place the pan under the broiler. Broil until the mozzarella is bubbling and beginning to brown, Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large broiler- about 1 minute. Top with the panko safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add mixture, Parmesan and basil.

Safety first

Winter is a glorious time in Florida, with plenty of holiday events and outdoor festivals celebrating food, art and culture. The beautiful beaches, matched by even more gorgeous weather, bring winter residents back and attract travelers from around the world. Floridians come out to play, too.

A hopping good food festival

The Sunshine State is famous for oranges, key lime pie and stone crab claws. But frog legs? Not so much, but that hasn’t kept the folks of Fellsmere, northwest of Vero Beach, from celebrating the hoppers as good eating during the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival. For more than two decades, the city raised funds for children’s programs by selling frog legs — 700-plus pounds of them — and gator tail dinners during the festival. Oh, but there’s more, including frog jumping contests, carnival rides, live music, a car show and dozens of booths featuring crafts, jewelry and other artisan items. You can even try your hand at catching a frog, but remember they have a distinct advantage.

To make sure your home isn’t one of them:

• Never plug extension cords into each other.

• Make sure each cord is properly rated for its intended use.

• Inspect cords for damage like frayed plugs or bare wires.

• Keep outdoor extension cords clear of standing water.

• Don’t overload sockets or power strips with multiple cords.  facebook.com/sveccoop instagram.com/sveccoop twitter.com/SVEC_COOP Suwannee Valley Currents

Naples National Art Festival

BY JANET K. KEELER

Here’s a list of some lesser known, but equally fun, winter events in the Sunshine State.

If you haven’t taken all your Christmas decorations down, there’s a good chance there are still some extension cords scattered around your home. The Electrical Safety Foundation estimates that improperly used extension cords lead to roughly 3,300 home fires each year.

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Find your new favorite destination this winter Some winter events are known far and wide, like the rollicking New Year’s Eve traditions in Key West, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney World, the world-renowned Art Basel in Miami and the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

Electricity powers modern life, but it can still be dangerous if not handled carefully. Check back here each month for new tips on how to stay safe around electric power at your home or business.

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

Gasparilla

Pack your breath mints

It’s billed as the “best stinkin’ party in South Florida,” and if you like the pungent taste of the “stinking rose” then the South Florida Garlic Fest is your kind of soiree. Florida isn’t Suwannee Valley Currents

a garlic-growing state, but years ago a group of civic leaders decided garlic was the perfect vehicle to help them raise money for nonprofit arts and children’s groups. The idea stuck — or stunk? — and now there’s three day's worth of food, drink and music in Village of Wellington Town Center in Wellington. Garlic ice cream, garlic barbecue or garlic-loaded chicken nachos, anyone?

A pirate’s Mardi Gras

Gasparilla season is January, February and March in Tampa, and that’s when pirate culture collides with Mardi Gras-like festivities around the city. There’s a pirate invasion in the waters downtown and several parades that draw thousands. The main Gasparilla parade has become so raucous and fun that a children’s parade has become a Pirate Festival mainstay. Krewes of men and women dress in pirate garb to toss beads and ride floats at all the parades.

There are balls and parties, too. It’s a festive time, and the Knights of Sant' Yago Knight Parade in historic Ybor City is one of many popular events. The historic Cuban neighborhood always looks festive at night. Watch the cigar rollers and buy yourself a local stogie while you’re here.

Art in the great outdoors

No need for a jacket for the annual Naples National Art Festival, where as many as 300 artists display their work in Cambier Park. Naples is an art-loving city with many galleries, and that love spills outside during the fine-weather month of February. Some 15,000 visitors walk among the tents of paintings, sculptures, hand-blown glass, ceramics, woodworks and artisan jewelry. The artists are almost always present, and it’s a good time to ask them about their work. And then buy a piece.  JANUARY 2024 | 7

SVEC on parade SVEC was proud to take part in two local Christmas parades last month.

Lineman Jimmy Alexander and his wife, Candace, drove the cooperative’s mini bucket truck in the Jasper Christmas Parade. SVEC also built its own float for the Live Oak Christmas on the Square parade.

Jimmy and Candace Alexander represented SVEC in the Jasper Christmas Parade.

SVEC helped light the way to Christmas at the Live Oak Christmas on the Square parade.

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Suwannee Valley Currents