Currents-March 2023

MARCH 2023

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE: BACK TOGETHER Join us in person for the 2023 Annual Meeting 2022 HIGHLIGHTS Look back at some of last year’s biggest moments

BY THE NUMBERS Get a look at SVEC’s financials for 2022

CURRENTS March 2023

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

Join us for the 2023 Annual Meeting!

SVEC is excited to announce that its first in-person annual meeting since 2019 will be April 22 at the Suwannee County Agricultural Coliseum.

Prior to the meeting, members will receive an envelope in the mail containing the official meeting notice, minutes from the 2022 annual meeting, proposed changes to SVEC’s bylaws and a ballot for voting on acceptance of the minutes and bylaws changes, as well as an election of trustees for Districts 1, 2 and 3.

Members who return their ballots by the April 17 deadline will be preregistered for the meeting and receive a $25 gift card in the mail.

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.

You are our priority As a customer, you never want to feel like you aren’t a priority. I’m sure many of us can think of businesses that left us hanging with an important question, stuck with a shoddy product or simply seemed to make all of their decisions with only the company’s benefit in mind.

That has never been an option for SVEC. After all, we’re an electric cooperative that was created and continues to be owned by the very people we serve. While there are many organizations out there that might claim to exist for their customers, that isn’t just talk for cooperatives.

For one, we don’t operate for profit.

So every decision we make ultimately comes down to whether it will have a positive outcome for our consumer-members or not. When we bring in more money than we need to keep our electric system running and growing, that money comes back to you in the form of capital credits.

The newsletter you hold in your hands or are reading online is one of the most important ways we keep you, our consumer-members, updated on what's going on at your co-op. In this issue, we take a look back at some of the highlights from the last year. And there is a lot we can be proud of.

Chief among those accomplishments was the announcement of a fiber optic

network that will help the cooperative improve the quality of its electric service and open up a world of highspeed internet for our community. We also partnered in the establishment of a facility for studying indoor farming, awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to local students and helped our neighbors with repairs after Hurricane Ian. Those are just a few of the things we have been able to accomplish together over the last year, and you can read more about them in this newsletter. For me, it’s a testament to the power of the cooperative model, and I hope that you take just as much pride in these achievements as we do.

But for all that we have done, there is still much more to look forward to this year. We will continue to build our Rapid Fiber Internet network and can’t wait to start bringing those connections to your homes and businesses.

Be sure to check back here each month and follow our social media channels to keep up with all the latest updates.

It’s an exciting time to be a part of SVEC, and I hope all of you share our anticipation for what’s coming next.

Until then, it’s our privilege to continue bringing safe, affordable and reliable electric service to such a wonderful community. 

WE BELONG TO THOSE WE SERVE Business Office: 800-447-4509 11340 100th St. Live Oak, FL 32060

Where: Suwannee County Agricultural Coliseum 1302 11th St. SW, Live Oak When: Saturday, April 22.

Lobby Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday

On-site registration: 9-10 a.m.

Bingo with prizes: 9-9:45 a.m.

Business meeting: 10 a.m.

Drive-thru Kiosk Open 24 Hours 24/7 Power Outage Reporting 800-752-0025

SVEC gave away TVs, grills, slow cookers and more at the pre-COVID 2019 Annual Meeting.

Reporting an outage has never been easier

svec-coop.com facebook.com/sveccoop @SVEC_COOP_FL

Did you know you can report an outage with just a text?

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

To sign up, just text “SVEC” to 800-7520025. Save that number and you’ll be able to report an outage simply by texting “out” to it. You can also check on the status of any reported outages by text message.

This service is only available to members with fewer than five accounts, but those with five or more can still use one of SVEC’s other convenient methods to report an outage.

On the cover: The pre-COVID 2019 Annual Meeting was the last time the event was held in person.

Hundreds of members attended.

See story, Page 3.

2 | March 2023

Suwannee Valley Currents

A door prize drawing will follow the business portion of the meeting.

You must be present to win.

Suwannee Valley Currents

March 2023 | 3

Adobe Stock Illustration by NK

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

A

BIGYEAR: SVEC’s 2022 highlights Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative accomplished a lot in 2022 that we can all be proud of. Here are just a few of the many standout moments we shared as a cooperative family over the last year:

SVEC awarded $21,500 in scholarships to local high school seniors bound for colleges and vocational schools.

SVEC, Seminole Electric Cooperative and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences established a new facility to study the methods and benefits of indoor farming.

The co-op returned $1.1 million to its consumer-members through the retirement of capital credits.

JAN SVEC treated seven high school juniors to a two-day tour of Tallahassee, where they learned about the state’s legislative and judicial processes.

4 | March 2023

FEB

The fifth annual Suwannee Valley Cornhole Tournament hosted by SVEC raised $5,208 for United Way of Suwannee Valley.

SVEC began offering a new service that allows members to report and check on the status of outages via text message.

SVEC gave away 150 free green ash trees to co-op members at its fourth annual Florida Arbor Day celebration.

MAR The first two recipients of full-ride scholarships provided by SVEC graduated from the Northwest Lineman College and began their careers at the co-op as apprentice lineworkers.

APR

MAY

JUNE

Morgan Griffin, from Jasper, represented SVEC at the National Rural Electric Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. There he joined young men and women from all over the country on visits to historic sights and meetings with elected officials.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Three employees graduated from the Apprentice Lineworker Program to become journeymen. Fifteen individuals have graduated from SVEC’s apprentice program since it began in 2014.

Having worked 38,269 person hours during the year, co-op employees ended 2022 with no lost-time injuries.

SVEC led the second annual Suwannee Valley Food Fight, where local organizations raised $1,325 and collected 1,549 pounds of food for the Florida Gateway Food Bank.

JULY

AUG SVEC announced its plan to build a fiber optic network for expanding its electric smart grid capabilities and offering highspeed internet service to members through its newly formed subsidiary, Rapid Fiber Internet, LLC.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Operation Round Up® closed out 2022 having awarded $104,152 in grants. Since the program began in 2019, more than $416,000 has been distributed to schools in our community.

Crews from SVEC spent a week in Cape Coral helping Lee County Electric Cooperative restore power in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

SEPT

OCT

SVEC donated a surplus forklift to Lafayette County Emergency Management to help the agency receive and deliver supplies during emergencies.

NOV

DEC Nearly 600 children and adults had a blast at the co-op’s third annual Touch-A-Truck event.

Make-ready construction began on Phase 1 of SVEC’s fiber optic network.

March 2023 | 5

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival celebrates spring

Don’t get left in the dark!

By Visit Florida

The Three Caballeros serenade Epcot’s guests.

Request a repair through the SmartHub app by tapping on “Report an Issue/Inquiry” at the top of the home screen. Then, “Other Issues/General Inquiry” and “Area Light Repair.” Use the comments section to let us know the light’s location.

You can also call 800-447-4509 to report a problem.

An SVEC member services representative will contact those who report a malfunctioning area light by the end of the next business day.

HAPPY

NEVER MISS A PAYMENT. Do you need a reminder of when your bill is due each month? Maybe you’d like confirmation that your last payment was posted successfully. With SmartHub, you can 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.

• When there is a power outage in your area.

When you log in to your account, you can customize your notifications to arrive by text or email. You can even set how many days in advance you would like notifications to be sent. Get started today at svecsmarthub.com.

6 | March 2023

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED BY DISNEY

Let SVEC know if you notice a streetlight or area light that isn’t on or is malfunctioning.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Spring in Central Florida means 2. THE FOOD AND DRINKS during the Flower & Garden Festival. the flowers are in bloom at Epcot Like the wildly popular Epcot The Butterflies on the Go exhibit at Walt Disney Resort. From farm- International Food & Wine Festival held gives guests of all ages a chance for to-table treats to classic tunes, the each fall, the Flower & Garden Festival a close encounter with several speEpcot International Flower & Garden brings the flavors of spring to guests cies of butterflies. And if you’re really Festival offers many reasons to cele- with 13 outdoor kitchens. Sample some still, one may land on you. brate the season. smoked swine at The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews where you can The festival has two interactive play 1. THE FLOWERS try freshly smoked pork ribs, as well as areas, including Cactus Road Rally Nature comes alive each spring beef brisket. Wash it down with Florida located near Test Track. Fans of the in Florida, and the Epcot Florida & craft brews from Funky Buddha and "Cars" films will recognize the topiarGarden Festival is the place to see Orlando Brewing Company. ies of Lightning McQueen and Mater it all. The stars of the festival are outside the colorful play area. the flowers, and you’ll find them all Savor the slings of the Sunshine around Epcot. The Floating Mini- State at the Fresh Florida kitchen, 4. THE MUSIC Gardens – 225 planters drifting on which features locally-sourced farm- This year’s Gardens Rocks Concert the lakes between Future World and to-table ingredients and favorites like Series has something for everyone World Showcase – are photo perfect, shrimp and stone-ground grits with with groups like Daughtry, Smash especially if you manage to catch the andouille sausage.

Mouth, Blue Oyster Cult, The Pointer monorail in the shot.

Sisters, Switchfoot, Kool & The Gang, It’s a good idea to take a look at Casting Crowns and more. The live Over 100 topiaries, created especially the food and wine offerings the day performances start every evening at for the festival, take the forms of pop- before you visit so you can pick out 5:30, 6:45 and 8 during the Flower & ular Disney characters, like Anna and what you want to try in advance. Plan Garden Festival.

Elsa from “Frozen.” These incredible your day accordingly, as some of the “living statues” are located all around food lines can get a little long.

While the concerts are included with World Showcase and Future World. admission to Epcot, the limited seatBe sure to grab a Garden Passport, 3. CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES ing at America Gardens Theatre can so you’ll know where to find your Aside from the usual attractions at fill up quickly. Be sure to arrive early favorite character.

Epcot, there’s plenty for kids to do so you can get a great seat.  Suwannee Valley Currents

March 2023 | 7

MAINTAIN A “SAFE ZONE” WHEN PLANTING TREES

CLEAR ZONE

SMALL ZONE

MEDIUM ZONE

TALL ZONE

No vines, shrubs or trees should be planted within 15’ of the furthest point on a utility pole.

10-20’ or farther from Clear Zone.

Small trees like junipers, fruit trees, Crape Myrtle, Azalea, Viburnum

20-50’ or farther from Clear Zone.

Medium trees like: Holly, Little Gem and Star Magnolia, Dogwood, Ligustrum

50’ or farther from Clear Zone.

Tall trees like: Oaks, Pines, Pecan

Keep power poles clear, keep our linemen safe Posted items on power poles are more than just an eyesore; they can be dangerous — even lifethreatening — to our linemen. SVEC asks everyone to help keep poles clear.

• Linemen’s clamped safety boots can snag on

staples and nails left in poles long after signs are gone.

• Foreign objects can injure linemen or tear protective clothing, the first line of defense from electric shock.

• Posted materials can distract drivers and degrade the quality and stability of wooden poles.

If you see poles or guy wires that have been disrupted in some way, please call a SVEC member services representative at 800-447-4905.

8 | March 2023

Suwannee Valley Currents