Currents-March 2023

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS Join us for the 2023 Annual Meeting!

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

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. 

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.

Where: Suwannee County Agricultural Coliseum

1302 11th St. SW, Live Oak

When: Saturday, April 22.

On-site registration: 9-10 a.m. Bingo with prizes: 9-9:45 a.m. Business meeting: 10 a.m.

A door prize drawing will follow the business portion of the meeting. You must be present to win.

Reporting an outage has never been easier Did you know you can report an outage with just a text?

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.

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

2022 highlights A BIGYEAR: SVEC’s

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, 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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Don’t get left in the dark!

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival celebrates spring

By Visit Florida

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

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

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.

HAPPY

Spring in Central Florida means the flowers are in bloom at Epcot at Walt Disney Resort. From farmto-table treats to classic tunes, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival offers many reasons to celebrate the season.

1.THE

FLOWERS

• 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

Nature comes alive each spring in Florida, and the Epcot Florida & Garden Festival is the place to see it all. The stars of the festival are the flowers, and you’ll find them all around Epcot. The Floating MiniGardens – 225 planters drifting on the lakes between Future World and World Showcase – are photo perfect, especially if you manage to catch the monorail in the shot.

Over 100 topiaries, created especially for the festival, take the forms of popular Disney characters, like Anna and Elsa from “Frozen.” These incredible “living statues” are located all around World Showcase and Future World. Be sure to grab a Garden Passport, so you’ll know where to find your favorite character.

2.THE FOOD AND DRINKS

Like the wildly popular Epcot International Food & Wine Festival held each fall, the Flower & Garden Festival brings the flavors of spring to guests with 13 outdoor kitchens. Sample some smoked swine at The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews where you can try freshly smoked pork ribs, as well as beef brisket. Wash it down with Florida craft brews from Funky Buddha and Orlando Brewing Company.

Savor the slings of the Sunshine State at the Fresh Florida kitchen, which features locally-sourced farmto-table ingredients and favorites like shrimp and stone-ground grits with andouille sausage.

It’s a good idea to take a look at the food and wine offerings the day before you visit so you can pick out what you want to try in advance. Plan your day accordingly, as some of the food lines can get a little long.

3.CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Aside from the usual attractions at Epcot, there’s plenty for kids to do

during the Flower & Garden Festival. The Butterflies on the Go exhibit gives guests of all ages a chance for a close encounter with several species of butterflies. And if you’re really still, one may land on you.

The festival has two interactive play areas, including Cactus Road Rally located near Test Track. Fans of the "Cars" films will recognize the topiaries of Lightning McQueen and Mater outside the colorful play area.

4.THE MUSIC

This year’s Gardens Rocks Concert Series has something for everyone with groups like Daughtry, Smash Mouth, Blue Oyster Cult, The Pointer Sisters, Switchfoot, Kool & The Gang, Casting Crowns and more. The live performances start every evening at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 during the Flower & Garden Festival.

While the concerts are included with admission to Epcot, the limited seating at America Gardens Theatre can fill up quickly. Be sure to arrive early so you can get a great seat. 

The Three Caballeros serenade Epcot’s guests. PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED BY DISNEY

CLEAR ZONE

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

MAINTAIN A “SAFE ZONE” WHEN PLANTING TREES

SMALL ZONE

10-20’ or farther from Clear Zone. Small trees like junipers, fruit trees, Crape Myrtle, Azalea, Viburnum

MEDIUM ZONE

20-50’ or farther from Clear Zone.

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

TALL ZONE

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.