Currents-January 2020

JANUARY 2020

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE: KEEPING TRACK Staking and mapping show members the cooperative way

WINTER WONDERLAND

See some of the top things to do in Florida during the winter

AROUND THE COMMUNITY

SVEC selects 2019 Christmas art contest winners

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS January 2020

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

Suwannee Valley Currents is a monthly newsletter published by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, © 2020. It is distributed without charge to all consumermembers of the cooperative.

New year, new plans

Bringing in a new year is always about beginnings and endings. On the one hand, we look ahead to a fresh start, and we think about what we want to do better than before. On the other, we look back on the successes of the year that just ended.

Those reflections are even more pronounced this year as we enter a new decade. Just think of how much has changed since 2010, and think of all the surprises that might lie ahead in the next 10 years. It’s an exciting thought.

Of course, it could also be a distressing one. As the CEO of your cooperative, I wish I knew every twist and turn in the road ahead of us. While that’s not possible, I can at least rest assured that everyone at Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative has carefully planned and prepared for the future.

In this month’s newsletter, you can learn more about one of the most important components of how we bring new service to members: staking and mapping. This department serves as the connection between our members and our service crews when new services need to be installed. These workers also keep digital maps of our system up to date so that, when an outage does occur, we know exactly where the problem is.

The work they do may not always come to mind when you think about your electric service, but it is crucial to growing and maintaining our system. I hope you’ll take a moment to read more about it and thank them for the good work they do.

You may also notice a new page in this month’s newsletter that is all about travel. People come to Florida from across the country and even the world to enjoy the natural wonders and world-class entertainment available in our state.

But too often I think we can forget all that Florida has to offer when we live so close to it.

So this year, we would like to remind you of all the adventures and beauty that can be found without ever crossing the state border. Find inspiration for your next weekend getaway, a nearby shop to explore or your new favorite local eatery.

If Christmas ended too soon, you can also find some photos of SVEC’s participation in last month’s Christmas parades, as well as the winning designs from our fifth grade Christmas card contest. We received so many great submissions this year, and we wish to thank everyone who entered.

We may not know everything the decade ahead holds, but I can say with confidence that all of us at SVEC will continue to work hard every day to bring our members the quality electric service you deserve. Happy New Year, and here’s to an exciting new decade! 

2 | January 2020

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

On the cover: Staking engineers like Joe Barclay help connect new members to SVEC’s services and document the equipment needed for the job.

See story, Page 4.

Suwannee Valley Currents

HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY! The SVEC office will close Feb. 17 for Presidents Day and an annual employee training day. The 24-hour outage-reporting system is always available, as is the drive-thru payment kiosk. Crews will be available to restore power if needed.

Come on in!

We love our members and invite you to stop by our office on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We hope you’ll join us to enjoy treats and receive a free gift!

DON’T GET LEFT IN THE DARK

Register medical necessities with SVEC SVEC recognizes that all of our members have different needs. In some cases, they may be immobile, or dependent on medical equipment or oxygen.

It is important for members with medical needs that are dependent on electricity to register with SVEC so that we can notify you 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/forms.

If you have a medical necessity, be sure to take the following steps: • Keep your doctor updated on your living situation and your means for getting medical supplies.

• Register your medical needs with local authorities so that they are aware when they respond to calls in your area.

• Network with friends, family and neighbors who can help if you run into problems.

• Consider keeping a cellphone or medical alert device on you at all times in case of emergencies.

Suwannee Valley Currents

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 registry 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.floridadisaster.org.

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 Hamilton County: 1133 U.S. Highway 41 NW, Suite 1 Jasper, FL 32052 386-792-6647 Lafayette County: 194 SW Virginia Circle Mayo, FL 32066 386-294-1950 Suwannee County: 617 Ontario Ave. SW Live Oak, FL 32064 386-364-3405

January 2020 | 3

SVEC Staking Engineer Joe Barclay, left, and homeowner Jason Diaz discuss where to locate poles that will carry the power line to the new home.

FIRST CONTACT Staking and mapping show members the cooperative way

4 | January 2020

When one of Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative’s staking engineers first meets a member, the goal isn’t simply to complete a plan needed to bring service to a home or business. That engineer acts as an ambassador for the cooperative.

In many cases, setting up service for a property may be the first time a member works with SVEC. So for staking engineers like Joe Barclay, the job includes demonstrating what makes the cooperative different from other utilities.

“Our goal is to put the member and their needs first in everything we do,” says Barclay. “We consider factors like reliability, cost and the planned locations of structures, access roads and driveways.”

The engineers even take aesthetics into consideration. For example, where should poles be placed so they won’t spoil the view from a window? It’s a careful balancing act that introduces new members to the cooperative difference from day one.

THE PROCESS

When a customer requests service at a new residence or business, Jerry Yunes, mapping and staking work order coordinator, helps arrange a meeting between the member and one of SVEC’s four staking engineers, a meeting that usually occurs within a few days of the request, says Barclay.

At the meeting, the engineer will work closely with the member to identify and mark the best locations for any poles, power lines and other equipment needed to complete the job. They will also determine if the member must remove tree limbs or acquire right-of-way easements before electrical service can begin.

Sometimes, the member may be required to pay for some of the installation.

Yunes says SVEC provides the first 1,200 feet of line for residences and the first 200 feet for other establishments at no cost to the member.

After the member accomplishes any assigned tasks, pays any required fees and completes other preparatory requirements such as installing a meter base, the mapping and staking department will pass the installation request to SVEC’s Construction Department.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Meanwhile, SVEC’s Geographic Information System (GIS) and Mapping Specialist Kathy Hals enters the locations of any new poles, transformers and other equipment into the cooperative’s computer data base — useful information, especially when incidents impact the co-op’s power grid.

AIDING RESPONSE

Years ago, SVEC launched an initiative to document the locations of all equipment in the grid, a process that took four years, and members have reaped the benefits. The GIS reduces the amount of time members go without power by allowing SVEC to more quickly identify the source and location of a problem.

“We run more efficiently,” Hals says.

“Knowing which transformer, fuse or line is affected cuts the time needed to restore power. The equipment information documented in the system allows us to isolate the location of an electrical fault and reroute power to members who are not in the section of lines where the fault is located.”

The information also allows field crews to respond more quickly.

“Everyone at SVEC has a computer or mobile device. When an outage occurs, crews can quickly go straight to the source and get to work,” Barclay says.

Since employees now document every new pole or device as it is installed, the system is updated daily. Before automation, crews could only access printed maps — which could be as much as 2 years old before they were updated.

“By the time you got through printing the new maps, even they were out of date,” Hals says. “Things change so quickly. We’re very proud of our ability to update information continuously now.”

In the event of a large event such as a hurricane, the wealth of information streamlines response. Hals says the data allows SVEC employees to understand which repairs will impact the most customers, allowing them to efficiently guide resources to those locations.

“It is absolutely critical for outage management,” Hals says of the work completed by the staking and mapping department. 

Suwannee Valley Currents

Joe Barclay uses a computer equipped with GPS to make sure equipment will be located in the proper locations.

Joe Barclay and Jason Diaz discuss the preferred locations of power lines and poles on Diaz’s property.

Every piece of equipment is given a code signifying its location on the grid.

January 2020 | 5

Pozole Verde Melissa Corbin

3 pounds pork butt, roughly cut into 1-inch pieces Salt and pepper, to taste 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 cup white wine 1 large onion, diced 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 1 poblano pepper, charred and chopped 1 jalapeno pepper, charred and diced 1 pound tomatillo, roughly cut into 1-inch pieces 2 (15.5-ounce) cans hominy, drained Sliced limes, chopped cilantro, freshly sliced jalapeno and chopped red onion for garnish

Changes to mallard bag limits and applying for public dove hunting opportunities

By Tony Young, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission January brings cooler weather, and with that comes wintering migratory birds just in time for the start of the second phase of the waterfowl/coot season and the third phase of mourning and white-winged dove.

Duck hunters should be aware the daily bag limit for mallards has been reduced to two birds, of which only one may be female.

“Since 1998, mallard populations in eastern North America have steadily declined by approximately 20%. Over the same period, mallard harvest in the U.S. portion of the Atlantic Flyway has decreased by about 40%,” says Andrew Fanning, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s FWC Waterfowl and Small Game Program coordinator.

“Current data suggest eastern mallards can no longer support a 60-day, four-bird daily bag limit,” he says. “A recent survey indicates hunters value more hunting days over larger bag 6 | January 2020

limits, so the Atlantic Flyway Council and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service chose to reduce the daily bag limit rather than the season length.”

Other wingshooters should be aware of a change in applying for opportunities at the FWC’s public dove hunting fields that is expected to maximize participation. The hunts are on the same special-opportunity dove fields, but the permit cost has been eliminated.

“Each dove field manager was provided the choice of how to arrange the permitting to maximize participation on their respective dove field,” Fanning says. “Some fields have dove quota permits for all three of the hunting phases, some only have permits for phase one, and Allapattah Flats removed all permitting requirements.” 

Generously season pork with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cumin. Heat a large frying pan (preferably cast iron) with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, adding extra oil as needed.

The pan should be screaming hot to sear the pork without cooking through.

Make sure to work in small batches so you do not steam the pork. Look for caramelized edges to the pieces of pork as you brown.

Transfer the pork directly into the slow cooker, and then reduce the heat, deglaze the skillet with 1/2 cup white wine and pour it over pork. Add to the slow cooker the onion, garlic, peppers and finally tomatillos, in the order listed.

Cover and cook on high for 3 1/2 hours. Then, stir in the hominy for a final 30 minutes of cooking. Turn the slow cooker to its lowest setting to give the pozole time to rest before serving. Finish with lime, jalapeno, cilantro and red onion. Makes approximately 6 servings.

Do you have a great recipe?

Email a copy of a recipe you’d like to share to communications@svec-coop.com.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Winter in Florida

TOP 4 THINGS TO SEE AND DO

By Lauren Tjaden, VISIT FLORIDA

It’s hard not to gloat a little when you’re spending the winter in Florida. After all, you’re apt to be shucking your jacket and smearing on sunscreen while less-fortunate folks are battling ice storms.

But delectable weather’s just the tip of the sandbar. Florida offers some seasonal experiences that will make your trip extra special.

MARVEL AT MANATEES

Who doesn’t love manatees? They’re cute, blameless, wrinkled, gray creatures that are shaped like giant blimps, gentle yet huge. When temperatures plunge, these mammals head to warmer waters, such as freshwater springs where the temperatures remain constant — around 70 degrees — throughout the year. In Florida, this gives you the chance to see wild manatees en masse. In some places, you can even swim or snorkel with them.

1.

PLUCK A PIECE OF SUNSHINE

You’ve never really tasted an orange until you’ve picked one fresh from a tree, and it’s an experience you shouldn’t miss. Bursting with sticky, sweet juice, fragrant, a delight to the eye as well as the mouth, oranges are in season from fall until spring in Florida. Find citrus groves where you can tour a citrus plant, enjoy fresh fruit or pick up citrus souvenirs.

2.

SLEEP TIGHT

Winter in Florida brings crisp, cool nights, which make for good camping weather, and it doesn’t get any sweeter than camping on the beach. The Sunshine State boasts more than 900 campgrounds with more than 100,000 campsites, and some of the best and most popular are located at the beach. The Florida Beach Camping Guide, available online at visitflorida.com, will give you the inside scoop on where to go, from primitive tent camping to hotel-quality cabins and sites.

3.

PICK A THEME

Florida is home to famed theme parks, and the cooler months are the ideal time to visit them. Not only are the temperatures pleasant, but January and February are also slower months at parks like Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Busch Gardens and Legoland, meaning shorter waits for rides and character appearances. Be sure to pack responsibly, though. Have a poncho ready if you want to enjoy any water rides and remember to wear sunscreen even when it isn’t hot outside.  Suwannee Valley Currents

4.

December 2019 | 7

SVEC in the

COMMUNITY SEASON’S GREETINGS SVEC’s 2019 Christmas cards feature artwork submitted by fifthgraders from Branford Elementary, Hamilton County Elementary, Lafayette Elementary and Suwannee Intermediate schools.

SVEC presented a large gift bag of art supplies to the four winners of the card design contest, and each of their teachers received $100 for classroom art supplies.

SVEC ON PARADE SVEC participated in the Christmas parades in Jasper and Live Oak. It’s always a joy to take part in these fun traditions. For the fourth consecutive year, the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce presented SVEC with the Grand Marshal Award for the best float in the Christmas on the Square Parade.

Kamdyn Hewett, Ms. Moseley

Gavin Combass, Ms. Moffses

Callie Harris, Ms. Sumner

Raising Christmas spirit McKenzie Chapman, Ms. Roper

Crews from SVEC once again hung Christmas lights for the City of Live Oak in addition to street banners that are part of a fundraising effort for Love INC.