Issuu

JANUARY 2019

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE: SAFETY FIRST

SVEC is committed to providing a safety-minded culture for its employee

SAFE SPACE

Learn how to use space heaters safely this winter

TASTE OF THE KEYS Learn how to make Key lime cheesecake bites

CEO CORNER

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS January 2019

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

New horizons The beginning of a new year is always a time when we look ahead and set new goals. As the calendar resets, we have an opportunity to put a cap on our work of the last 12 months and start making plans for the year ahead. For many people, that means making New Year’s resolutions. Maybe this year you’ve decided to start a new exercise routine to work off those extra holiday goodies, learn a new skill or spend more time traveling. Here at Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, one of our resolutions for the new year is to do even more to communicate with our members. One of our core values involves ensuring that each of you knows what your cooperative is doing and why. That’s why we’re expanding our monthly newsletter to include even more information we hope will help you better understand SVEC and our role in the community. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already noticed that this month’s newsletter looks a little different and is thicker than before. Our goal with this new format is to better inform you about services the cooperative offers, how you can make the most of your membership and the steps we are taking to maintain and improve your electric service. This month, we focus on our safety efforts. As you know, working with electricity can be dangerous without the proper equipment and training. Safety is always the top priority at SVEC, no matter the job. Our employees never forget about safety, which is why this cooperative has a safety record we can all be proud of. But that success doesn’t happen by itself. I hope you’ll take the time to read more about the hard work each SVEC employee puts into making sure they and their co-workers go home every day in the same state that they left for work. Each month we will feature a different aspect of our cooperative and interesting stories from the community. We also will provide you with information and tips that can help you. This month we have featured a story on how to use space heaters safely and effectively. Space heaters are an easy way to add some warmth during the winter months, but it is important to use them properly. Month to month, you will also find items such as recipes, and articles about hunting, fishing and farming. As we kick off 2019, our hope is that the new SVEC newsletter can be a resource for members as we continue to find new ways to serve you better. That’s our resolution, and we intend to keep it. 

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WE BELONG TO THOSE WE SERVE Business Office: 800-447-4509 11340 100th Street 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

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SVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer

On the cover: SVEC is committed to making sure all employees, like lineman Doug Wynn, are properly trained in safety procedures. See story, page 4.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Easy Key Lime Cheesecake Bites From Carlsbad Cravings These tiny treats were a HUGE hit at the Taste of Suwannee! 1 16-ounce package Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough 6 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 5.3-ounce container Key lime Greek yogurt 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-2 tablespoons Key lime juice (may substitute regular lime) 1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar Zest from 1 Key lime (may substitute regular lime) Garnish (Fresh berries, whipped cream) Heat oven to 350 F. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray

with flour.* Cut sugar cookie dough into 12 even slices and press into the bottom and about 2/3 up the sides of prepared muffin cups. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until edges are barely golden. Let cool 5 minutes then gently transfer to a wire rack to cool completely (about 20 minutes). Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat cream cheese, Greek yogurt, vanilla and 1 tablespoon Key lime juice until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Stir in Key lime zest. Taste and add additional tablespoon lime juice if desired (how I like it). When cookie cups are cool, evenly spoon cheesecake filling into cups and refrigerate 1-2 hours to set. If you don’t want to wait, they are still delicious right away; the filling will just be softer.

Outta the Woods A look at migratory bird management and hunting By Tony Young, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Hunters can enjoy the second phase of waterfowl and coot season, which runs through Jan. 27, and the third phase of mourning and white-winged dove season, which concludes Jan. 31. “Blue-winged teal, ring-necked ducks, Suwannee Valley Currents

wood ducks and mottled ducks consistently make up the bulk of Florida’s waterfowl harvest each year, with greenwinged teal and scaup rounding out the top six,” said Andrew Fanning, coordinator of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Con-

Garnish with berries and whipped cream if desired. *If you don’t have nonstick cooking spray with flour, you can use regular nonstick cooking spray and sprinkle the bottom of the muffin cups with a little sugar.

servation Commission’s Waterfowl and Small Game Program. “Blue-winged teal, reliable migrants that arrive in Florida early and stay late, can be found in larger numbers the farther south you go down the peninsula.” “Mottled ducks, wood ducks and whistling ducks frequent Florida all year and provide consistent hunting opportunities when in season,” Fanning said. “And salt marsh hunters usually can find scaup and redheads with a little scouting effort.” LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS The first thing you’ll need to participate in these hunting opportunities is a Florida hunting license. Residents pay just $17 for the year. Nonresidents have the choice of paying $46.50 for a 10-day license or $151.50 for 12 months. You also need a no-cost migratory bird permit. And if you plan to hunt one of Florida’s many wildlife management areas, a $26.50 management area permit is required. All licenses and permits you’ll need are available online at GoOutdoorsFlorida. com, at county tax collectors’ offices or license agents, or by calling 888-HUNTFLORIDA.  January 2019 | 3

CHOOSING SAFETY How SVEC builds a safe work culture

SVEC lineman James Humphrey performs a safety exercise where he learns to rescue an injured coworker.

Whether we think about it or not, most of us have safety procedures we follow daily. We practice safe driving in hopes of avoiding accidents, wash our hands to stay safe from disease and take any number of other day-to-day precautions. For many Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative employees, electrical safety can become as second nature as any of these daily habits. However, because the consequences of making a mistake when working with electricity can be so severe, relying on habit isn’t enough. That’s why SVEC constantly works to train employees in safe practices and to find new ways of keeping our employees accident free. Achieving those goals requires a commitment to safety from each person at the cooperative, from the CEO down to the most recent hire. “We’ve been able to keep the door open so everyone feels free to ask questions at 4 | January 2019

any time,” Training & Safety Loss Control Director Mark Mosley says. “If someone has a near miss or comes close to having an accident, it’s not held against them when they report it. We need a team effort to keep everyone safe.” That dedication to safety has paid off in a tangible way at SVEC. The cooperative has gone over four years with only one lost-time injury, meaning an injury that requires employees to miss work. “I think that shows that our employees have bought in on what we’re trying to do and the direction we’re trying to go in,” says Mosley.

TEAM MENTALITY

Regular training is a key factor in keeping an injury-free workplace. One way SVEC keeps safety at the front of employees’ minds is with monthly reminders and drills that cover procedures

ranging from how to safely enter and exit a vehicle to what to do in the event of a bomb threat or building evacuation. In order to determine the training employees need most and where accidents are most likely to happen, SVEC established an employee safety committee that meets regularly. Discussions can include near-miss incidents, vehicle accidents or any lessons learned that could help prevent injuries in the future. Each department at the cooperative, from office staff to linemen, is represented on the safety committee. When an employee notices a potential safety hazard in the workplace, they can let their representative know, and they will bring it up at the next meeting. The committee also works to update an employee safety manual every five years. In addition to the cooperative’s own Suwannee Valley Currents

safety procedures, the manual covers those required by OSHA and the U.S. Department of Transportation. “When a new rule requires us to make changes, the safety committee determines the best way we can comply while doing our jobs. Then we update the manual,” says Mosley. The manual is a comprehensive source for employees, including guidance on everything from personal protective equipment to the safe operation of large vehicles like digger derrick trucks. All manuals at SVEC are also available digitally, so finding information and answers to questions is fast and easy.

AIMING HIGHER

As much as SVEC employees are encouraged to stay vigilant about safety at all times, it would be impossible for anyone to spot every potential hazard on their own. That’s why the cooperative encourages employees to work together by using the Speak Up, Listen Up mobile app. Developed by SVEC’s own IT department, the goal of the Speak Up, Listen Up app is to help start constructive conversations among employees about safe behavior. The app removes some of the inherent awkwardness of correcting a co-worker’s mistake by allowing employees to send anonymous messages about safety observations. “It’s not just unsafe acts. If they see someone doing something the right way, they can offer praise for that,” says Mosley. “We use it in both directions, and it works well.” But for all of the cooperative’s safety accomplishments, there is always more that can be done. Each year, SVEC puts together a Safety Improvement Plan that highlights the most important ways to build on our safety measures. This year’s improvement plan is focused on optimizing performance while highlighting the importance of accountability for each employee. The more each person at SVEC can take responsibility for their own safety, the closer the cooperative gets to its ultimate goal of being injury free. “We’re really just trying to do better with the little things,” says Mosley. “We want to have everyone come to work, do their job and go home safe and healthy.”  Suwannee Valley Currents

What is PPE? In the electric industry, the abbreviation PPE stands for “personal protective equipment.” These can range from rubber gloves and hard hats to hot sticks for maintaining energized lines and equipment. The figure below shows some of the tools SVEC linemen use to stay safe on the job. SAFETY GLASSES Plastic frame and lenses worn to protect eyes and block UV rays. HEARING PROTECTION Mounts into hardhat slots and has replaceable foam cushions. Different types have different noise reduction ratings. SAFETY HARNESS Full-body harness for working in aerial lift. Harness attaches to truck boom with lanyard and locking snap hook. RUBBER GLOVES Dielectric-tested, rubberinsulated gloves for electrical protection. Glove class dictates the level of voltage line personnel may work. RUBBER GLOVE PROTECTORS Leather gloves with orange vinyl cuff. Worn over insulated rubber gloves to reduce chance of puncturing or tearing from sharp objects. WORK BOOTS Lace-to-toe leather boots with toe-protection materials and extra arch support for pole climbing.

HARD HAT Made from hard plastic with inner web suspension system; has universal slots to attach accessories such as hearing protection. Factory-tested for dielectric strength. RUBBER SLEEVES Dielectric-tested, insulated rubber sleeves for added protection of upper arms and shoulders. SHIRT Flame-resistant fabric and stitching with nonmetallic buttons. LANYARD Nylon strap with locking snap hooks connects to lineman’s safety harness to truck boom to prevent falling. HOT STICK Insulated, dielectrictested fiberglass tool for maintaining energized lines and equipment. JEANS Fire-resistant with flameresistant stitching.

January 2019 | 5

STAY SAFE AND WARM THIS WINTER Space heaters can be an easy way to add a little extra warmth in your home during the chilly winter months. But it’s important to remember they can also be dangerous if used improperly.

While space heaters are often put to work in rooms that don’t receive as much heat as others, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that they cause approximately 25,000 fires a year and about 300 deaths.

At Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, we want our members to stay safe this winter. If you use a space heater in your home or at your business, please keep these important tips in mind to stay safe and warm: yy Before you ever turn on your space heater, make sure your unit has an automatic shut-off switch. This switch will allow the heater to shut down automatically if it is accidentally knocked over. yy When setting up your space heater, be sure it’s placed on a flat, solid surface where it won’t fall over. Also, keep the unit at least three feet from any other object in the room, including furniture, drapes, bedding, clothes or paper. yy Keep space heaters out of high-traffic areas, such as hallways and doorways, where they could pose a tripping hazard. yy If you’re bringing a space heater out of storage when it has been unused for a long time, ensure that there are no broken or malfunctioning parts, like cracked or broken plugs and loose connections. If wiring is frayed or the unit is worn or damaged, do not use it.

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yy Never use an extension cord to hook up a space heater, and be careful not to overload the outlet it’s plugged into. Always check to make sure the heater’s plug is securely positioned in the wall outlet. yy Never leave a space heater running without supervision. If you’re going to sleep or leave the house, make sure space heaters have been turned off. yy Do not let pets or children play with or near the space heater. yy Space heaters are only meant to provide supplemental heat and should not be used to warm bedding, cook food, dry clothing or thaw pipes. yy Make sure you have smoke alarms installed on every floor of your home and outside sleeping areas. Test them once a month to ensure they are functioning properly. yy When you aren’t using the space heater, be sure to unplug it and store it in a safe location.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Never miss a payment with SmartHub

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

SmartHub’s web and mobile apps make it easy to stay on top of your electric account. After signing up for SmartHub, you can customize the notifications you receive from the app. Tell SmartHub when and how to contact you and you’ll receive email or text alerts with important information about your account, including when: • Your bill is available • Payment is due • Payment has been received

• A credit card on file has expired • And more!

Hamilton County: 1133 US 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

Happy Presidents Day!

COME VISIT US! Suwannee Valley Currents

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. to enjoy a cupcake and pick up a free energy-saving LED light bulb.

The SVEC office will close Feb. 18 in observance of Presidents Day and our annual employee training day. The 24-hour outage reporting system is always available, as is the drive-thru payment kiosk. Standby crews will restore power if needed. January 2019 | 7

SVEC in the

COMMUNITY SVEC participated in the Christmas parades held in Branford, Jasper and Live Oak. Also, at the request of the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce, SVEC rebuilt and redecorated Santa’s sleigh for the Christmas on the Square Parade. The Live Oak city council issued a proclamation thanking SVEC for hanging the city’s Christmas lights. In addition to the lights, SVEC crews hung banners to support a fundraising effort by Love Inc.

Tyler Edenfield, Branford Elementary School: Ms. Sumner

Hayleigh Capps, Hamilton County Elementary School: Ms. Moffses

Ella McAdams, Lafayette Elementary School: Ms. Prine and Ms. Moseley

Sammy Hanssen, Suwannee Intermediate School: Ms. Roper

SVEC employees recently purchased gifts for 15 people at the Surrey Place Care Center who didn’t have anyone to celebrate Christmas with.

SVEC’s Christmas float recently won the Grand Marshal Award in the Christmas on the Square Parade in Live Oak.

SVEC’s 2018 Christmas cards feature the artwork of fifthgraders from within our service territory. SVEC presented art supplies to each of the four winners of the card design contest. Also, their teachers received $100 for classroom art supplies. The cooperative supports many other community events during the Christmas season. SVEC was a sponsor of Altrusa International’s Christmas Tour of Homes, the Festival of Lights in White Springs and Breakfast with Santa, which benefits the United Way of Suwannee County. Also, SVEC gave gifts to 15 residents of the Surrey Place Care Center who had no family to celebrate Christmas with. Employees also donated money to pay for Christmas gifts for less-fortunate children.