Currents-May 2021

MAY 2021

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE: THE MEMBER EXPERIENCE Handy tools help members do business their way PITCH A TENT Discover the best beach camping spots in Northwest Florida CRACKED UP SVEC joins the fun at Suwannee Pineview Elementary’s egg drop

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS May 2021

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

Suwannee Valley Currents is a monthly newsletter published by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, © 2021. It is distributed without charge to all consumermembers of the cooperative.

What guides us Many of us have certain guiding principles we try to live by, whether they come from our faith, a lasting piece of advice we received at a key moment or just our own sense of what’s right. Cooperatives are no different. No matter what part of the country it’s in or what service it provides to the community, each cooperative is built around the same seven cooperative principles designed to put the people it serves first.

Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative is no exception. At various times I have taken a closer look at each of those seven principles right here in this column. But we also aren’t ones to rest on our laurels. That is why, several years ago, we established a few core principles of our own that specifically guide our mission at SVEC. We refer to those core principles collectively as SMORE: safety, member experience, outreach to community, reliability and economic viability. You might notice that member experience is second only to safety, which always comes first, especially since so many SVEC employees work around high voltage lines.

Putting our consumer-members so high wasn’t an accident. It’s a reminder to all of us why we do what we do, whether we’re interacting with those we serve while out in the field or answering questions from the office. We are here because of you, and we are constantly thinking about how we can make your experience with the cooperative better.

That is particularly true for our member services department, which is always looking for new ways to make doing business with the cooperative quick and convenient. Some of you may only think of member services as the friendly representatives who help you when you visit our office or call with a question.

But member services encompasses so much more.

In this newsletter, you can learn about the many member services programs SVEC offers to help you better manage your account. You may be familiar with some of them, while others will likely be new to consumer-members who haven’t explored all the tools at their disposal. I encourage all of you to take some time to learn about them. You may even find new ways to save time and money.

You’ll also find some news about SVEC’s participation in the Hamilton County Job Fair and the annual egg drop at Suwannee Pineview Elementary. The egg drop is always a particular highlight of the year, as it gives our young students a chance to use their imagination and problem-solving skills in a fun environment. We are proud to be a part of it.

I also hope you are proud to be part of a cooperative that makes sure to keep its guiding principles front of mind. It isn’t always the easy way to do things, but it is the right way. And I know I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

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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: SVEC offers tools that let you handle your cooperative business from the comfort of home or on the go. See story, Page 4.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Annual Meeting election results Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative’s virtual Annual Meeting was viewed by members on Saturday, April 24, via Facebook and our website. The 1,243 members who registered for the meeting and voted by proxy reelected trustees Tyler Putnal, Sidney Lord and Andy Walker to serve another three years on the board.

Members also voted to approve changes to the bylaws that: omit the requirement that applicants for new service be approved by the board; explicitly permit the annual meeting to be held virtually or remotely; and explicitly permit trustees to appear at meetings remotely, virtually or by telephone.

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 who are dependent on electricity to register with SVEC so 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.

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.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

Office closings In honor of Memorial Day and Independence Day, SVEC’s office will be closed on MONDAY, MAY 31, and MONDAY, JULY 5.

Our 24-hour outage reporting system is always available, as is our drive-thru payment kiosk. We’ll have standby crews available to restore power if needed.

MAY 28: 28: Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday The 2021 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins on FRIDAY, MAY 28, and extends through SUNDAY, JUNE 6. During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax.

Suwannee Valley Currents

May 2021 | 3

Tools trade of the

SVEC is making the member experience better for everyone

Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative works every day to find new ways to improve consumer-members’ experience with the cooperative. That quality of service starts with the people who may be the first point of contact when consumer-members have a question.

“We are the first line of communication with members, and that’s vital,” says Member Experience Coordinator Trevita Riley. “This is where their opinion of SVEC is generated, so it’s important to be attentive, knowledgeable and compassionate so that we reflect the values of the cooperative.”

A key part of improving that overall experience is giving consumer-members the tools they need to do business with the cooperative their way. SVEC offers a range of programs to help you manage your account and stay on top of your electric bill without ever driving to our office.

PAY YOUR WAY

SVEC’s member service team works every day to improve the consumer-members’ experience with the cooperative.

SVEC offers a variety of ways for consumer-members to pay their bills, each designed to make it easy and convenient to do business at any time.

ONLINE — Consumer-members with a SmartHub account can log in and pay their bill anytime at svecsmarthub.com. Have your email address and password ready.

MOBILE APP — Use the SmartHub app on your smartphone or mobile device to view and pay your bill from anywhere.

AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS — Sign up for bank draft or recurring credit card payments to have funds automatically withdrawn on a set date before your bill is due. Both can be set up from your SmartHub account.

DRIVE-THRU KIOSK — Consumer-members can use the kiosk in the outer drive-thru lane at our office to make a payment. Have your account number ready or scan your bill to pay using check, credit card or cash. The machine doesn’t provide change, but it is available 24/7, and your payment will post within minutes.

PHONE — Call our interactive payment system at 877-562-5504 to pay your bill over the phone. Have your account number ready or the phone number on file for the account.

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Suwannee Valley Currents

SMARTHUB

SmartHub isn’t just for paying your bill. Consumer-members who sign up for the app also gain access to a comprehensive tool for managing their SVEC account. Log in to SmartHub today to: ANALYZE YOUR USAGE — View your electricity usage and compare it with previous time periods. Take advantage of enhanced features like historical weather data to see how your daily activities and other factors impact your electricity consumption.

VIEW AND COMPARE BILLS — View your current bill and compare it to past bills, along with weather analysis and daily usage comparisons.

MANAGE NOTIFICATIONS — Sign up for email or text notifications in the app, and even set specifics such as when you want to receive notifications. Common notifications include when your bill is available, when a payment is due, payment confirmation, delinquent notices, credit card expiration reminders and power outages.

CONTACT US AND REQUEST SERVICE — Want a direct line to SVEC? SmartHub makes it easy to contact SVEC for billing or service questions and to request a transfer of service, service disconnection, repairs for an area light and more.

GET IN TOUCH

Our member service representatives are always ready to help consumer-members answer any questions they may have about their account. If you can’t call or visit the office, it’s still easy to get in touch.

EMAIL — Send an email with your questions to memberservicerep@ svec-coop.com. One of our representatives will look into your issue and be in touch quickly with the information you need.

LIVE CHAT — The live chat feature on our website is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on holidays. If you would like to ask a question via the chat at other times, simply send a chat message and a representative will respond on the next business day.

Suwannee Valley Currents

FIND YOUR FORM

Need to fill out a form for residential or commercial service? There’s no need to come all the way to the SVEC office to pick it up. Visit sveccoop.com and click on “Forms & Documents” under the “Member Services” menu on the homepage.

There you can find and print off forms to apply for membership or service, sign up for MyChoice or Budget Billing, and much more.

member service representatives are always happy to work with you in the office or over the phone at 800-4474509. 

LET US WALK YOU THROUGH IT The SVEC website also has videos explaining many of our most popular services. If you want to learn more about using our drive-thru kiosk or outage map, how capital credits work or account service descriptions, you can find video walk-throughs on these and other subjects.

We encourage everyone to try these services to find the most convenient ways to do business with the cooperative. For those who are more comfortable doing business in person, our friendly and knowledgeable

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social media

SPOTLIGHT

Follow SVEC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest on outages, cooperative programs, community events and more. Here are a few highlights from the last month.

Cajun shrimp

alfredo SHRIMP: 1 tablespoon butter 4 cloves garlic 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

ALFREDO SAUCE: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 small yellow onion, chopped 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic 1 quart heavy whipping cream 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 2-3 cups Italian cheese blend 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese Black pepper and sea salt, to taste PASTA: Bow tie pasta Sea salt FOR SHRIMP: Melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and shrimp and saute until shrimp turns pink. Do not overcook shrimp.

Remove from heat and set aside.

facebook.com/sveccoop instagram.com/sveccoop twitter.com/SVEC_COOP

MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNTS with service descriptions If you have more than one SVEC account, remembering the right account number to report an outage or check on your service can be tricky. Having a unique service description for each account makes tasks like paying your bill and reporting an outage easier.

To establish or change service descriptions for your accounts, email memberservicerep@svec-coop.com with your account numbers and preferred descriptions, or call us at 800-447-4509.

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FOR SAUCE: Combine 2 tablespoons butter, onion and minced garlic in a medium skillet on medium heat and saute until onion is caramelized. Add heavy whipping cream and lemon juice. Bring to a rolling boil. Add Italian cheese blend and Parmesan. Reduce heat and allow cheese to melt. You can add more cheese if you desire a thicker sauce. Remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste.

FOR PASTA: Follow instructions on package. Add sea salt to taste. When done, drain and place on plate. Top with alfredo sauce and sauteed shrimp.

Garnish with additional cheese blend, if desired. Makes 4-6 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

A guide to beach camping in Northwest Florida

By Lauren Tjaden, Visit Florida

Have you ever been lying on your beach blanket, watching the sunset and seeing the first stars come out, and dreamed about spending the night right there beside the seashore? You can make your dream a reality, because there are more than 900 beach-area campgrounds in Florida with more than 100,000 campsites.

Most beach campsites are located in the slightly sheltered area behind the sand dunes. Camping right out on the beach near the waves is not usually permitted for safety reasons and to protect wildlife like sea turtles and nesting birds.

The summer months bring campers to the pure white sand and clear emerald green waters of Northwest Florida’s beaches, which may be a bit cool during the winter months for beach camping.

JOHNSON BEACH

The Pensacola area is home to Johnson Beach, part of Gulf Islands National Seashore on Perdido Key. It offers primitive camping, with some minor sand hiking on its far eastern edge.

Sugar-white sand, rolling dunes and wetlands make up the landscape of this peaceful camping destination.

FORT PICKENS

Here’s another of Pensacola’s delectable beach offerings. Part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, on the west end of Pensacola Beach, it features historic Fort Pickens, built in 1834. It also boasts miles of sugar-sand beach — and more than 200 camping locations are located just across the street from it. The spots include tent and RV areas for RVs up to 50 feet long, with plenty of access to water, electricity and picnic tables.

Suwannee Valley Currents

GEORGE ISLAND STATE PARK

Just offshore from Apalachicola, you’ll find St. George Island, home to a magnificent state park. If 9 miles of white-sand beaches sounds tempting to you, consider reserving one of its 60 campsites. The campsites, located between the bay and gulf, are about a halfmile from the beach. They’re nestled under a canopy of pines and offer electricity, water and a central dump station. The park also offers primitive camping and a group camp area. The primitive camp is located at the end of a 2.5-mile trail and is also accessible by canoe or kayak.

GRAYTON BEACH STATE PARK

Located roughly halfway between Panama City Beach and Destin, south of U.S. Highway 98, this park is a quiet respite that encompasses an award-winning beach. Its campground scores high marks for privacy between campsites, and most are easy on the eyes. Some campsites even overlook a lake.

Cabins are available, as well..

May 2021 | 7

a

CRACKING good time

SVEC participated in Suwannee Pineview Elementary’s annual egg drop.

The much-anticipated event tasks students with creating a protective carrier that can keep a raw egg from cracking when dropped from a raised bucket truck. The children combine science and creativity to experiment with a wide variety of materials like popcorn stuffing, Jell-O cushions and grocery bag parachutes. The tradition was started 27 years ago by SVEC lineworker Jay Chambliss and remains a much-loved event at the school. 

ON HAMILT Y COUNT

JOB FAIR

ON THE HUNT Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative was excited to be part of the Hamilton County Job Fair last month.

The event was a collaboration between the county chamber of commerce and Potluck Enterprises, giving local job hunters the opportunity to meet businesses hiring in their area.

More than a dozen organizations participated, with the Suwannee Valley Transit Authority even offering transportation to the event. Moving forward, the Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce hopes to put on a similar job fair twice a year.

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