SECO Notification 2/5/2021

[Bobcuse]

This morning I received a text message followed by an email which said Seco would be inspecting transformers & meters in my area for obstructions. It said to remove plants, shrubs and fences from areas near equipment and if crews are unable to access equipment my service may be disconnected.

Fortunately I do not have one of those large electrical boxes on my property which require 10' clearance on all sides. However, I live in a villa and my meter is on the outside garage wall which faces my neighbor's driveway. Along that wall in front of the meter is a 5' high x 3' wide hedge but the meter is just above the top of the hedge and clearly visible. The problem could be accessing the meter if work is needed and the SECO clearance instructions say that the meter requires 3' clearance on both sides and in front of the meter which essentially means the hedge must come out. So if my neighbor's hedge doesn't come out my service could be disconnected.

My frustration is that when these villas were constructed in 2003 every villa had a hedge planted along the garage wall obviously for aesthetic purposes. I assume the codes and clearance requirements were known by the contractors and inspectors, although those hedges were likely 1 gallon plants at the time and nobody noticed. I hope SECO would at least notify the residents if these hedges are actually an obstruction before we all proceed to begin tearing them out and/or before they pull the plug. Below is a link to the requirements provided by SECO. I plan to call SECO to clarify but everyone likely may have the same question.

Keep It Clear – SECO Energy (https://secoenergy.com/keep-it-clear/)

[retiredguy123]

The hedge in front of your meter is most likely in the easement area that is the respnsibility of your next door neighbor to maintain. Bummer.

[graciegirl]

This morning I received a text message followed by an email which said Seco would be inspecting transformers & meters in my area for obstructions. It said to remove plants, shrubs and fences from areas near equipment and if crews are unable to access equipment my service may be disconnected.

Fortunately I do not have one of those large electrical boxes on my property which require 10' clearance on all sides. However, I live in a villa and my meter is on the outside garage wall which faces my neighbor's driveway. Along that wall in front of the meter is a 5' high x 3' wide hedge but the meter is just above the top of the hedge and clearly visible. The problem could be accessing the meter if work is needed and the SECO clearance instructions say that the meter requires 3' clearance on both sides and in front of the meter which essentially means the hedge must come out. So if my neighbor's hedge doesn't come out my service could be disconnected.

My frustration is that when these villas were constructed in 2003 every villa had a hedge planted along the garage wall obviously for aesthetic purposes. I assume the codes and clearance requirements were known by the contractors and inspectors, although those hedges were likely 1 gallon plants at the time and nobody noticed. I hope SECO would at least notify the residents if these hedges are actually an obstruction before we all proceed to begin tearing them out and/or before they pull the plug. Below is a link to the requirements provided by SECO. I plan to call SECO to clarify but everyone likely may have the same question.

Keep It Clear – SECO Energy (https://secoenergy.com/keep-it-clear/)

It appears that SECO is methodically and systematically sending these notices to each neighborhood and area.

I have heard all kinds of reactions from ignoring them to digging up and replanting after the "inspection".


We dug up our lovely bushes and now the view from our nice glassed in lanai gives us excellent view of the big ugly utility box.'

Others have said we are sissies.

We have always done what the rule said to do.

It is so ugly. SO ugly and the bushes masked it so well. It took my dear husband the better part of the day to get the three bushes out.

We are also the kind of folks that if a police officer said stop we would stop and I will not say any more and get in trouble.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I work at an electric and gas utility, and its nice to hear when people make it easy and safe for the utility workers who are handling high voltage which can and occassionally does kill them, so that they can quickly get your service back up and running. We have lots of really nice and helpful people who go out of their way working during storms to keep the energy flowing to everyone as quickly as possible.

Especially to avoid those fines which the regulator's impose for not servicing your accounts in a timely manner after a storm. We have had staged contractors during winter storms, and had not had a call, eating several millions of dollars, and then we have a few bad fall storms not considered special by the weather service and fined half a million . . . so the least you can do is make the box safe and accessible for your energy needs

sportsguy




You wouldn't want to have any down time with TOTV catching up on the important news of the day!

[CWGUY]

:) I also received the same text this morning. I didn't care for the way it was worded at all..... they didn't talk to me like I was one of the owners. From their web site - "One of the most important distinctions between other types of utilities and SECO is that we are member owned." Since when is it o.k. for the employees to threaten the owner? :icon_wink: Just think it could have been worded nicer. The other thing I'd like to know is ..... when is SECO going to start taking better care of the equipment? The several near my home could use a little TLC. Maybe centered up on their pad, painted, and some new stickers and numbers.

Let's see if I have to do my next post on my cell phone..... in the dark. :duck:

[John41]

This morning I received a text message followed by an email which said Seco would be inspecting transformers & meters in my area for obstructions. It said to remove plants, shrubs and fences from areas near equipment and if crews are unable to access equipment my service may be disconnected.

Fortunately I do not have one of those large electrical boxes on my property which require 10' clearance on all sides. However, I live in a villa and my meter is on the outside garage wall which faces my neighbor's driveway. Along that wall in front of the meter is a 5' high x 3' wide hedge but the meter is just above the top of the hedge and clearly visible. The problem could be accessing the meter if work is needed and the SECO clearance instructions say that the meter requires 3' clearance on both sides and in front of the meter which essentially means the hedge must come out. So if my neighbor's hedge doesn't come out my service could be disconnected.

My frustration is that when these villas were constructed in 2003 every villa had a hedge planted along the garage wall obviously for aesthetic purposes. I assume the codes and clearance requirements were known by the contractors and inspectors, although those hedges were likely 1 gallon plants at the time and nobody noticed. I hope SECO would at least notify the residents if these hedges are actually an obstruction before we all proceed to begin tearing them out and/or before they pull the plug. Below is a link to the requirements provided by SECO. I plan to call SECO to clarify but everyone likely may have the same question.

Keep It Clear – SECO Energy (https://secoenergy.com/keep-it-clear/)

That’s your neighbors easement area and it must conform to deed restrictions. Talk to your neighbor first and show him the email. If that doesn’t work send him a letter then bring the planting into compliance. It is your property.

[asianthree]

The big ugly box is next door, the really pretty bushes with 6” diameter, and 7’ tall were cut down about a 6” from the ground. Then left all the bushes in the yard. So if you don’t take care of it, you get to fall over the 6” stubs left in the yard, and the dying bushes next to them

[egmcaninch]

I work at an electric and gas utility, and its nice to hear when people make it easy and safe for the utility workers who are handling high voltage which can and occassionally does kill them, so that they can quickly get your service back up and running. We have lots of really nice and helpful people who go out of their way working during storms to keep the energy flowing to everyone as quickly as possible.

Especially to avoid those fines which the regulator's impose for not servicing your accounts in a timely manner after a storm. We have had staged contractors during winter storms, and had not had a call, eating several millions of dollars, and then we have a few bad fall storms not considered special by the weather service and fined half a million . . . so the least you can do is make the box safe and accessible for your energy needs

sportsguy




You wouldn't want to have any down time with TOTV catching up on the important news of the day!

Are you saying that shrubs at homes have contributed to the deaths of utility workers?

[chipd331]

they have already been to my house twice
Said "everything within 36" must be removed and if it is 36" with overhanging branches, limbs etc.. the overhanging parts need to be 6ft. of the ground
they made me remove a bush that was 32" away.
They have told me a neighbor of mine whom has a $15k tree, has to remove it
Or else be fined
The Lady was out with a measuring tape and taking pictures and jotting down notes
Of course i told her, "this is not my equipment" if you want it cleared, you pay for it"
then she started spouting the rehearsed speech that made no sense but in the end she said it's an OCEA requirement
We haven't heard the last of this one yet

[msilagy]

I have a 6ft bush in front of my electric box. Even tho it's a villa and faces my neighbors driveway it is my electric box so I trimmed the bush 3 ft back. It doesn't look great but a technician could go there to read the box. Just because in courtyard villas that area may be the responsibility of the neighbor - it's MY electric box! I am not the type of personality that looks to others to do my bidding!

[dlebuis]

They’ve been in our neighborhood too. People have had to take out bushes, plants and trees. Now they’re making people move their light poles. One that was 4” too close to the flush mounted electrical plate in our front yards. Costing a lot of money and very stressful. They’re saying we have 30 days to comply or risk $50 add on to bill or possibly service turned off. I feel sorry for person that has to come out to tell people the bad news. Our beautiful yards have been left with a big empty space in our front yards.

[airdale2]

if your yard is SOOOOOOO much trouble, sell the house & move into an apartment.

[Papa_lecki]

They can fine you , but they cant turn your power off.

Imagine the press if someone dies because their oxygen machine cant work because a bush was too close to an electric box.

[Tom53]

they have already been to my house twice
Said "everything within 36" must be removed and if it is 36" with overhanging branches, limbs etc.. the overhanging parts need to be 6ft. of the ground
they made me remove a bush that was 32" away.
They have told me a neighbor of mine whom has a $15k tree, has to remove it
Or else be fined
The Lady was out with a measuring tape and taking pictures and jotting down notes
Of course i told her, "this is not my equipment" if you want it cleared, you pay for it"
then she started spouting the rehearsed speech that made no sense but in the end she said it's an OCEA requirement
We haven't heard the last of this one yet

It's actually an OSHA requirement (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), who's purpose is to ensure worker safety.

[sentry]

It appears that SECO is methodically and systematically sending these notices to each neighborhood and area.

I have heard all kinds of reactions from ignoring them to digging up and replanting after the "inspection".


We dug up our lovely bushes and now the view from our nice glassed in lanai gives us excellent view of the big ugly utility box.'

Others have said we are sissies.

We have always done what the rule said to do.

It is so ugly. SO ugly and the bushes masked it so well. It took my dear husband the better part of the day to get the three bushes out.

We are also the kind of folks that if a police officer said stop we would stop and I will not say any more and get in trouble.
SECO just has to be able to read the meter. If any work has to be done to the meter base that is yours to repair not SECO

[G.R.I.T.S.]

I have a 6ft bush in front of my electric box. Even tho it's a villa and faces my neighbors driveway it is my electric box so I trimmed the bush 3 ft back. It doesn't look great but a technician could go there to read the box. Just because in courtyard villas that area may be the responsibility of the neighbor - it's MY electric box! I am not the type of personality that looks to others to do my bidding!

I believe the boxes referenced by SECO are the ones in the ground, not house meters. I had to take down a crape myrtle because it was 18" away as well as some flowers. It's not the end of the world. Just do it. Pretend it's like having to wear a mask. 🙄

[Ingridbrandt48@gmail.com]

Been there, Done that - just one week after moving into my home in Nov.2020 - I received a letter from Seco - had to spend more that $100 to remove a bush that probably had been there more than 20 years - Noticed though that there was a transformer with a "Village" fence less than 3 feet behind it - go figure -

[Girlcopper]

It's actually an OSHA requirement (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), who's purpose is to ensure worker safety.
Yes it is and OSHA doesnt mince words or actions. If you or a company has a safety violation you will be fined big time and they can even close construction down on a house. I know thats unrelated, just trying to show the power they have.
So,youre told to trim bushes, move things a certain distance. How about you just do it and quit arguing about everything
And they dont have to tell you sweetly either. If their blunt words hurt your feelings then you should stay inside and lock your doors. The world isnt always going to cater to your feelings

[Kathryn Putt]

We also got that. I think it was a blanket distribution because we actually maintain a passage way thru the shrubs that was open when I sprayed for weeks and bugs last week without any difficulty getting in there.

[J1ceasar]

There are a lot of utilities that unfortunately don't spend the money that they are required to spend in cutting trees and maintaining lines. And there are also a lot of people that are foolish and plan to hedges directly against utility boxes whether the one foot size or the three foot size. About 15 years ago the electricity in my house went out in half the house. Interestingly my house power line went under the road across the street to my neighbor whose box the power company opened up only after taking power saws to the hedges all around it. No complaints from the neighbor who I would imagine re planted hedges the next week

[J1ceasar]

You guys in Sumter may or may not be lucky, but definitely in Leesburg fire district trees must be trimmed that overhang roads to at least 15 ft height and the Florida department will come around and give you a fine after proper notice if you don't get it done. It's not the townships problem but yours

[bigbobdog]

SECO threatened to cut service to our house even after large bushes were trimmed back 30"from the affected area to provide access to utility workers. SECO mandated that we totally remove the bushes (which were more than 8' high and had been trimmed back). A second notice from SECO said that since we hadn't trimmed them 36" back, we should take the bushes out in 14 days or we wouldn't have service. Very disappointing experience

[FromNY]

Where was the developer when the homes were built? Didn't they confer with SECO as to placement of meters? Boxes? Maybe they are splitting the fines?

[chuckk281]

This morning I received a text message followed by an email which said Seco would be inspecting transformers & meters in my area for obstructions. It said to remove plants, shrubs and fences from areas near equipment and if crews are unable to access equipment my service may be disconnected.

Fortunately I do not have one of those large electrical boxes on my property which require 10' clearance on all sides. However, I live in a villa and my meter is on the outside garage wall which faces my neighbor's driveway. Along that wall in front of the meter is a 5' high x 3' wide hedge but the meter is just above the top of the hedge and clearly visible. The problem could be accessing the meter if work is needed and the SECO clearance instructions say that the meter requires 3' clearance on both sides and in front of the meter which essentially means the hedge must come out. So if my neighbor's hedge doesn't come out my service could be disconnected.

My frustration is that when these villas were constructed in 2003 every villa had a hedge planted along the garage wall obviously for aesthetic purposes. I assume the codes and clearance requirements were known by the contractors and inspectors, although those hedges were likely 1 gallon plants at the time and nobody noticed. I hope SECO would at least notify the residents if these hedges are actually an obstruction before we all proceed to begin tearing them out and/or before they pull the plug. Below is a link to the requirements provided by SECO. I plan to call SECO to clarify but everyone likely may have the same question.

Keep It Clear – SECO Energy (https://secoenergy.com/keep-it-clear/)

I also received an email from SECO. The transformer feeding my house and my neighbors is on the developer's land . They maintain it and I have no ownership for what they do. Let us know what SECO says.

[Bilyclub]

I believe the boxes referenced by SECO are the ones in the ground, not house meters. I had to take down a crape myrtle because it was 18" away as well as some flowers. It's not the end of the world. Just do it. Pretend it's like having to wear a mask. 🙄

Meters too...

[Pairadocs]

That’s your neighbors easement area and it must conform to deed restrictions. Talk to your neighbor first and show him the email. If that doesn’t work send him a letter then bring the planting into compliance. It is your property.

Wouldn't It be more prudent to just let the neighbor deal with it since it's not your on property or responsibility.As long as you know you are complying Seco's requirements for their customers just let the neighbor deal with his or her non compliance. Might be better and safer for you to just stay out Of getting between the neighbor and SECO?? Don't get involved, they Probably sent that notice to everyone I know we all got them in our village.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

They can fine you , but they cant turn your power off.


There are priorities mandated by state regulators based upon the use classification of every address which has power. Every house in TV starts out as residential. In order to have a residential house not be able to be turned off, paperwork must be filled out with the utility company with documentation to prove to the regulators that the house has special needs. Also, that documentation must be updated periodically, like annually. Utilities have thousands of customers who have special needs and actually don't even pay, which is reflected in the your rate per KW hour, (you suckers paying for those parasites who get free electricity)

If you have serious complaints, stop whining here and talk to your state regulator who oversees (definition of regulator if you need help) about the behaviors of the utility, and their fines and their requirements.

Regulated utilities have to follow a bucket full of regulations starting in the 1930s through today, which means fines to them if you don't cooperate. . . and i don't think they want to be fined due to your little 100x125 fiefdom. . .

utility guy

[New Englander]

Where was the developer when the homes were built? Didn't they confer with SECO as to placement of meters? Boxes? Maybe they are splitting the fines?

:1rotfl:

[Pairadocs]

We also got that. I think it was a blanket distribution because we actually maintain a passage way thru the shrubs that was open when I sprayed for weeks and bugs last week without any difficulty getting in there.

I think it was a blanket one too ! Surely if they have a specific issue with a home owner OR with the developers of the villages there would be more specific communication than what we ( and most we've talked to in our village) received in this blanket notice !!??

[skip0358]

Mine was recently redone. Sanded, Painted & new Numbers. Yes I had to remove my plantings & bushes as. they were to close. Having worked for a utility on Long Island I can understand for sure. Safety first. Do I like looking at the 3 boxes nope, but the rules are the rules.

[Pairadocs]

We also got that. I think it was a blanket distribution because we actually maintain a passage way thru the shrubs that was open when I sprayed for weeks and bugs last week without any difficulty getting in there.

I think it was a blanket one too ! Surely if they have a specific issue with a home owner OR with the developers of the villages there would be more specific communication than what we ( and most we've talked to in our village) received in this blanket notice !!??

[CWGUY]

Where was the developer when the homes were built? Didn't they confer with SECO as to placement of meters? Boxes? Maybe they are splitting the fines?

:coolsmiley: That sounds like it could be one of the better hate posts about the developer...... or was it supposed to be funny? :icon_wink:

[dkaufnelson]

First you need to contact seco and find out exactly where your electric box is {period} they are not talking about the electric meter on your wall {period} they are talking about a box located somewhere in your yard {period} my courtyard Villa box was a flat cover in the ground that was next to some other utility boxes {period} you must remove all plantings within 3 ft on all four sides of your electric box in the ground, not the meter.

[Bogie Shooter]

Seems rather simple:

Keep It Clear – SECO Energy (https://secoenergy.com/keep-it-clear/)

[coffeebean]

Are you saying that shrubs at homes have contributed to the deaths of utility workers?

It was explained to my by a SECO rep that if the equipment arcs, the techs need to be able to get out of the way quickly. Yes, there have been a couple of deaths recently because the techs could not get out of the way of the arc. This is the reason why SECO is finally taking care of clearing the areas around their equipment.

We complied. Took out a gorgeous hedge that blocked that unsightly SECO box. We also took out one shrub that was directly in front of the SECO meter on the side of our home.

[coffeebean]

I believe the boxes referenced by SECO are the ones in the ground, not house meters. I had to take down a crape myrtle because it was 18" away as well as some flowers. It's not the end of the world. Just do it. Pretend it's like having to wear a mask. 🙄

House meters ARE include in the SECO quest to clear their equipment. I had to clear in front of the meter and clear the area around that huge green SECO transformer that is in the back of our property.

[coffeebean]

Been there, Done that - just one week after moving into my home in Nov.2020 - I received a letter from Seco - had to spend more that $100 to remove a bush that probably had been there more than 20 years - Noticed though that there was a transformer with a "Village" fence less than 3 feet behind it - go figure -

I know what you mean. We cleared the shrubs from one side and the front of the transformer box but on the other side of the transformer box sits a cable dome not more than 12" away on the other side.

[Bilyclub]

First you need to contact seco and find out exactly where your electric box is {period} they are not talking about the electric meter on your wall {period} they are talking about a box located somewhere in your yard {period} my courtyard Villa box was a flat cover in the ground that was next to some other utility boxes {period} you must remove all plantings within 3 ft on all four sides of your electric box in the ground, not the meter.

I hate when somebody will post wrong info because they haven't read the whole thread.:boom:

[John41]

///

[CWGUY]

I hate when somebody will post wrong info because they haven't read the whole thread.:boom:

Welcome to Talk Of The Virus. :ho:

[Fenster]

I’ve never seen any other neighborhoods other than here where they have these ugly boxes all over the place.

(Maybe you have seen them. Most places do NOT.)

They’re absolutely ugly and unnecessary. How did TV let this happen?

They all over the place!

[polirudb]

Maybe SECO can meet with the contractors and provide them levels so that perhaps they can install the boxes straight and plumb. I have never seen one installed straight. Not sure if it is a requirement that they all lean in opposite directions. They look like they were installed by workers returning from happy hour somewhere. They are ugly if installed straight, they are even uglier and more of an eyesore when they are crooked.

[NoMoSno]

I’ve never seen any other neighborhoods other than here where they have these ugly boxes all over the place.

(Maybe you have seen them. Most places do NOT.)

They’re absolutely ugly and unnecessary. How did TV let this happen?

They all over the place!
It's called underground wiring.
Looks better and more storm proof than overhead wires.

[coffeebean]

I’ve never seen any other neighborhoods other than here where they have these ugly boxes all over the place.

(Maybe you have seen them. Most places do NOT.)

They’re absolutely ugly and unnecessary. How did TV let this happen?

They all over the place!

Our community has underground utilities. Have you noticed there are no "telephone poles" in The Villages with all sorts of wires hanging on them? Remember those?

[Best family]

I’m sure the house has been there since 2005 and nothing had ever been said

[New Englander]

I’ve never seen any other neighborhoods other than here where they have these ugly boxes all over the place.

(Maybe you have seen them. Most places do NOT.)

They’re absolutely ugly and unnecessary. How did TV let this happen?

They all over the place!

My townhouse complex up north had these ugly boxes throughout the complex. They were much larger and uglier than these ones here.

[Best family]

Didn’t the villages put in the lamp post? Maybe they should pay for it?

[Bogie Shooter]

Didn’t the villages put in the lamp post? Maybe they should pay for it?

Lamp post?

[Michigan Farmer]

Hi, I don't pretend to be the sharpest pencil in the desk but I have to believe this is going to turn into a huge can of worms. Took a drive around today and if you really pay attention there are many many violations of this issue. I simply cant beleive all of the landscape violations I see were not run past the architectural review commitiee like they were supposed to. And if they were did the commitiee just rubber stamp them, approve of them, without addressing this issue. Looking today and I have schrubs planted by the builder within three feet right to left of my meter. How did this pass a final electrical inspection, is this a warranty issue, is it a structual warranty issue which is 10 years. This is going to cost someone alot of money if Seco requires to the letter compliance.

[Jeff & Judy]

I have 2 villas I rent and maintain (ours and my cousin's who lives out of country). I was notified of violations for both including plantings, shrubs, palm trees, and a lamp post. I definitely want the SECO workers to be safe regardless of if they are meter readers, or repair people, or anyone else. As stated by others, many of these violations were there from the start (palm trees and lamp posts planted at the initial time of construction). I did remove all of shrubs and plantings which came after the initial purchase of the homes. I was bothered by the effort, costs, and responsibility to meet the requests for the remaining items. Exchanges with SECO via emails and paper mail was less than professional in my opinion, especially when I was threatened with a written ultimatum to resolve the remaining issues within 15 days or possibly suffer disconnection. Thank God for my wife who looked up and saw that we are in District 3 and each district has a Trustee who is an elected official to interface with SECO on behalf of residents within their district. Our District 3 Trustee is Mr. Gerald Anderson.
So I called (and emailed) Mr. Anderson on the Saturday, knowing that I would be leaving a message, before President's Day and left him a message with my concerns about SECOs request and the way they were dealing with me. Unbelievably, he called me back early Monday (President's Day) morning and we had a great discussion about my dilemma, and concluding with his promise to look into it. Within the next week, I received no less than 3 calls from him personally letting me know what was going on and the discussions he had had with other Trustees and employees of SECO. His final call to me blew me away when he informed me that there had been a meeting with I believe the other Trustees and executives of SECO and my case was discussed - with the results being that both of my homes were now clear and that I didn't need to take any further action regarding moving the lamp post or palm trees.
So my recommendation is that if you feel you're being wronged in some ways and you believe that you have a valid issue with some/all of what SECO is asking you to do - I would simply suggest contacting the Trustee for your district and see if they can help. This does not mean that you will get your way, but the Trustees are our elected officials and do have our interests at heart.
My last comment is that Mr. Anderson also told me that at the meeting there were a good number of action items taken to improve the way this whole process was working. I sincerely believe that Mr. Anderson and the other Trustees will help facilitate improvements for all of us going forward in dealing with SECO issues and interactions.

[MrFlorida]

They came to my house last week, inspected the transformer, and then painted it a dark green color.

[dewilson58]

Seems rather simple:

Keep It Clear – SECO Energy (https://secoenergy.com/keep-it-clear/)


Yes it is. :coolsmiley:

[Craig Vernon]

I have worked for a public utility for thirty three years. These are form letters and our mostly simply common sense. If there is service that is required and access cannot be safely made to utility owned equipment then it may prevent or hinder in the event access is needed. In my experience nobody is going to shut off your service, however if access is needed for any reason the trimming, stomping and perhaps removal of your prized landscape will not be pretty or gentle. Be respectful of those who work for you. Have a great day!

[trichard]

Things change. Deal with it.

[perrjojo]

Yes it is. :coolsmiley:
Not totally simple. Villas have a large 3 foot square flat box about every 3rd or fourth house. There are also additional utility items in a very small front yard. Here is where most in our neighborhood have become upset. SECO came through in June with a large list of requirements. They have come through again recently and some requirements are different. owners have been allowed to keep large trees and others have been require to remove them..even trees planted by the developer. Some have been allowed to keep landscape walls while others were asked to remove them. One owner that I know had to pay $3,000 for landscape removal. Landscaping that they did not put in. Oh, and btw Our street light post are not all the require distance.

[perrjojo]

First you need to contact seco and find out exactly where your electric box is {period} they are not talking about the electric meter on your wall {period} they are talking about a box located somewhere in your yard {period} my courtyard Villa box was a flat cover in the ground that was next to some other utility boxes {period} you must remove all plantings within 3 ft on all four sides of your electric box in the ground, not the meter.
Actually we got notice that my neighbors shrub was blocking our meter, not trimmed but removed
.some other had shrubs blocking meters were not cited. The inconsistency that is troubling. Additionally the large flat boxers has no identification nor do they have any instructions as to planing near them. The large box’s are clearly marked and have planting information on the box.

[Bogie Shooter]

Not totally simple. Villas have a large 3 foot square flat box about every 3rd or fourth house. There are also additional utility items in a very small front yard. Here is where most in our neighborhood have become upset. SECO came through in June with a large list of requirements. They have come through again recently and some requirements are different. owners have been allowed to keep large trees and others have been require to remove them..even trees planted by the developer. Some have been allowed to keep landscape walls while others were asked to remove them. One owner that I know had to pay $3,000 for landscape removal. Landscaping that they did not put in. Oh, and btw Our street light post are not all the require distance.
Did you read post #50?
If some should and some should not for the same thing.....I would make the call!

[Topspinmo]

It appears that SECO is methodically and systematically sending these notices to each neighborhood and area.

I have heard all kinds of reactions from ignoring them to digging up and replanting after the "inspection".


We dug up our lovely bushes and now the view from our nice glassed in lanai gives us excellent view of the big ugly utility box.'

Others have said we are sissies.

We have always done what the rule said to do.

It is so ugly. SO ugly and the bushes masked it so well. It took my dear husband the better part of the day to get the three bushes out.

We are also the kind of folks that if a police officer said stop we would stop and I will not say any more and get in trouble.

I too took out bushes also in front of my utilities, didn’t bother me a bit, now I don’t have trim and cleanup after them. On good note going to plant my dish network pole there. And no district can’t prevent me from putting up pole or antenna. :)

[Topspinmo]

Hi, I don't pretend to be the sharpest pencil in the desk but I have to believe this is going to turn into a huge can of worms. Took a drive around today and if you really pay attention there are many many violations of this issue. I simply cant beleive all of the landscape violations I see were not run past the architectural review commitiee like they were supposed to. And if they were did the commitiee just rubber stamp them, approve of them, without addressing this issue. Looking today and I have schrubs planted by the builder within three feet right to left of my meter. How did this pass a final electrical inspection, is this a warranty issue, is it a structual warranty issue which is 10 years. This is going to cost someone alot of money if Seco requires to the letter compliance.

Same thing in my neighborhood, going to be lot bushes removed, some you can verily see the meter sticking out above the top of the bushes.

[perrjojo]

Did you read post #50?
If some should and some should not for the same thing.....I would make the call!
Yes, I know the person who wrote the post and yes,SECo has heard from many of us.

[Bowtorc]

Nice comment!!!!!!!!