Wrong.....SECO and DUKE are not the same power company

My neighbor just happened to be in the yard when the SECO representative was on the property to check for compliance. The SECO rep told my neighbor that the one scrub directly in front my home's SECO meter had to be removed. That scrub was the end of a of Lugustrem hedge. The SECO rep also told my neighbor the three Lugustrum schrubs in front of the transformer box had to be removed. The door to the transformer box faces my property so there must be 10 feet of clearance to be in compliance. Good-bye shrubs!

These items which were relayed to my neighbor were also written by the SECO rep on a door knocker, complete with graphics and written instructions to be in compliance.

Which box did you move? I wouldn't consider moving any of the utility equipment.

It was explained to me by a SECO phone representative, that the repairmen must have 3 feet to each side and front of the SECO meter to do a repair. If an arc happens unexpectedly, the repair person needs to be able to jump out of the way of the arc. I get it. I was happy to remove the shrub in front of the SECO meter.

The transformer box is in front of your house? I don't think I've seen any of those large transformers in front of any homes. They are usually in the back yards. On a main roadway with the back of the house facing the main roadway, is that the scenario you speak of?

The door knocker requests that photos are taken and sent to them. That doesn't seem like too much to ask of the customer. I certainly plan to do that so they don't have to send someone out just to inspect the area.

Welcome to our neighborhood with underground utilities.

Well said. Usually every lot no matter where you live has an easement used by Utility companies. We may have to remove or move our bushes. It won't make us mad. It just is something that may need to be done. I wish people wouldn't give such a hard time to folks who are just doing their job.

We planted small, low ground cover (Blue Daze) mainly to hide the ugliness of the three utility boxes (one power and two round cylindrical telecommunications) in our front yard. We were told that we had to remove the ground cover and that there needed to be a three foot clearance around the power box. They also told us it is clearly stated on the sticker on the box. Unfortunately for us, there is/was no sticker letting us know that. Additionally, the two telecommunications boxes are on two sides of the power box, approximately 6 inches away from it (so much for the three foot clearance). Lastly, there is not one power or telecommunications box on our block that is straight, level, or plumb. They all look like they were installed by someone who just left a local happy hour. Nevertheless, we removed the plants are are now hopefully in compliance.

We also have two cylindrical communications utilities very close to the SECO transformer box. I had not even given it a thought that they are not in compliance with the SECO rules of clearance. That is funny!

Sneaky
 

Seco left a door hanger yesterday without ringing my bell.
I would have appreciated an explanation while they where standing in my yard so I can comply. I was home.
If I’m to email pics of rectification, seco should first email me pics of my existing condition along w/ remedy.
My landscaping hasn’t changed in size or scope since it was installed in 2006.

This is not entirely accurate
 

I believe that utilities can't turn off electricity for economic hardship only, lost your ability to pay due to a lost job due to the pandemic.

34.5 million households losing utility shutoff protections by Sept. 30

Governors and public utility commissions in 32 states passed new utility shutoff moratoriums​ during the pandemic, which prohibited providers from shutting off utilities because of nonpayment.

I don't think that obstructing the easement falls into that category.

sportsguy

I spoke with the person who signed my letter. He told me that SECO has been lax all these years with making sure their equipment all had easy access. I was also told that recently, there were a couple of accidents and their employees were injured because of the limited access to the transformer boxes. They are cracking down now and their plan is to have all of their equipment in compliance with easy access for their employees.

The door knocker I received had specific instructions and a diagram of what is to be fully compliant with the different types of equipment that SECO has throughout our community.

We complied. Took the photos and emailed them to SECO with the supplied email address. All done but now our view out of our master bedroom windows is not a nice as before. Oh well. That's the way the cookie crumbles. I feel better that the SECO employees will be safe if and when they have to work on the equipment.

Maybe before getting so excited to call somebody wrong, read the sentence carefully.
He said "Actually we were told this with all transformers (SECO and what is now known as DUKE) when we purchased 23 years ago.

Referring to 2 different companies, one of which was known by a different name 23 years ago.

23 years ago it was known as Duke Power......it was started by the Duke Brothers in 1904. I also read it as the poster was drawing a correlation between the two.

:ho: Here it was SECO and Progress Energy..... Progress merged with Duke and became Duke here. :)

I have a broken cover for the CenturyLink box/tower thing in my back yard. The wires are all exposed, and there are nests of bugs inside it. I called CenturyLink, got a few different people, none of whom spoke English as a first language and insisted that they couldn't help me without my account number. I'm not a CenturyLink customer, and so - I don't have an account number. They then sent me to Sales to set up an account. I tried explaining to them the situation and they had no idea what I was talking about.

Finally I just gave up. We can't mow the lawn near that thing, or even use the electric edger, because we don't want to cut those wires and risk - whatever happens when you cut CenturyLink box wires.

So it remains ugly, and broken, and grass-covered, bug-infested, and not my problem. I did what I felt was the right thing to do and they can't be bothered. If we ever get a notice telling us we have to clear out the area, we'll invite them to do it themselves. Or they can shut off the CenturyLink service that we don't have anyway :)

Cut the wires, accidentally of course. They will come and fix it once a customer reports an outage.

File a complaint with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC); Consumer Complaints Form - Florida Public Service Commission

Utility can not turn off power if you don’t remove landscaping - imaging if you have an oxygen machine that needs to be charged, and your utility was terminated for landscaping?
They are badgering you - the utility needs to respond to every complaint filed. A door knocker can be a scam, especially in a neighborhood with elderly residents.

... or, do the right thing and remove the plants that create a hazard for electrical workers bringing the situation into complaince with electric code (an actual thing and not a scam).

:ohdear: Or tries to call 911 for a fire or a heart attack...... and can't! Or a different scenario..... tries to make a tee time for a snow bird and 3 of his friends from up north and can't. :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl: I'm sure you were only joking but.......PLEASE DON"T CUT THE WIRES. :icon_wink:

I stand corrected...thanks

Read the post before the one I responded to. My bad, I should have quoted it. And by the way, not funny.

Everyone in my neighborhood with a box got a notice. I had to remove several lovely shrubs. Luckily I can't see the ugly box from my house. Unluckily all the neighbors on my street can see the ugly box. I'll probably put in some compliant bushes later, but it's not super high on my priority list.

I got the door hanger yesterday telling me 10' in the front and 3' on the other sides as others have said. I bought the house pre-owned with some sawgrass planted around the box so no problem I'll pull them. At the front I have a small decorative stone they want moved. Looking at it I thought for sure it was 10' away so I measured it. Nope, 9' 4" so since it was so small I just picked it up, took one step and set it back down. My question is what are they going to do with the Sumter County street light pole in between their box and my decorative rock that's only about 6' from their box?

Yep got caught for sure. My Plants and my white cross in my back yard were to close so I had to remove them. No big deal.

You are right and I was half wrong. It is three feet on all sides. I have their diagram in my hand.

I think my house is within 10 feet of the box. I will measure tomorrow.

Three feet clearance on the two sides and back of the transformer box is required by SECO. Ten feet of clearance is required by SECO in front of the transformer box where the transformer box door is located.

Nope.

Yep same here, had a door knocker. Had to cut down 3 ornamental grasses that were there at least a couple years , we just purchased house 3 months ago. Fortunately the box is on far side of lot out of view of house . Had to email photo of compliance when work was done .

My husband spent the last two days digging up three bushes that nicely screened the eyesore from our closeby lanai. He then filled the holes. The bushes were two feet away instead of the required three. In ten years no one ever was seen near that box, but we are rule followers. Hubs is all scratched up and his back is aching.

AND... That big ole' green box really is ugly to look at bare naked.