Nice summary - thanks!

Adding it appears the cost previously spread across the entire membership base.

They don't say who will see a cost reduction as a result.

SECO Energy Announces Increase in Lighting Rates – SECO Energy


SECO Energy is a not-for-profit entity. Energy rates, lighting service costs, and additional services are structured not to turn a profit but to reflect the costs of providing power and other related services.

We continually review rates through cost-of-service studies which are comprehensive evaluations of the costs associated with providing service to different customer groups, to ensure fairness and equity among ratepayers and that the cost of additional services is not subsidized by the entire membership base.

The full rate tariff is available online at SECOEnergy.com.

Neither did I. . . interestingly, I learn something every day from the "discussions" on here, even if I am wrong.

SECO CO-op is an electrical distribution Co-op, which owns an electrical generation/transmission Co-op. . . called Seminole Electric Cooperative.

In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) by executive order to bring electricity to rural communities through the formation of electric cooperatives. In 1937, the REA drafted the Electric Cooperative Corporation Act, a law permitting states to create and operate not-for-profit, member-owned distribution electric cooperatives. The same year, Florida’s first distribution electric cooperatives were formed.

History – Seminole Electric Cooperative

The FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION regulates the non cooperative electrical distribution and transmission companies. . .
Florida PSC

The FPSC regulates the following electric distribution companies:
Florida Power & Light
Duke Energy
Tampa Electric
Florida Public Utilities

The funny part is that SECO and seminole co-ops were created for rural FL, and it won't change its rural status unless someone buys out the co-operatives. The key difference is the organization under those regulations and are a member owned non profit organization. Big advantage over Duke Energy. .

HOWEVER, non profit does not non profit literally, as in the binary opposite = MONEY LOSING. . . even the cooperative needs to recover its costs, therefore if costs increases, rates will increase. .

:what:

Just remember "Not for Profit" does not mean they operate in the most cost efficient manner possible. Wasteful or stupid spending still gets passed to the customers. People still get paid, and excess cash is used for buying things and spending sprees.

The NFL is "Not for Profit"

True, and the pay back of certain investments is based upon someone's financial model and assumptions about the future behavior of humans, which is always wrong, but some are wronger than others.

However, if the rates (tariffs in legal terms) are lower than DUKE and the other regulated utilities, we the members and customers are ahead of the game. . . the added advantage is that the generation plants are also co-op owned and are non profit. . .

It may not but as soon as they get 80 to 90% on electric, you’ll be trapped then you see everything that operates off of electric will be expensive, then there won’t be nothing we can do. Also what will you do when we have power failure’s & out for several days? Then what, the power companies will lower your electric bill. It’s a trap! You know they’re trying to get America on electric stoves info natural gas stoves. Think about it, why are they trying to get everything on electric. What do you think EV chargers are ran on electric?

I received this yesterday from Village district staff about the SECO rate increase as viewed by district staff.

"Good Afternoon,

With all of the recent discussions regarding the SECO Rate Increase, I asked District Staff to compile a one-page “fact sheet” to summarize the issue, actions taken and results from our engagement with the SECO Board (attached). We will include this document for residents to read on the “Get the Facts” section of our website. The link to Get the Facts is on the left-hand side of our homepage.

This document should serve as a valuable tool when discussing/explaining this topic with your constituents.

Thank you,

Kenny"

[QUOTE=Jerseybob;2341817][B]

DIRECT FROM THE SECO WEBSITE:

"Our members have a voice in the co-op’s decision-making process. They elect a nine-member Board of Trustees, who meet monthly to monitor the financial status of the Cooperative and make policy decisions in the best interest of the membership."


It is interesting that consideration of such a big "Policy Decision" was not made public prior the reelection of several of the "trustees" at the annual meeting this past late winter. Given its magnitude, I would have thought the potential of the light pole rate increases has been on the trustee's agendas for discussion for many months prior to the announcement in June. If the pending rate increase had been leaked, just think how controversial the reelection might have been. Apparently, all was not honey and roses behind the scenes as it seemed to be in the pre-election benign propaganda mailed to all of us members.

A little vague on the reason prices are going up so drastically.

Very poorly communicated.

If I understand correctly, street lighting was previously funded by the general budget.

The change "reallocates" those costs to the areas that have street lighting.

It seems this should result in a corresponding rate decrease for all?

You misunderstand.

The street lighting and parking lot lighting have always been in the maintenance budget, which you pay with your property taxes at the end of the year.

What's new is that the rate is increasing substantially.

SECO Energy Announces Increase in Lighting Rates – SECO Energy

What is happening?

– We need to adjust the way we pay for and maintain area light poles in the communities we serve in order to be more accurate and fair to all our members. As a result, you may see an increase in your HOA dues or maintenance assessment in your municipal tax bill.

Why is this increase happening now?

– During the course of a recent cost of services study, we discovered an imbalance in the costs borne by area lighting customers. SECO members in certain parts of our service area weren’t paying their fair share of the costs associated with area lighting.
– Our team alerted the members affected about these needed changes in May.

How will I be affected?

– You will likely see a change in your community maintenance fee. For the average homeowners this could amount to about $5 per month.

Why can’t it stay the way it is?

– SECO is a member-owned, not-for-profit utility. This means that our customers are all members of the co-op. We have a responsibility to all members to operate the utility as efficiently and fairly as possible.
– It just isn’t fair to all of our members if some communities are effectively subsidized by others, and it’s not good accounting. The new approach means that everybody pays their fair share.

Keeping your highlights, this just has a bad smell to it.

The current rates seem to have been in place since at least 2020 which is the oldest rate tariff document I can find. How could it have taken over four years to find a $15M imbalance? How could t have taken over four years to notice they were charging $0.18 per day for a pole when the right number was actually $1.31, an error of over 625%?

If it isn't fair to cover the costs with residential customers subsidizing public customers (the CDDs in our case) then in October when the costs are shifted the residential customers should see some savings. $15M/240,000 customers would be about $5/month; not much but something. I will be interested in seeing whether that actually happens.

Instead, what I suspect we will see is no savings at all. My cynicism has me expecting to hear that while the costs were shifted to the CDDs, other costs have increase and my rates will remain the same. This happens all too often.

Since it looks like my CDD maintenance budget will have to increase by the same amount as my savings from shifting the cost, this *could* work out to have zero impact on me. On the other hand, if shifting the cost does *not* result in a savings from SECO but the CDD *does* need to increase the maintenance fee then residential customers in my area will be paying an additional $60 when SECO makes things "fair" for us.

So ? Not sure how many basic expenses are not rising ? Not sure what "we the people" can do about it ? Don't think there will be a boycott, that a high percentage of residents in the villages will STOP using electricity to force reductions in charges ? Certainly not worth the true cost of moving, and chances of even finding a state or area where energy costs are DECREASING are close to zero. Not trying to say "just suck it up", but don't have an answer to such circumstances ! Next we'll be hearing insurance rates are going to be driven higher ?

Don't want to drift too far off topic, but "mandatory" lamp posts ? "mandatory" automatic sprinkling systems, etc. ? Prices of UK and Bermuda, interesting, but then doesn't add much when you don't know ALL the other circumstances of life there.... taxes, insurance, food, fuel (gasoline we noticed was much higher in Bermuda, a place we like to spend vacation time), so just saying, not rejecting. We also stopped using electricity for the lamp post, changed to solar, but perhaps (?) it would be logical for ALL developers to just make such things solar from the get go ? Most developers are now advertising "green homes", "energy SAVING homes", etc. Also underground water storage tanks for doing garden and lawn watering "might" be a better idea than a "mandatory" automatic watering system which people must buy but may not even want ? Always questions of individual "rights" .... complicated situations.

Most revealing part of your post: we're NOT ALLOWED to say it here, but you know".
Seems the very same thing as during the great illness, NOT allowed to even state an opinion that differed from the narrative being pushed. Look where that got us. How many of you, like me, wonder what have I done to my own body/health now that the truth has been revealed. Same applies to many situations. There is the accepted narrative and even expressing doubt, or questioning, seems to be rejected. Not healthy for a society to be encouraged to not express thought provoking opinions, that do not expand analytical thinking. We also seem to be moving toward a society that does not permit evolution of thought and changing one's view. More and more it seems those who take in and process information over a period of time, and change their views or judgments, are labeled "traitors", "turncoats", "chameleons", etc. ! An old phrase goes: damned if you do, damned if you don't" ! !