The Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc.

September 2020Power Line

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Forecast calls for more hurricanes

As Florida enters the peak period for storms, a respected team of meteorologists at Colorado State University has updated its 2020 hurricane forecast to include more activity in the Atlantic basin this season.

The original prediction from the CSU Tropical Meteorology Project already called for an above-average hurricane season, but the update raises the number of named storms from 16 to 24, and the number of those that become hurricanes from eight to 12. The forecast also now predicts five hurricanes reaching Category 3 or higher (major status), instead of three.

The historical seasonal average is 12 tropical storms, with 6.4 of them becoming hurricanes.

The team also predicts:• A 74 percent chance that at least one

major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. coastline in 2020 (the long-term average probability is 52 percent).

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• A 49 percent chance that a major hurricane will make landfall on the U.S. East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula (the long-term average is 31 percent).

• A 48 percent chance that a major hurricane will make landfall on the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle west to Brownsville (the long-term average is 30 percent).

Other 2020 hurricane season outlooks have been released and they are also trending toward an active year.

The 2019 Atlantic hurricane season saw six storms become hurricanes, with three of them reaching major hurricane status.

Members are reminded to take the proper precautions and to remember it takes only one landfall event nearby to make this an active season.

The co-op offers lots of information to help members prepare for the possibility a hurricane may strike North Florida, including a Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Copies of the 2020 Preparedness Guide are available at ClayElectric.com.

Summer heat can cause higher billsThe Florida summer heat can cause your AC

unit to run for long periods of time, driving your electric bill up.

To keep your bills manageable, we recom-mend setting your AC unit at the Energy Star standard of 78 degrees. For every degree below 78, it can add 4 percent onto your electric bill. For more energy saving tips, visit www.clayelectric.com/member-information/energy-information.

You can also see your monthly, daily and hourly kWh usage through our new portal at meterusage.clayelectric.com.

Participate in the electoral process

There’s an old political saying, “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” This adage is the perfect answer to the question, “why vote?” It’s a blunt description of what happens when you don’t engage in the political process.

If you don’t vote, you’re not only missing the opportunity to support a candidate that shares your views and concerns, you’re allowing others to chart a course that impacts your future. That’s why we’re encouraging all members to recognize National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 22. Whether you’re registering yourself or others to vote, or helping members of our community get organized, there are many ways to get involved.

Once registered, we encourage everyone to vote every time there is an election. While local elections may not be as exciting as the high-profile presidential election, they are just as critical. Local elections have a direct impact on your community and on your quality of life.

Like the national level, local elections represent who we are as a community, and more importantly, where we want to go. Whether it’s an election for a mayor, sheriff, state representative, school board, or an electric co-op board member, your vision for the community is tied to your vote. Voting also keeps elected officials accountable. Elections are a direct and tangible source of feedback.

For information on Co-ops Vote and to learn about the issues affecting America’s electric co-ops, visit https://vote.coop.

28 students awarded scholarships

C lay Electric has awarded $1,500 scholarships to 28 high school seniors (Class of 2020) whose primary residences are served by

the co-op.The recipients of the scholarships were determined by an outside

panel of judges based on academic achievements, an essay, community and school activities, and letters of recommendation. More than 140 scholarship applications were received.

“We’re glad we can help these fine young men and women with their college expenses,” said Chief Public Relations Officer Derick Thomas.

The scholarship recipients (pictured if photo was provided) are: Elizabeth McGovern of Baker County High School; Abigail Wilson of Bishop Snyder High School; Gavin Woods of Bradford High School; Kaylin White of Buchholz High School; James Edwin Kumpf of Clay High School; Morgan Olschewske of Clay Virtual Academy; Timothy Hudson of Columbia High School; Lauren Shaw of Eastside

High School; Kaitlyn Ludlam of Fleming Island High School; Andrew Faul of Fort White High School; Jared Matthew Beaufait of Gainesville High School; Preston Denmark (home school/private school recipient); Grace O’Neil (home school/private school recipient); Matthew Thompson of Interlachen High School; Ashton Ludwig of Keystone Heights Jr/Sr High School; Bonnie Healan of Lake Weir High School; Mikayla Simmons of Middleburg High School; Kesed Haglund of Newberry High School; Rachel Grantham of North Marion High School; Jackson Hickey of Oakleaf High School; Harold Goslee of Orange Park High School; Samantha White of P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School; Joshua Morgan Chastain of Palatka High School; Isaac Washington of Q.I. Roberts Jr.-Sr. High School; Michael Chen of Ridgeview High School; Heidi Hinson of Santa Fe High School; Luke Griffis of Union County High School; and Juliette Beville of Williston Middle High School.

Beaufait Beville Chastain Denmark Faul Goslee Griffis

Haglund Hickey Hudson Kumpf Ludwig McGovern Olschewske O’Neil

Thompson Washington

 Power Line is an informational publication of Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. It is distributed monthly with members’ billing statements. If you have questions or comments about Power Line, write Editor Justin Caudell at P.O. Box 308, Keystone Heights, FL 32656; or email: Jcaudell@clayelectric.com. ClayElectric.com offers online services such as payments, and information about the co-op’s programs and services. Clay Electric’s Board of Trustees will meet at noon on Thursday, Sept. 24 and Thursday, Oct. 22 in Keystone Heights.

White, K.Simmons White, S.Shaw

Grantham