A Message from SCEC CEO/President Brian R. Zelenak:

Everyone across the county, state and country are taking actions to address the rapidly changing impact of the coronavirus on our everyday lives. I want you to know that SCEC has been taking steps to address our preparedness in the event there is a significant impact from the coronavirus in our communities. We are focused on maintaining a healthy workforce and keeping key personnel – such as line workers and those in our office who can assist you – available so that we can continue to provide the excellent service you expect from us.

Business continuity plans developed by electric cooperatives are designed to maintain the health and safety of the people working for them and to ensure that business critical operations continue with minimal interruptions and impact on our members.

In protecting our workers and the public, on Tuesday, March 17 we closed the SCEC lobby until at least April 1. Our office workers remain in the office and are still focused on providing superior customer service, but we are adapting to do so with less face-to-face contact with members. Members who usually pay their electric bills in person have several other options (see below) – and if you need to talk to us or need assistance, we remain just a phone call away. However, we are not accepting e-recycling at this time, in an effort to reduce personal contact per the advice of state and federal health organizations.

To ensure business continuity, along with closing the lobby to the public, SCEC has instituted measures to limit employees’ contact with each other, including following social distancing (6 feet apart), canceling travel, limiting meetings and increasing cleaning and implementing personal hygiene guidelines issued by the CDC.

As mentioned, SCEC office workers continue to report to work, but work has been reprioritized to limit interaction with members of the public. If a home visit is required by an SCEC employee, we may ask a few additional questions prior to their visit to ensure the safety of both parties. If not required, it will be postponed.

Additionally, our line team of 10 journeyman line workers have been separated into four distinct crews who are assigned their own work and gathering areas within our facility. We have replaced their daily morning meeting with more radio, phone and electronic work assignments. We have also modified processes to limit their return trips during the day and at the end of the day – all in order to reduce the interaction between workers to help stem the spread of the virus and to maintain a healthy workforce in the event a worker is impacted.

Another step SCEC has taken is to postpone our Annual Meeting scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at St. Croix High School. We are working on alternative arrangements and will update members on our progress.

As we continue to monitor the situation daily, additional information will be available on our website, Facebook page and via mailings to members.

We understand that having safe, reliable electricity is sometimes taken for granted. We take that as a compliment and will continue to take actions and work hard to earn that distinction.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this unprecedented time.