The Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. September 2020 Power Line 3040-26728 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). Continued on back panel FORECAST Continued from front • 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 bills The 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 seing 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 hps://vote.coop.