My power company (Alliant) has posted the following information on their web site:

http://www.alliant-energy.com/alliant/y2k/brochure/printable.htm

This is pretty amazing stuff to find on a power company website - they acknowledge that the problem is real, they acknowledge that they are working on it but recommend that customers make contingency plans, the y acknowledge that the interconnectedness of the grid puts the entire grid at risk, they acknowledge that the embedded systems problems is one of their (and our) biggest obstacles, and, almost beyond belief, they recommend reading (among others) Ed Yourdon's Time Bomb 2000 and Caper Jones' articles! Wow.

None of the "don't worry, electricity will be fine" PR crap. They do say they anticipate their own internal systems being ready by mid-1999 but at the same time they acknowledge that "we cant guarantee the preparedness of the companies we depend on". Then they give some specifics about what they are doing (not really enough but still far better than what many are saying).

I congratulate Alliant on getting past corporate denial - and for going much further by taking a lead with the larger picture of Y2K (i.e. not just their own little corner of the universe). I will sleep just a bit better tonight knowing that they are aware of the larger picture and are making real attempts to communicate this to their customers. I think this took some real guts - can you imagine the conversation that went on at the board of directors meeting before this information was placed on line?

I know this is not a solution but it is a MAJOR step in the right direction. Has your utility company gone even this far?

-Arnie, encouraged (to keep my generator and add to my foodstores)!

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), November 12, 1998

Answers

Name sounds familiar ... Is Alliant the utility where a company attorney revealed a couple of months ago that they were recommending that customer buy generators?

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), November 12, 1998.

I wish mine was a little more detailed, but at least it is info:

http://www.ameren.com/ameren2/index.htm

Just click on the Y2K logo (couldn't find the direct page.

Rick

-- Rick Tansun (ricktansun@hotmail.com), November 12, 1998.

Alliant is indeed the same company that hit the news in Wisconsin by recommending generators. The attorney's name was Mari Nahn, and if the company's this forthcoming, she probably not only still has her job, it might be that she also has something to do with the forward thinking corporate policies.

Good news, bad news here, but on the whole more good than bad, I think. The fact that there is at least one corporation that is willing to be open with its customers, I find immensely refreshing and encouraging.

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), November 12, 1998.

I agree that this is a good move by Alliant, my power company. However, how many people do you think will actually see that website? I would assume not many.

Dave

-- Dave (Dave22@concentric.net), November 12, 1998.

Wow! The pace of companies and people coming to grips with Y2K is accelerating.

-- Buddy (DC) (buddy@bellatlantic.net), November 12, 1998.

That is pretty amazing. I've tried to get info on my power company, ConEd in NY, and I can't find anything. (I believe they are the largest in the country) Tried calling and got shuffled around and dumped into voicemail, and didn't get a call back. (that was weeks ago.) No statements with bills yet. Nothing on the web. The only indication that I've seen of ANYTHING regarding ConEd is this - On the Cassandra Project website, they have a list of local prep groups. The e-mail address for the person in charge of NY area group is a guy@ConEdsolutions.com. (a subsidiary) I didn't find that too encouraging...

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), November 12, 1998.

Like with Chevron's recent 10-Q disclosure to the SEC, having a power utility company "come clean" verifies so much that has heretofore been "unofficial". Not that it is going to matter a whole lot when companies fold and the power grid collapses, but I personally do appreciate the honesty here.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), November 12, 1998.

I emailed Boston Edison quite a few times and finally they sent me this Big, Colorful, Wonderfully Illustrated, Glossy-folder filled with important looking papers (and a booklet!) on the Y2K problem and what they were doing about it.

What I learned?

That Boston Edison doesn't *really* have anything to do with power distrubtion. They do billing. And they're pretty darn sure they will be complete by Dec. 31, 1998 with a year for testing...(whew...!).

(...oh, by the way, we can't be sure of any of our suppliers...shhhhh)

-- Okum (ws000@aol.com), November 12, 1998.

Wow! way to go Alliant!

I wrote my electric co., PECO, and gave them Alliant's link on Y2K brochure. I urged them to read it and do the same. I pointed out it's in their best interest as well as that of its customers, to avoid unfortunate social, economic and legal problems. Hope they even read my email.

Thanks for the link Arnie.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), November 12, 1998.