Are Small Utilities Likely to Have Problems Distributing Electricity?

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My suburban town of 20,000 or so is served by a utilities commission that purchases its power. Most discussions about this type of utility seem to center around the status of the utilities providing power to ours. But even if power is available, what are the chances our utility will be unable to distribute it? One of their engineers told me he doesn't think they have any equipment that will be vulnerable. Can anyone give me examples of equipment owned by this type of utility that may be vulnerable?

-- Anonymous, November 21, 1998

Answers

Ask your city engineer for the specific details of the SCADA/EMS system in use by your utility. Then contact the vendor of that system for Y2K details. Find out how your utility communicates to the regional grid. By that, I mean find out if its by leased telephone line, microwave, postcard or some other system. The communications link is (IMHO) the Achilles heel of the utility industry.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 1998

Besides purchased power, their biggest exposure will be their revenue meters, both bulk power with their supplier and any time of day rates they may have with customers. These don't turn out the lights but it will make life interesting for the accountants. They are probably too small to have invested in a SCADA System.

Jim

-- Anonymous, November 23, 1998


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