The following useless words were taken from electric companies' reports. Until these words change to quantifying words, we cannot know the actual y2k condition of electric companies:

nearly all some

most

doing all it can

working on it

many

probably

very few

not overly automated

lot

whatever

lot of work

very reliable

very little

beyond our control

can't guarantee

fairly assured

pretty thoroughly

pretty good

may have

assured

will pass (as in the future)

believe

could be

pretty confident

all indications

might

doing everything

started last year

some time ago

are preparing

pretty much

best of our knowledge

expect to be

possibility

known systems

no assurances

unknown

should be

temporarily interrupt

estimates

-- Anonymous, March 14, 1999

Answers

As an engineer working directly on the Y2K problem in the electric utility industry, I am also frustrated. Most of us have a very positive story to tell about Y2K in our industry. In most cases, it is the lawyers stopping the metrics from being released.

They don't want to release anything that could become a target for a lawsuit. Remember, utilities don't guarentee power will be available every single second of the non Y2K days. I would hate to be the utility that lost power on the rollover for a non-Y2K reason. No one will believe them.

Some of us are pushing very hard internally to get this quantitative information released. If it was bad news, individuals would be covered by the whistle-blower laws if they released it without their companies permission. When it is good news, it is hard to find justification to not follow your bosses instructions.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 1999

Marcella, you left out my favorite:

"Cautiously optimistic"

Bob:

I'm pleased you've chosen to join us. I share your extreme frustration in the legal side of this thing. There is a lot that could be shared over both sides of the fence if the lawyers weren't in the way.

-- Anonymous, March 14, 1999

Marcella,

Here's two that I brought back for a Public Safety workshop I attended last week.

"operating on a very aggresive schedule"

"Our plans call for the completion of..."

Bob and Rick,

At that workshop there was also a demonstration on how to avoid addressing issues publicly by using the L-word ('litigation')or 'national security'. (note: it is not necessary to combine the two to be effective)

~C~

-- Anonymous, March 15, 1999

Marcella, I too detest the leagal weasel words, and agree with Bob and Rick on the hindrence of lawyers to the disimination of facts that have a direct effect on the health and safety of the public.

I would like to point out that it's not only the corporations using such words and phrases. Many highly exagerated and speculative "white papers" on embedded systems make frequent use of "could", "may", "might", "possible".

Fortunately, this forum provides the one place I have found where the participants contribute factual information on Y2K.

Regards, FactFinder

-- Anonymous, March 27, 1999