If anyone can help me out here, I would appreciate any comments! I am assisting my village council by doing some research so that they may determine what preparations they need to put in place regarding possible power disruptions to our community. I contacted my power company and asked a series of questions which I found on the zdnet website (thanks to one of the posters who gave me the url). The url is http://www.zdnet.com/zdy2k/1999/02/5688.html. I received a reply by e-mail giving me a phone number to their Y2K taskforce personnel. When I phoned them, I was told the following: -They are not prepared to answer the questions I asked them regarding power distribution (The questions I got from the zdnet site). -They have been working on the problem since 1996. -They have completed their inventory and assessment stages, and have prioritized critical systems, and put in order of importance, and has now began their testing and remediation stages. -They will be using the standard 1 year offset this Spring, which is the procedure of rolling clocks forward bypassing the critical dates. They will be concentrating on one plant at a time, to reduce problems. Also, they have rolled the clocks forward at one plant, and found no problems. As of the summer, all plants will be operating into the year 2000. -They are concerned over those individuals who have purchased generators and do not know how to use them properly, thus producing risks at power plants and to workers. -They stated they are confident that business will be as normal going into January/2000, however if they do experience problems there is the option of switching to manual operations which would take 12-24 hours to get things up and running -They stated that in a worse case scenario (which they DON'T expect), they have the ability to disconnect from the grid. -The person I spoke to told me they could not guarantee power at any time (I understand and agree with this). I was also assured that she (the person I spoke to) was NOT going to purchase a generator.

That's it! After reading the information I jotted down. I still don't feel any more informed! Also, if a power company rolls the dates over and and continues to operate their systems into the year 2000, does this mean there will be no problems regarding power distribution?

-- Anonymous, March 24, 1999

Answers

You just got a lot of double talk for they are in BIG trouble.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 1999

Well that's comforting! Yea, I know - I asked for it. I do know we have had absolutely the best and most reliable service so far, and I do know that they are taking this VERY seriously. I think the bottom line points to the fact that most companies started their remediation efforts TOO LATE.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 1999

I should have mentioned in my first post above, that we were discussing transmission and distribution. Other areas have been addressed. As stated on SPC's website http://www.saskpower.com/ "SPC has completed assessment, testing and remediation work for metering, billing and other customer services, plant maintenance management, materials management, purchasing, financial systems and human resources. The same is true for the IT infrastructure - the computer applications that link all offices and facilities in one network. A significant portion of the end-user business applications work is also complete. This effort will conclude in the first quarter of 1999."

I apoligize if I mislead anyone!

-- Anonymous, March 25, 1999

Here is my local utility's answer (received Feb. 9, 1999), which I will hereby cheerfully paraphrase as "here is some doubletalk, and if you get past that, well, sorry, the information is classified, have a nice day":

YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE (Public Law 105-271)

Dear Mr. Whaley:

Thank you for your e-mail inquiry regarding the ability of PEPCOs computers to handle the Year 2000 programming problem. PEPCO is fully focused on the possible computer problems associated with the Year 2000, and has an active program in place both to identify potential problems and to correct any deficiencies found in our critical systems. This project is scheduled to be completed by mid-year 1999, and has the full support of PEPCOs employees, officers, and Board of Directors.

Many of PEPCOs current systems are already able to handle the Year 2000. For the remaining systems, the Company has implemented, through an internal task force, a four-phase approach to accommodate the Year 2000. The phases being addressed are as follows:

1. Corporate Application Compliance which includes all large core business systems, 2. Business Partners Systems and Vendor System Verification which is intended to require that all suppliers are in compliance with Year 2000 processing, 3. End-User Computing Systems which are not considered core business systems but contain date calculations, and 4. Non-Information Technology Processes that include all operating and control systems.

The task force has developed a database to identify and track the progress of work on each phase. As deficiencies are identified, these systems are being upgraded by in-house staff and/or qualified contractors. Any program changes are and will continue to be tested before being accepted by PEPCO as ready for Year 2000 processing.

As the electric utility serving our nation's capital, PEPCO is aware of the importance of the service we provide our valued customers. We also need to provide proper security and confidentiality regarding our critical systems. Accordingly, I regret that we are unable to provide any details regarding such systems. Please be advised that PEPCO has been vigilant in considering the ramifications of the Year 2000 problem and is taking appropriate actions to mitigate possible date-related problems.

Some additional on-line information is available in our latest SEC 10Q filing starting at Page 22. You will find it on PEPCO's web site at www.pepco.com in the Financial Focus section under Security and Exchange Commission Filings. The Edison Electric Institute's web site at www.eei.org is also an excellent source of information pertaining to the Year 2000.

Thank you for your interest in this matter. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me at (202) 736-1519.

Sincerely,

Antonio J. Alvarez

-- Anonymous, March 26, 1999

Joseph, Regarding this part of the letter you posted" "We also need to provide proper security and confidentiality regarding our critical systems. Accordingly, I regret that we are unable to provide any details regarding such systems."

This is of course absolute garbage, and you should call them to the carpet on this. The only systems that require that information be safegaurded are those related to plant security. Information and details of the Y2K readiness of all other systems is not required by federal regulations to be protected. If you wish to pursue this, contact the NRC with a copy of the quote and get them to address exactly what information nuclear plants are required to keep safeguarded, then send a copy of the NRC response to the utility. The response they gave you is a joke and a lie, and they should be challenged on this.

Regards, FactFinder

-- Anonymous, March 27, 1999