One of the issues were still trying to get our hands around is, are small- and medium-sized companies doing as well as the large companies? In power, we know they are, because 99 percent of the companies are in the NERC reporting process. In banking, virtually every bank is regulated.

Full interview: http://www.y2ktoday.com/modules/home/default.asp?feature=true&id=1911

Critt

-- Anonymous, August 13, 1999

Answers

Critt, Critt where have you been. Do you have new unreported data from the NERC's assesment? Take a gander at Rick's critique of the NERC report, his numbers are verifiable and I don't think he pulled this out of a hat. 99% of the generating plants in the US are not assessd by NERC, even NERC does not claim this in their report. Something like 3/4 of generating capacity is addressed by NERC while less than 10% of all electricity producers have been questioned by NERC as to their Y2K status. Finally, if you like to hang your hat on government reports the latest assessment of natural gas utilities done by the government shows zero percent readiness. Let's just hope industry and infrastructure are not too dependent on date algorithms.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 1999

Paul,

Yes, I have read Rick's critique of NERC's current assessment. That's why 99% jumped out at me.

Perhaps the human/technical interface failure of the August 5th Civic Prep teleconference that would have brought Dick Mills (the power grid) and David Isenberg (telecommunications) together was responsible for Mr. Koskinen not hearing a different perspective. If Jason McNamara, who works with Mr. Koskinen, had heard Mills and Isenberg together, maybe he could have given Koskinen a heads up.

Or, maybe not.

Kind of makes me wonder to whom and to what is Mr. Koskinen listening. Critt

-- Anonymous, August 14, 1999

I have felt for a long time now that Koskinen is a *very* smart and capable bureaucrat. I believe he does know all that is available to know right now about the true state of affairs regarding Y2k in all sectors, in fact even worldwide. His mission however, that he *chose* to accept, was to do all possible to avoid bank run panics and stock market selloffs, and his resulting presentations masterfully show that. Always, lately, he slips in some very alarming news, usually about problems *outside* the US, but occasionally right here at home. All you have to do is listen to or read the entire presentation and you always get the bad with the good. The public and media only seems to concentrate on the good side though, and he knows that. But at least he can say, "Well, I did spotlight some serious concerns too".

-- Anonymous, August 14, 1999

Gordon,

I agree with your assesment of Koskinen's presentations. He was in Charlotte last week for the town meeting on Y2K. The predomminance of the message was a rosy report of how well things have gone in fixing the problem. But Koskinen did have a sound bite or two to those who had the ears to hear the message of "pay attention! Don't put your head in the sand. Be alert."

He was skillful in giving the messages the people wanted to hear. Most want to hear good fluff. A few of us don't believe that and want the "truth".

I've got to mention something assinine in the "Y2K town meeting" presentation I saw on our local cable television;

Some dumbass bureaucrats, or "reely-stoopid" volunteers did some Y2K prep training for some kids here in town. Showed them how to cook for themselves. Real back to basic stuff here. Problem was they were using an electric stove!!! In an air conditioned commercial kitchen!!! Lots of happy faces for the camera!!!

Ain't that just the icing on the happy face cake!

I really don't have time to waste on people who eat that stuff up and feed it to their kids. Problem is, those people are my family and neighbors, and the kids can't be blamed.

Another problem is the people who eat that sugar coated bulls..t get quite cross, mean spirited actually, and you can't reason with them.

Steve

-- Anonymous, August 14, 1999

Steve,

Loved your story about teaching the kids to cook something on an electric stove. At least they could have had it plugged into a generator which was running noisily in the background. :-) Or, they could have stated that this electric kitchen, air conditioning and all, was only two blocks from a local nuclear power plant which they have been assured would be running just fine next January. :-(

-- Anonymous, August 14, 1999