The following is a release about this Sunday's Y2K movie. The folks at EEI seem a little uneasy about the whole thing. I wonder - last week's Sunday movie was about an earthquake in New York - did you folks on the East Coast get a bunch of information last week about earthquakes preparation? Hmmmmmm. Nice to know that this is only a movie.

Terri

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation -- With NBC set to air this Sunday a made-for-TV movie depicting widespread chaos and social unrest caused by the Millennium date change, the Edison Electric Institute has urged NBC affiliate stations to help allay potential public concern by thoroughly covering local Y2K preparations.

EEI, the trade association representing U.S. shareholder-owned electric utilities that generate and deliver three-fourths of the nation's electricity, made the request in letters sent to the nation's 100 largest NBC affiliates in advance of the November 21 airing of "Y2K," whose script includes widespread power outages.

"Regrettably, fear and opportunism regarding the new Millennium are widespread and likely to grow as the New Year approaches," said M. William Brier, EEI's vice president, communication. "We are concerned that the film, coming just before the conversion, will fan flames of panic and unnecessary alarm."

In recent days, network news programs, including NBC's Dateline and Today, have made reference to the "millions of people" who anticipate Apocalyptic events timed to the New Year's weekend. Recent reports by the FBI and the Anti-Defamation League voiced similar concerns.

According to EEI, while the movie is clearly an entertainment vehicle, it may unintentionally reinforce the beliefs of many individuals that a chaotic event is imminent. Indeed, the media have frequently noted reports of stockpiling and arms purchases connected to Y2K. The movie includes depictions of societal disintegration. In one scene, federal troops shoot a homeowner who refuses to leave his home in the course of an evacuation. EEI attended a preview of the movie earlier this week.

"For the record, we have confidence in the Y2K readiness of the nation's network industries," Brier said. "The electric grid is Y2K-Ready today. We anticipate a New Year like any other. Isolated electric outages occur every day. It would be a serious mistake to assume that any outage over the holiday weekend is related to the Millennium change." Brier noted that the electric utility industry, like other network industries such as telecommunications, oil and gas, has spent billions of dollars over several years to prepare for the transition to 2000.

"We hope that prior to and following this program print and broadcast news organizations will seize the opportunity to step up to the plate and offer viewers and readers clear and thorough coverage of local Y2K preparations, " Brier said. "The Millennium transition presents a unique challenge to provide accurate information without sensationalism."

Edison Electric Institute is the association of shareholder-owned electric companies, international affiliates, and associates, whose domestic members deliver about three-quarters of the nation's electricity.

The Edison Electric Institute sent the following letter to the top 100 NBC affiliate stations in the country dated October 26:

As you know, your network is planning to air on November 21 a movie titled "Y2K," which will depict a nation plunged into chaos on New Year's Eve because of widespread computer failure. Its plot includes electric blackouts, near- nuclear meltdowns and widespread panic.

At EEI, which represents the nation's shareholder-owned electric utilities, we are concerned that the NBC film -- while clearly intended as entertainment and not news -- may unnecessarily cause Americans to have unjustified fears about U.S. preparedness for the conversion to the year 2000.

Our member companies, which deliver about three-quarters of the nation's electricity, have worked diligently with the President's Council on Y2K Preparedness, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the North American Electric Reliability Council to ensure that the lights will keep burning on January 1. In fact, our members have spent about $2.5 billion to make sure that this coming New Year's Day is like any other. We cannot guarantee that there won't be any localized outages -- they occur every day. But we can state unequivocally that the electric utility industry is Y2K ready.

Regrettably, however, fear and opportunism regarding the new millennium are widespread, and likely will grow as the New Year approaches. We are concerned that the NBC film, coming just before the conversion, will fan flames of panic and unnecessary alarm.

Reports of Americans stockpiling food, electric generators, gas masks and even weapons are widespread in the media. These reports have prompted many organizations, including most recently the Anti-Defamation League, to issue a report on the dangers from Americans overreacting to Y2K anxiety. We have attached that organization's press release.

In short, at EEI, we believe the network film may exacerbate these anxieties. We understand the need for creative, exciting programming. But we also believe in the importance of social responsibility at critical moments like the one we're about to enter.

Therefore, it is our hope that your station might be willing to consider alternative programming that evening. Otherwise, you might consider airing a disclaimer or a crawl reminding audiences that the scenes depicted in the NBC film are imaginary and very unlikely to unfold in real life on January 1. Alternatively, perhaps your station would consider airing a news report on your city's Y2K preparedness, featuring interviews with local officials and industry leaders.

We hope that you will seize this opportunity to make a positive impact in your viewing area, and we are ready to assist you with any information on electric utility Y2K-related issues. Please feel free to contact John Castagna on my staff at 202-508-5661 or visit the Edison Electric Institute website at www.eei.org.

SOURCE Edison Electric Institute

/CONTACT: John Castagna of the Edison Electric Institute, 202-508-5661, or email: Jcastagna@eei.org/ /Web site: http://www.eei.org/

-- Anonymous, November 17, 1999

Answers

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Wm. Shakespeare, "Hamlet"

-- Anonymous, November 17, 1999

If this coming New Year's Day is going to be like any other then why does the EEI describe the period we are about to enter as a 'critical moment'?

The fact that the members of EEI have spent "about $2.5 billion to make sure this coming New Year's Day is like any other" proves this coming New Year's Day is UNLIKE any other since an expenditure of that magnitude for that purpose is unprecedented.

-- Anonymous, November 17, 1999

This press release is as silly as the movie sounds in the pre-release info. The EEI quoting the Anti-Defamation League, now there's an unusual mixture of organizations..lol.

Regards,

-- Anonymous, November 19, 1999