[Fair Use: For Educational and Research Purposes Only]

Title: NYSEG Petitions FERC for Emergency Action on ISO Breakdowns

Source: PRNewswire PRESS RELEASE Publication date: 2000-05-01

BINGHAMTON, N.Y., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- NYSEG has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to investigate and initiate emergency actions in order to correct start-up problems at the New York Independent System Operator (ISO). "Quick action by FERC will allow the ISO an opportunity to address these transitional problems," said Michael I. German, NYSEG's president and chief operating officer. "These problems became evident during testing last year and the ISO should not have gone as quickly as it did."

"We are concerned that the ISO software and implementation problems could strangle the nascent competitive retail electricity market in New York. That is unacceptable," German said. "The ISO encountered significant problems last winter and continues to experience major problems as we enter the summer peak period."

"The FERC has already taken actions to protect evolving competitive power markets in Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland, California and New England, and these markets are less complex and more mature than New York's. We are asking for the same kinds of actions and corrective measures to be taken on behalf of New York's electricity consumers," German said.

The ISO took operational control of the state's high-voltage electric transmission system from the New York Power Pool in November 1999. In addition to responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the transmission system across the state, the ISO is responsible for ensuring competitive access to the transmission system, and facilitating the safe, reliable flow of electricity from generators to distributors. It is also responsible for maintaining a healthy and active electricity market in New York State. The ISO is governed by 10 outside directors, none of whom are affiliated with New York's electric utilities or other market participants.

NYSEG is a subsidiary of Energy East Corporation (NYSE: NEG), a super-regional energy services and delivery company in the Northeast. NYSEG provides superior customer service and promotes competition. By focusing on customer service, competition and growth, NYSEG will continue to be a valuable asset to the communities it serves.

Upon completion of its mergers with CMP Group (NYSE: CTP), CTG Resources (NYSE: CTG) and Berkshire Energy Resources (Nasdaq: BERK), Energy East will serve 2 million customers (1.4 million electricity and 600,000 natural gas) in upstate New York and New England.

SOURCE NYSEG ) http://realcities.yellowbrix.com/pages/realcities/Story.nsp?story_id=10264431&site=charlotte&ID=realcities&scategory=Computers%3AY2K

====================

-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), May 01, 2000

Answers

I've got a hunch that the Power Pool and deregulation are going to get the blame for large scale power failures this summer.

Note, this piece says, specifically, that software problems are in the picture, but this is minimized.

And, we've been hearing SO MUCH lately about aging infrastructure, rapid population growth, and a sizzling economy, all of which are supposed to magically cogeal to come down on us this summer as the cause (along with Power Pool problems, of course.)

You've got to wonder.

-- JackW (jpayne@webtv.net), May 02, 2000.