I'm in the process of attempting to evaluate my local electric utility's (Commonwealth Edison's) ability to reliably generate and deliver electricity post-00. I'm significantly helped in this by the fact that my wife worked in IT/IT for for ComEd for about a decade and still has friends "inside."

One of these is an IS/IT professional associated with disaster recovery. I'm therefore planning to turn to him for specific information -- off the record, of course.

I'm a longtime network/systems administrator myself, so I have a good grounding in the issue generally. What I lack is the specifics of what to ask. By that, I mean what components in particular are at risk in terms of embedded systems/hardware/software/control applications.

What I'd really like are a checklist of common generation/delivery systems, applications, and equipment that could be faulty. I would then pass this on to my wife's friend and ask him where ComEd stands with respect to it.

What I'm trying to avoid with this approach is two things:

1. Being given the standard company line of, "Don't worry, we'll make it." I want to know if they're not, frankly.

2. If this acquaintance isn't familiar with the issue, put a list of possible problems in front of him in a knowledgable way to get his attention. I.e., use his industry jargon to get him to take notice.

In short, I want to look like I have a grasp of what the hell I'm talking about so I can't be dismissed out of hand.

Unfortunately, two years isn't enough time to learn the industry well enough to even ask the right questions.

Is there a listing available of the kind that I'm looking for? If not, can anyone provide me with components and uses so that I can make one?

Understand that I really need this information for my own contingency planning. My wife has heretofore been openly hostile about Y2K and is beginning to take it seriously. However, she tends toward the attitude of, "It can't happen to me." I would like to be in a position to present her with concrete evidence, from a source that she trusts, as to precisely where our local power company stands.

I would appreciate any assistance or pointers to assistance which you can give me.

"John Smith"

-- Anonymous, April 29, 1998

Answers

Here's two leads: The Cassandra Project, Sample Letter to Electric Utilities

North Carolina Public Service Commission electric company utility survey

Neither of the above is complete in and of itself. If someone would care to put together such a checklist / cheat sheet, I'd be more than happy to post it on the euy2k.com website.

-- Anonymous, May 05, 1998

John and Rick -- South Western Electric (SWEB) has posted the scope of their millennium project at:

http://www.sweb.com/docs/millen4.htm

The document is a little over 2 pages (small print) and covers the IT systems, telecom, physical assets that may contain embedded processors, including operational equipment, building management and office equipment, and goes on down the list to 'associated' companies.

Under operational equipment the list includes: equipment in sub-stations relays and other protection devices auxilliary equipment,. e.g., battery chargers mobile plant test equipment pole mounted reclosers generators disturbance analysers fault recorders

Altogether the list is impressive. Hope they make it.

-- Anonymous, May 16, 1998

I wanted info on my EU and they, Entergy sent me back a boiler plate reply. I the contacted the Texas Public Utilities Commission y2K group.

They kindly arranged for the apprpriate official to call me! i was actually suprised that is was so easy. Perhaps I was the first to try this approach. I did get specific answers to specific questons this way. It was bad news. You could try the same approach with your State.

-- Anonymous, May 28, 1998