Hi:

I have a question concerning manual override switches. Given the fact (?) that not all, if any, utilities will be compliant by 2000, why not mandate installation of manual overrides so that thos e who are compliant can at least protect themselves from an "all grid" blackout? Does this make semse, or are there technical issues I am not aware of that would negate such a partial solution? Please respond.

Also, please key me in on how to get into the subject matter categories. When I entered this website (1st time) I did not see any, only references to them.

Thanks a lot

Alex Wallenwein

-- Anonymous, June 11, 1998

Answers

I don't have an answer, but have been wondering the same thing.

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1998

Look at what the Utility industry is willing to admit to your Senate announcement of Senate commitee hearing on Utility's Y2k preparation http://www.senate.gov/~bennett/pr609b98.html Msnbc Report http://msnbc.com/news/172557.asp

Utility Industry Rebuttal http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ap/washington/story.html?s=n/ap/980612/washington/stories/year_2000_1.html

Forget about Electricity I work for a major U.S. electric utility and I plan on having Food Staples, Water and plenty of propane for my Camping Stove. What do you really need electricity for? Think like the Pioneers, Plan to Live like the Pioneers. Even if nothing happens it is always a good idea to be prepared for disaster anyway right? Besides the first thing that will happen in a worst case senario is reenergizing the power grid and that is my departments responsibilty. So I imagine there may be lots of O.T. in 2000...

-- Anonymous, June 14, 1998

how will you, if theres no power get overtime? do you honestly think you will get paid? if your family is suffering from hunger can we count on you to be at work fixing this problem?

-- Anonymous, June 17, 1998

I will have made preparations for my family. As far as Overtime Pay goes it all depends on the severity of Y2k and its affect of the critical infastructure i.e. E-Grid. If the Black Helicopters come into our worksite and nationalize our company I don't think there is a clause in our agreement to file a valid grievence. However my company is putting alot of capitol investment into Y2k preparation. As of today my only worry is embedded systems at Power Plants which I am trying hard to find if we are compliant through inside contacts (no luck yet). A lesser worry is Nieghboring utilities affecting the E-Grid. The Grid is protected from other utilities taking us down. There are protection devices installed at all the foreign utility tie point circuit breakers. This causes ISLANDING which was a development from the East Coast Blackout in the 60's. Then it will be a matter of stabilizing our own Grid under our Jurisdiction. In any regard even though I am a "Union Puke" I will be on the ready 01/01/00 to step in and do whatever is required of me OT or NO OT!!!

-- Anonymous, June 17, 1998

Our company, too, is investigating the possibility of islanding our service territory in the event the grid goes down. But, our engineers tell me that our 7 power plants and the nuclear station we own half of, might not have the flexibility to operate independently of the grid. Seems that islanding is a very touchy situation, where you've got to be able to match the load exactly (or almost exactly) in order to be able to stay on line. Otherwise, the protective devices kick in and trip the plant(s) offline. When connected to the grid, everything "averages out" a lot better then when you only have a few plants on line. Your load would have to pretty well match your generation output to be able to open the interconnects to the grid -- and they'd have to all be opened simultaneously. Also, there are agreements with the power pools that come into play, and there would be a great deal of hesitation to violate those agreements by islanding. A major concern is that of our large industrial customers having y2k problems and shedding their load -- if that happens too fast, the plants can't spin down the turbines fast enough and could trip. Best we all plan on keeping the grid UP!

-- Anonymous, June 18, 1998

I recently asked a senior person at my local utilities office about their Year 2000 preparation. To my pleasant surprise, he went line by line through each system and updated the status. It was not fluff and he even admitted that there were several systems that were not going to be ready.

Now the depressing news. I next asked him about our ability to drop off the grid and operate independently. He stated that he did not know the answer but would get back to me quickly.

Yesterday he called me back to tell me that the issue was brought up in a meeting but no solution could be identified.

I'm starting to worry...

Aaron

-- Anonymous, June 19, 1998