Assuming our power stations go down after y2k, how will the power companies generate their own power to even continue any kind of diagnosis, let alone generate power for everyone else to diagnose and test their systems that have gone down? Do power stations have their own backup systems?

-- Anonymous, September 29, 1998

Answers

I know that many of the power stations run by Detroit Edison have diesel powered generators called "kickers" that CAN provide sufficient power for internal controls, computer systems, etc. They contribute extra power to the local grid to compensate for increases in demand such as during extremely hot weather when everyone's AC is on full tilt. They probably don't have enough capacity to carry more than a very small portion of the grid but they could probably carry the load of a local station's operations. Just my $.02

-- Anonymous, September 29, 1998

Most power stations that I have seen can restart themselves without outside assistance, however, if Y2K issues cause the station to go down, they may also cause it to stay down, be unable to come back up, or - depending on the details - cause permanent damage that prevents them from restarting. In addition, many power generation facilities do not require 'starting'. For example hydroelectric generators run whether as long as the water flows. Even if a station that requires power to come back up is down, it can pull power from the grid (if the grid is still up). Power systems tend to be bi-directional with the only real exceptions being switching power supplies and other things that typically run DC systems. FC

-- Anonymous, September 29, 1998

Fossil fueled Power Stations have "Black Start" diesel generators. Nuke plants have diesel backup for their safety systems but also require two functioning grid connections for operation.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 1998