The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal published an article today on a recent Wisconsin State Assmebly Y2k Committee hearing. The comments from Alliant / Wisconsin Power and Light were particularly frank. Please read it if you have the chance. Click on the above link or go to:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/1007y2k.asp

-- Anonymous, October 07, 1998

Answers

FINALLY! Truth, and from a lawyer no less! "An attorney for a major electric utility said the company is encouraging its customers to look into alternative energy sources, including home generators, in anticipation of power failures as a result of the (Y2K) problem."

"Mari Nahn, an attorney with Madison-based Alliant Corp. - Wisconsin Power and Light Co., said power failures are likely, as are failures of water systems."

If anyone out there has been sitting on the fence, wondering if they should make personal preparations for Y2K, I should think this would push them into action. Better preparation now than panic later.

It was also interesting that the the article said the Wisconsin National Guard "has been planning for several months" for Y2K. Let's hope that the rest of the states' National Guards are as forward looking. Granted, some utilities will be in better shape than others, but the risk of failures due to the interconnected grid should not be ignored.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 1998

I love it.

Now, today, Alliant is backing off of that statement. Must be that the corporate censors didn't approve. Check out this article - it's scary enough as is:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/1008elec.asp

God forbid they should panic anyone or prompt someone to action.

We're being spoonfed corporate pablum. And the companies just keep dishing it out, because the press gobbles it up without question. I guess it really will be until 12/31/1999 - 01/01/2000 before we know the real deal.

Get yourself ready.

-- Anonymous, October 08, 1998

You should read a copy of their year-2000 manual which can be obtained at http://www.alliant-energy.com. The manual is the best y2k manual I have read from any company. They even describe a worse- case scenario that states the turn of the century could lead to long- term power and communuication outages, food shortages and public health and safety concerns. They are basically trying to inform everybody to be ready for the worse. I had a opportunity to speak the the attorney who's statement the press is reporting from. Though she stated to me her remarks were taken out of context, she said it was the best news so far provided by anybody to alert the public to the y2k problem. She informed me that her local utility is not working on the problem and she fully expects the power to go off. I hope she has done a few more people a great service by what she said

-- Anonymous, October 13, 1998