It is stated in the California White paper that 40% of the project time for y2k should be used for testing. Is this an industry standard to which we can judge the progress of local utility companies? I have received information from a midwest utility company that states their compliance program was initiated in early 1996 and they are now in the remediation phase of the project for mainframe-based systems and applications. Their goal is to complete all remediation activities in the second quarter of 1999. They further state that accomplishment fo this goal will provide adequate time to complete post remediation testing and certifications. They also believe this will give them time to work together with customer, vendors, and business partners who have been less aggressive than they are in responding to their y2k problems. Have they left themselves enough time for testing given the amount of time it took them to remediate their systems?

-- Anonymous, October 14, 1998

Answers

David - No, they haven't left enough time. Hardly anyone has. This is, of course, only my opinion based on my own research.

-- Anonymous, October 14, 1998

As someone who lives in the Los Angeles area I can tell you I am very concerned about the state as a whole, in ever possible problem area.

No State or local official has said anything about Y2k. In L.A specifically, there is no awareness campaign at any level other than the individual.

I contacted my electric supplier, So Cal Ed, and I received a two page letter that stated, in summary, the following:

September 9, 1998

 The Company has developed a Year 2000 Program Office...

 The Year 2000 Program Office has executive level awareness, support, and sponsorship of the Plan...

 The Company has already completed remediation of its key financial systems. Customer service and human resource systems are on track for replacement with compliant systems by the end of 1998. Other informational and operational systems have been assessed and detailed plans have been developed to address systems modifications required by December 31, 1999. SCE's goal is to have all work (including testing and implementation) completed for 75% of "mission critical" systems by year-end 1998, and 100% of "mission critical" systems by July, 1999...

needless to say, I am concerned. SCE is responsible for the supply of electricity to a large portion of Southern California. As of 9/9/98, they are not completed with even 75% of their project AND yet they feel they will complete their project, including testing, by July, 1999. I think their timeline is very optimistic.

To further this problem, Pacific Gas & Electric, PG&E, is also very far behind.

In the last few months we have had both blackouts and a brownout with absolutely NO explanation.

It seems that California's utilities AND the State, County and Local governments are ALL in a state of denial. _______________________________________________________

-- Anonymous, October 17, 1998