NERC has scheduled two industry wide tests for 1999?

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Rick, in the Year 2000 10Q statement by Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, I came across this in their contingency planning paragraph:

"The NERC has scheduled two industry wide tests for 1999."

What kind of testing does this refer to? What can be gauged on an industry wide level? Do you or anyone know when in 1999 these tests are scheduled?

My thanks in advance for any information which can be provided.

-- Anonymous, December 09, 1998

Answers

Bonnie,

At the PUC meeting I went to, the NERC reperesentative said they would be conducting tests in April and September. There was nothing said about what kind of tests they would be.

Jeff

-- Anonymous, December 09, 1998


Here is some information on the current plans for the drills on 4/9/99 and 9/9/99 (obtained from MAIN (Mid-America Interconnected Network, Inc. web-site):

"This initial drill [4/9/99] will focus on personnel and communications. The drill will assume partial loss of voice and data communications and partial loss of EMS/SCADA functionality. Operating entities and Security Coordinators will be required to identify key operating facilities and information requirements. Properly trained personnel will be sent to key locations and will be required to identify and communicate critical operating information over backup communications systems. The goal is to demonstrate the ability to operate electric systems with limited voice and data communications and EMS/SCADA functionality.

The second drill on September 9, 1999 is expected to be a dress rehearsal for the rollover from December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000. This drill may include reducing planned outages, modified commitment of resources, redispatch of generation and transmission loading, cooperation with electric market participants, and staffing of all critical facilities. The goal would be to simulate system conditions and operating plans for the Y2k transition as closely as possible without increasing risks to personnel and equipment safety or system operating security.

Approval Process

The NERC Operating Committee and Board of Trustees are being requested to approve development and implementation of these drills at their respective meetings (November 17-18, 1998 for the OC and January 4-5, 1999 for the BOT). This initial approval is being requested to proceed with the implementation of the April 1999 drill and the planning phase of the September 1999 drill. A detailed plan for the September 1999 drill would be presented to the Board in May 1999."

-- Anonymous, December 09, 1998


Why 9-9-99 of all days?

-- Anonymous, December 09, 1998

My understanding is that the dates are chosen deliberately so the "9999" field marker (end-of-record) bug (and fix) can be tested at the same time. 4/9/99 is the 99th day of 1999 so they can test any 99/99 marker bugs in Julian calander routines and on 9/9/99 any marker bugs in Gregorian calendar routines.

--AJ

-- Anonymous, December 09, 1998


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