Our Rual Electric paper has said repeatedly that "everything will be fine." Then they cover themselves by saying "I'm not going to tell you there's not going to be a problem,..." I wrote the following letter to Editor of the Rural Electric paper:

Dear Editor, "Y2K not a problem, council says," in Rural Missouri News Briefs. I hope they're right, but it sounds like spin to me. FEMA and RED CROSS have advised people to stock food and water for 2 or 3 weeks. But Mr. Stork [CEO] is concerned with the true date when the "millennium will end." He'd best consider that the true date is irrelevant; what matters is that computers were set at 00, and that's when the SHTF, or thelights go out."

I then referred them to this website to Rick's article NERC Redux-the saga continues (2-6-99.) I realize co-ops are not part of the NERC coalition, but the co-op does quote NERC frequently and even says "National news reports predicting co-op problems are misguided," says Sam Minter, assistant general manager of NW Electric Power Co-op., who also says, "With our co-ops, the delivery system is not affected. They don't have anything electronic (in the electricity distribution system)."

My letter was not published. Should I be paranoid enough to think my letter was irrelevant or unwanted? Is what they say true? They also have a full page artcle on Y2K this time, assuring everyone there is nothing to worry about.

Does Bonnie or anyone have any thoughts on their "good news."

-- Anonymous, February 27, 1999

Answers

As the statewide publication for Missouri's electric co-ops we are reporting on the Y2K issue as honestly and forthrightly as possible. As I wrote in the above mentioned piece our engineers are confident that co-op systems will be ready before January 1, but no one will tell you there will be no problems because no one knows that for sure.

And please be patient about your letter. We receive many letters on a wide variety of topics each month and unfortunately not all of them can be printed. Your letter may yet see the light of day. Jeff Joiner, managing editor Rural Missouri magazine

-- Anonymous, March 04, 1999