I've had the following exchange with the Union for the Coordination of Production and Transmission of Electricity. UCPTE. Together with NORDEL (association of Nordic electricity companies) UCPTE is the body monitoring the progress of the electricity sector in Europe. The reply is short and tight-lipped but to my knowledge there is no other information published on this subject that is publicly available (tell me if I am wrong). I'll follow up as I can, but it's a time-consuming process as neither of the organisations publish anything on the subject on the Web. If there are any journalists out there from Europe who have a bit of clout, you might make headway quicker than I can. Here goes: ======================================================

From me:

>     To:   UCPTE Secretariat / Vienna office. 
>       
>     Dear Sir/Madam,
>      
>      I would like to know if there are any reports or publications 
>      available on the overall status of the electricity industry in 
>      Europe or within your membership jurisdiction) with regard to 
>      the year 2000 computing problem (including embedded systems). 
>      
>      According to the OECD report, "The Year 2000 Problem: Impacts 
>      and Actions", published September 1998, page 22, paragraph 44, 
>      UCPTE together with NORDEL is monitoring progress of major 
>      European electricity companies to gather information on the 
>      overall status of the European electricity grid. Could you
>      confirm that this is true or not as I am unable to find any  
>      mention of this (or anything at all on Y2K) on your web site. 
>      I have checked also at the NORDEL and UNIPEDE/EURELECRIC web 
>      sites, and they too provide no information on year 2000 or
>      their own activities (also mentioned in the OECD report, 
>      same paragraph).
>      
>      This concerns me as a European citizen dependent on
>      electricity, but also as I am researching the issue for my   
>      organisation (based in the US). There have been a number of 
>      reports in the US recently (from the US State Department and 
>      the US Senate) which draw attention the lack of information 
>      on the overall status of the energy sector in Europe.
>      I'm sure I don't need to tell you that any information
>      vacuum on this subject will give rise to ill-informed 
>      speculation. The simplest way to refute speculation is for 
>      authoratative accountable bodies such as yourself to publish 
>      the results of their assessments. The simplest, quickest,
>      cheapest and most accessible way to publish information 
>      today is on the World Wide Web. 
>      
>      In the meantime, however, I would very much appreciate your 
>      help in obtaining the results of your assessments.
>      
>      Thanking you in anticipation
>      
>      OECD report available from the following web address:
>      http://www.oecd.org//puma/gvrnance/it/y2k.htm

Reply follows (from SKUCPTE@verbund.co.at) dated 15/3/99:

>Dear Sir,



>During the second half of 1998, the UCPTE has monitored the 
>preparations of member companies for the transition to the year 
>2000. A survey of member companies shows that the preparations of 
>all the companies concerned will be completed by mid-1999. Early in 
>1999, the UCPTE will define a strategy for the adaptation of 
>interconnected system management to ensure the continuity of system 
>operation. Further to the conclusion of additional bilateral 
>agreements between adjoining undertakings, the UCPTE will prepare a 
>recommendation for the reduction of international electricity 
>exchanges on the interconnected system as a whole and the increase 
>of the primary reserve for a number of hours both before and after 
>the transition to the year 2000.



>For any further indormation you might want to contact the president 
>of the Working Group "Power station operation" Mr. Sabugal GARCIA, 
>Santiago        Directeur d'Inginiere de Recherche et Diveloppement
>ENDESA Empresa Nacional de Electricidad, S.A. Principe de Vergara 187
>E-28002 MADRID
>Tel.: 349 1 566 88 83
>Fax: 349 1590 83 06      

Is there enough here for any kind of informed speculation about what is happening? Or should we wait until we can get further information? Some discussion now might be helpful (perhaps a list of questions that could be asked - by a civilian such as myself, a journalist, an industry-insider).

Best regards, Chris Byrne

-- Anonymous, March 15, 1999