Hello fellow Y2k'ers. I'm a high school student who is doing a computers assignment on Y2k and how it will affect utilities. I have to create a web site and it would be greatly appreciated if you could give any information you have on Y2k and Canadian Utilities. In the cheery spirit of Y2k I think that everyone is blowing it out of proportion just a little. Sure I think something's gonna happen but it's not going to be as big as everyone say's it will. People need to realize that we have the power and technology to prevent these things and everyday technicians all over the world are striving to achieve the same goal. I think Beetlejuice said it best when he said "Make My Millenium!" Another improtant point is that the real Millenium doesn't begin untill jan 1st 2001. BECAUSE a Millenium is a 1000 years not a 1001. "That's all Floks!"

-- Anonymous, March 22, 1999

Answers

Shakespeare,

I am one of those everyday technicians. I think that it is important that you seek the facts about this issue. I think that what you find out will probably surprise you. (I enjoy web site building, BTW. I hope you do too. I agree with you about the end of the century, too bad we don't get an extra year on the computers.)

-- Anonymous, March 22, 1999

Viola, people do realize we have the capability and technology to prevent and fix the Year 2000 problem. If you study the issue, however, you will discover that what we don't have is enough TIME to use those capabilities to do a proper job because Y2K work was not started soon enough. For an explanation of this, read an article by Jim Lord at:

http://www.y2ktimebomb.com/Tip/Lord/lord9834.htm

To access Canadian Utilities' web sites (and then their Year 2000 information on those sites) go to the Utility Connection's web site of utilities by country:

http://www.magicnet.net/~metzler/page3x.html

Then just click on Canada and you will get a big list of links to both Canadian electric and gas utilities which you can investigate. If you are attempting a form of investigative journalism for your project, then you'll have to keep in mind that both businesses and governments rarely, if ever, report on things which might reflect badly on themselves -- and almost all Y2K data IS self-reported by businesses and governments.

I also remember two very interesting stories in the Canadian Press about what the Canadian government and military are doing to prepare for possible Y2K disruptions. The links to the actual online newspapers aren't active anymore (they don't stay up long) but you can still read summaries of these at:

http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/detail_.cfm/2451

http://www.garynorth.com/y2k/detail_.cfm/2916

There is also a site with links to all the daily news articles about Y2K at:

http://www.year2000.com/y2karticles.html

Another good site for Y2K information is:

http://www.cbn.org/y2k

As for the actual new millennium beginning 2001, you're correct. However, this has nothing whatsoever to do with the Year 2000 computer problem. A computer only does what it has been programmed to do. If the code has not addressed the change from years ending in 99 to a year ending in 00, then it won't work properly regardless of whether it's the "actual" millennium or not.

Here's a last tip which might improve the grade you get on your assignment. The word "millennium" is spelled with two n's, not one.

Good luck on your assignment!

-- Anonymous, March 22, 1999

Bonnie, That was a very generous response. Good stuff,

-- Anonymous, March 22, 1999

Wish I could have had help like that when I was in high school. But back in those days we didn't have e-mail or computers, we might have had telephones, but my memory is fading. Keep on, Bonnie, you have certainly helped me.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 1999

Shakes: Please do lots of research and learn all the facts you can before making up your mind. The majority of people preparing for Y2k are not "survivalists" but are people who are just like you... but they've decided, after reviewing the facts, to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. The problem is that although we have extensive technology, that very technology is what's threatened here. Almost everything we have or use is given it's instructions on how to operate by computer chips...and apparently there are billions of those chips...in our personal possessions...tvs, vcrs, microwaves... but also in the power grids that supply our utilities, railroads, banks, government agencies and satallites in outer space which direct cable and many more things. Unfortuately our government chose not to make all the information known several years ago and agencies, businesses, utilities and individuals were allowed to believe it wasn't a big problem. We have had several years to correct the problem but now are really "down to the wire" with a deadline that won't go away. It's a very real problem...the scope and magnitude of which we cannot yet fathom. It may be just a "bump in the road" or an inconvience for a few days or it may have long reaching effects including the "domino effect" which entails one non compliant system comprimising a compliant system due to confusion.

Please research well... especially the government sites. Good luck with your project.:))

-- Anonymous, March 28, 1999