Ontario Hydro

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I am not in the electric utility business except for using hydro! I live in Toronto and wondered if anyone has any idea how Ontario and Toronto Hydro are faring with compliance.

I have questioned them and they are very optimistic. Can I breathe a little easier? Toronto in winter with no heat in most homes in the city is a very scary scenario. I am trying to prepare for a couple of weeks without electricity, but I am very afraid for the community in general.

Thank you for any input.

-- Anonymous, April 19, 1999

Answers

Margaret

The information on Ontario Hydro's website leads me to believe that they are doing rather well.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 1999


Ontario Hydro is one of the largest of North America9s electric companies, OH is massively in debt to the point of insolvency and drifts from crisis to crisis. In 1997 the utility was forced to close 9 of its nuclear generating stations due to leaks and safety concerns. Last December, when failing to meet its own goals of bringing these plants back on line, OH, simply changed its stated goals and proclaimed their project a success. Here is OH9s own web site information taken from Jan. of this year. It has since changed. Parenthetical sentences are mine. QUICK FACTS ABOUT ONTARIO HYDRO'S Y2K PROGRAM MAIN YEAR 2000 CHALLENGES FOR ONTARIO HYDRO -Potential failure of business and

-- Anonymous, April 20, 1999

Ontario Hydro is one of the largest of North America9s electric companies, OH is massively in debt to the point of insolvency and drifts from crisis to crisis. In 1997 the utility was forced to close 9 of its nuclear generating stations due to leaks and safety concerns. Last December, when failing to meet its own goals of bringing these plants back on line, OH, simply changed its stated goals and proclaimed their project a success. Here is OH9s own web site information taken from Jan. of this year. It has since changed. Parenthetical sentences are mine. QUICK FACTS ABOUT ONTARIO HYDRO'S Y2K PROGRAM MAIN YEAR 2000 CHALLENGES FOR ONTARIO HYDRO -Potential failure of business and process control systems. -Possible inadequacies in systems managed by third parties. ONTARIO HYDRO's YEAR 2000 READINESS ACTIVITIES A centrally-controlled and locally-executed program to evaluate and ensure Year 2000 readiness was established in 1996. Central coordination is provided by our Corporate Program Management Office (CPMO). The individual business units have their own program management offices and are responsible for performing the actual systems upgrading. Over 600 staff are now engaged with additional skilled Hydro and external staff available as required. Currently 62% of critical systems have been certified; it is expected that the remaining critical systems will be certified by the end of the year. {If it took 3 years to certify 62%, how can the remaining 38% be finished in 11 months} Approximately $ 125 million has been budgeted (1% of gross annual revenue). [extremely low figure compared to other similar sized utilities] A Canadian consulting firm has been retained to help achieve Year 2000 readiness. This organization brings considerable computer system expertise, resources, training capabilities and a methodology customized for our use. Ontario Hydro's overall approach is as follows: 1) Analysis and comprehensive risk assessment of Y2K impact; 2) Estimate of scope and overview planning; 3) Implementing necessary changes, testing changes and returning system to full operation; 4) Multi-faceted risk management, contingency planning and emergency preparedness. NUMBER OF AFFECTED SYSTEMS Roughly 2,000 of 20,000 business computers are affected and may need some degree of software and/or hardware renovation. Approximately 10% (200) of 2,000 process control computer systems may require some degree of renovation due to date problems with embedded processors Hope this helps. beals@islandnet.com

-- Anonymous, April 21, 1999

Further to my post re Ontario Hydro, I think an inference can be drawn from OH9s use of the conditional 3may2 when referring to its estimate of 3roughly 2,000 of 20,000 business computers are affected2 and 3approximately 10% (200) of 2,000 process control systems). Clearly, if OH does not know how many systems are affected and must estimate, they must be in the inventory stage of their Y2K project. OH9s statement, 3currently 62% of critical systems have been certified2 probably refers to the number of inventoried systems that are problem free. OH9s 10% figure has probably been generated from the number of systems found to be non-compliant (10% of 62% = 6.2%) in their partially completed inventory. This would mean that Ontario Hydro, at the time of their web post, was 68.2% complete in their inventory of systems and not yet engaged in remediation.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 1999

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