Here is an article that provides some info on the y2k readiness status of PacificPower/UtahPower. I haven't the experience or knowledge to assess its veracity or accuracy. It's followed by an article from the same newspaper reporting that PacifiCorp is closer to being bought by Scottish Power. This should give pause to anyone in the six-state serviced area who is familiar with the chaos that usually follows large corporate takeovers. I couldn't locate any description of the reasons why Oregon recommends against the takeover. As a resident of Oregon and a customer of PacificPower, this development concerns me very much.

http://www.oregonnews.com/3.biz/06.20.y2kutility.html

and:

SHAREHOLDERS OK SCOTTISH POWER BID TO TAKE OVER PACIFICORP Salt Lake City, Utah (AP)

PacifiCorp shareholders have overwhelmingly approved Scottish-Power's $7.9 billion takeover bid, the first foreign purchase of an American utility. Voting results were released at the company's annual shareholder meeting Thursday, just two days after ScottishPower shareholders also gave the nod to the deal. Portland-based PacifiCorp said 87 percent of the 238 million common shares voted were cast in favor of the merger, while only 11 percent were opposed. PacifiCorp stock closed up 1/8 at 19 1/8. The takeover cleared a mojor hurdle Wednesday when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission gave its approval, but states still must give the final go-ahead. Oregon is the only state so far to recommend against the takeover.

-- Anonymous, June 23, 1999

Answers

Norm,

I tried your URL above but it didn't take me to the story. However, based on the part you posted I would say it's insanity. The best IT professionals were saying *last year* that all mergers should be stopped until after the rollover. And many, if not most, large corporations are going to "lock down" their own IT work within the next 3 months. So what does a utility have in it's corporate mind when it decides to get into a complex merger situation? Surely not the safety of its own software systems regarding the rollover. Perhaps they are in deep trouble, for one reason or another, and selling it off is the answer for those at the top who have the most stock exposure. Who knows?

-- Anonymous, June 23, 1999

Sorry about that, Gordon, the newspaper apparently switched two different headings and stories. This URL should work: http://www.oregonnews.com/3.biz/06.21.y2kwater.html I feel much the same as you do...that it's quite untimely to be making such a major takeover of such a vital utility. In my experience, such takeovers are usually accompanied by major layoffs, job uncertainty for those remaining, changes in policies and procedures, and other traumatic events. And I can't help wondering...if y2k causes significant problems both here and in Scotland, where will ScottishPower's priorities be if they have to make some difficult decisions about whose problems get attended to first? Surely not in some remote, lightly-populated areas of the Pacific Northwest, such as where I live. Makes me a bit nervous....

-- Anonymous, June 24, 1999