Are we ready?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Electric Utilities and Y2K : One Thread

Our new SCADA system arrived back from the manufacturers on Monday, and has been undergoing bench testing prior to being put into service next week. It still doesn't work exactly as required, but it is Y2K compliant. The main issue that we have with it is that the manufacturers have one idea of how a power system should be operated, but the operators and controllers have a different idea. A technician from MITS is coming over to NZ to oversee the commisioning of it, and hopefully make a few minor adjustments at the same time.

Our Honeywell SCAN3000 control system is still offline. A representitive from Honeywell did come and have a look at it, but soon discovered that the problem wasn't quite what he had expected, and so he has gone away to have another think about it.

The flow monitoring system which failed its upgrade tests has now been trashed, and a new system is in place and working well.

All of our hydrology and meteorology monitoring systems have been upgraded and tested OK

Fortunately our entire business network was upgraded with a change to IBM as our major IT partner just over 3 years ago, and although Y2K was not the reason for the upgrade, a result is that our entire business network is Y2K compliant. (Well at least the hardware is).

Our Thermal, Geothermal, and Gas Turbine stations are reporting similar results, mostly remediated with one or two outstanding items that are being dealt with.

We are also allowing no new software or systems on any site after the end of next month, just to make sure that wedon't accidentally import any new Y2K issues.

So at this stage I'm quite comfortable with our preparations, but it is very unlikely that we will ever claim to be fully compliant.

Malcolm

-- Anonymous, July 22, 1999

Answers

Dear Malcolm, Now why is it that when I call Consumers Energy, I get the runaround and a "calm thyself, child" placating letter, but you are forthright in your plant's degree of Y2K preparation? Have you ever considered moving to the U.S.? Michigan is a very nice state!

-- Anonymous, July 22, 1999

Malcolm,

Once again I congratulate you on your straightforward presentation. I have no problem in dealing with the actual facts and find a lot of encouragement in your continuing saga of preparing for the "attack against the bug." Sometimes, when I read your story it makes me think of "time" and how it will all work out if we have enough time before the big challenges. In the days of our own civil war, guns were muzzle loaded one ball at a time for firing. After each shot, the soldier would try to quickly reload while keeping one eye on any advancing enemy charges. Time was the problem. Just a little more time, please, and we can win this battle.

-- Anonymous, July 22, 1999


My hunch is that US utilities/companies/governments are more... shall we say... straight-jacketed by lawyers.

-- Anonymous, July 22, 1999

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