A snip from an Eau Claire, WI paper (CVOL.COM). Comments: Is it possible 11,000 systems could have no significant problems?

At least now we know poles and wires aren't computerized!!!!!!!!!!!

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Northern States Power Co., which serves five states, has been working for four years and spent more than $24 million to ensure the lights will stay on come Jan. 1.

"I cant figure out how we could have a problem," says Tom Kerestes, director of information technology for NSP. "Even if we missed something, its not something that will cause a widespread outage."

NSP had to examine 11,000 different systems for potential Y2K problems, he says. This meant contacting vendors to verify equipment is compliant and then replacing problematic equipment.

"We havent found any significant show-stoppers along the way," Kerestes says.

Most utilities arent computer dependent. Because the system predates computers, poles and wires have nothing to do with electronics or embedded computer chips.

"The bottom line is we can run everything manually," Kerestes says.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), July 30, 1999

Answers

Oh MAN! Disinformation at its finest!

Most utilities arent computer dependent. Because the system predates computers, poles and wires have nothing to do with electronics or embedded computer chips.

"The bottom line is we can run everything manually," Kerestes says

That is such bullshit, I can't BELIEVE it was run as NEWS. The ONLY truth in that bit was "poles and wires have nothing to do with..." Such a SHAME that ALL THE REST DOES.

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), July 30, 1999.

Jon, I find this perplexing also, not because I have any technical expertise, but because I don't see how bugs in US power systems are relatively harmless while the State Dept. and CIA expect foreign countries to experience problems which will disrupt global trade and possible cause "humanitarian consequences."

I posted a thread about this exact topic earlier this week entitled, "Why is the foreign bug more virulent?" It is at:

domesticforeign disconnect

Carolina Power & Light has represented that it found no show stoppers. Nevada Power's latest SEC filing pretty much says the same thing. Why are all the show stoppers overseas?

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), July 30, 1999.

The show stoppers are overseas because the lawsuit stoppers are in charge of corporate PR.

-- Forrest Covington (theforrest@mindspring.com), July 30, 1999.

What about all the embedded chips/systems - 50 billion little timb bombs all waiting to go off at once!

-- Jammy (wesleyan@dog.com), July 30, 1999.

They contacted vendors to verify compliance.

If you were a vendor, what would you say?

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), July 30, 1999.

SCADA

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), July 30, 1999.