DURBAN METRO ELECTRICITY YEAR 2000 PROJECT STATUS REPORT.

Introduction-This report follows up on the earlier monthly reports issued from February through to July 1999.

Administration-The document tracking system has been upgraded and made fully Year 2000 compliant. The existing postal franking machine will be disposed of, and replaced with a compliant remote loading machine as per Post Office requirements. Ten existing PABXs are compliant and the remaining two have had Year 2000 upgrades ordered. This will be complete by the end of July 1999. The associated telephone management software is being replaced with a compliant version to be used throughout Electricity. Installation and testing will be during July and August 1999. The security patrol Guardlok timekeeping system is compliant, tested and a Certificate is on file. The vehicle management system, Co-Driver is certified compliant by the manufacturer, however it is being further tested with other 3rd party software products to ensure full compliance. Initial tests are satisfactory

Air Conditioning Systems-Only two air-conditioning systems within DME are PC controlled. Both have been certified compliant by the manufacturers.

Audiometers - The hearing testing unit and related software for producing detailed reports has been given a certificate of compliance by the manufacturer.

Auto Reclosers These pole mounted devices are rapid open & close in line switches designed to be programmable as to the timed delay period in opening and closing to clear faults and/or for protection. There are several hundred in service and, despite many having embedded chips, none have a date handling capacity. The event log is periodically downloaded to portable computers, which then calculate the retroactive dates when the events occurred. Thus, reclosers all are compliant.

Bulk Accounting and Time of Use Tariffs All 3rd party software is certified compliant by the Vendors and in house testing is currently underway. No problems have been encountered thus far.

Business Continuity Plan. We have identified the high risk areas to our business and are presently concluding our business continuity plan, the starting point of which was around revenue protection and the continuity of electricity supply. First failure dates have been being identified and strategies developed to counter these. By way of example, Revenue Protection entails identifying all existing functional aspects and business processes around metering, raising of charges, tariffs, billing and cashiering, to name a few. The Business Continuity Programme is a massive undertaking at Electricity as we prepare and test contingency plans for all our critical Business Processes that are computer dependant. Alternative and manual documentation will be developed and staff trained in what to do should we have a catastrophe in any area. Due to our dependance on computers and the inter-connectivity, this continuity programme will be all embracing. Depot Managers are also involved in reporting to the Executive how they intend to keep up with their daily business in the event that the PC network fails for any specified time period.

Business Information Systems-The complete MIMS business information system is compliant and has both Vendors and a Lloyds of London Certificates to this effect. In house testing was completed on 1999-06-15. The MIMS report writer has no Year 2000 implications and was brought into active service on 1999-07-01.To adhere to the Project Plan regarding in-house testing, the midrange Hewlett Packard UX-10.20 development (test) computer has had several successful Year 2000 tests carried out during April, May and June 1999. Each test carried out has been carefully documented. The unit performed as would be expected. To further prove its capabilities the date was temporarily advanced, such that there was a date rollover to the new century during April 1999. All the usual types of business transactions were dealt with on this development machine. The tests, using hypothetical dates straddling 1999 and 2000, indicated the computer is fully resistant to date rollover problems. A dedicated team has been set up to capture and process all the data types and facets of the business operation, including typical year-end procedures. A full set of documentation setting out the procedures is being followed. A second, third and other more in depth tests along the same lines were carried out in June and July 1999. Hewlett Packard has Y2K assessed and reported on all our midrange computers. All aspects needing intervention have been catalogued and ongoing software patches are being applied as recommended in the report. To increase further pro active support from the vendor, a new dedicated phone line and related high speed modem has been installed for Hewlett Packards exclusive use. The COBOL software Year2000 update CD was installed, initially on the Test / Development machine, during June 1999. Full stability was indicated while compiling data, and it installed onto the production machines in July 1999. The ORACLE database software is certified compliant and was successfully tested on 1999-06-15.

Cash Receipting DME installed new Novell software on its new Dell servers at the Customer Service Centres. As a result of this installation the whole DME network will be standardised on Novell software. In house testing is complete and satisfactory. All that remains is for the combined systems of Corporate and Durban Metro Electricity to be tested. Results will be posted in August / September 1999.

Contracts and Tenders-This section continues its vigilance to ensure outgoing contract and tender documentation contains Y2K requirements and, where relevant, vendors certify compliancy of incoming goods.

Data Interface programmes.- All critical business tasks using data interfaces have been identified, the functions mapped, impact assessments completed, and regression testing by users is complete. Results so far indicate full functionality has been maintained. A test pack has been produced for a final sign off in August / September 1999.

The impact analysis of Y2K on the MCC the EPR and the Bulk Billing systems have been completed. Programme rectification by Abraxas Technology Consultants is 100% completed. The new interface to the JD Edwards software, which is the replacing Walker general ledger system, is being given special attention to ensure there will be no potential cause for concern.

Desktops /networks hardware and application software.- GroupWise 5.5 software indicated the need to replace 14 servers with the latest Pentium III technology. The pilot installation at Northern Depot, where 30 workstations exist, was installed without problems and the system performed to expectations. Help Desk calls from this depot, and others with the new servers and software have decreased considerably. There remain some 400 workstations to be brought into line in other depots. The roll out will be completed by the third week of September 1999, possibly sooner. Testing will commence immediately thereafter. At the end of the server installations all users custom software and macros are to be conglomerated onto one single server and either the Check2000' or the Millennium Buster software will be run. This will be a huge saving on single licence costs.

Drawing office CAD and Survey Equipment.- All drawing office and survey software and associated Sun workstations have been certified compliant and in-house tests have been conducted and programme signed off. The Global Positioning System is fully dependant on the US Military Departments satellites and the new Y2K software patch for compliancy was loaded at the end of June 1999, and is working satisfactorily.

Electricity Token Vending.- New compliant software for the vending units has been installed on five pilot machines. In-house token vending tests have been carried out with satisfactory results. Four units at the Rotunda and Isipingo Customer Service Centres have been successfully dispensing live tokens to the general public since 1999-05-01. The target date for the user network to be fully Year 2000 operational is 1999-09-01.

Electricity Faults Reporting System.- The new software programme for tracking electricity faults being reported, named DEFTOMS, went live from 1999-02-01. User requests for programme modifications will not be carried out after 1999-07-31 in order to ensure full stability is maintained throughout.

Elevators.- There is no PC controlled elevator in use by DME. Certificates to this effect are on file from the Councils two elevator service contractors.

Embedded components.- We have not located any embedded components in the electrical distribution system network which have real time clocks that will affect distribution. Therefore, no problems are to be expected.

End-user developed items.- These are generally low impact programmes or macros and will be addressed for compliancy by the separate users. Since the Corel 7 suite used throughout DME is fully compliant no problems are anticipated.

Energy Dispensers - The approximately 150 000 units in service have embedded controls but none have internal clocks. Tests and certificates from the suppliers indicate continued satisfactory operation into the year 2000 and beyond.

External Audit - Messrs Price Waterhouse Coopers carried out a high level audit of DMEs Year 2000 programme, including progress towards completion, in the last week of May 1999. The interim report was highly satisfactory. A detailed audit will commence later. The Provincial Year 2000 Task Team have also carried out their audit of this department during July 1999.

External Data systems.- DME has daily external data communication with the Standard Bank for its on-line banking systems and has a written undertaking that the CATS interface software will be compliant. External data flow systems between the Post Office and Pick-&-Pay Supermarkets are also being examined in conjunction with Corporates business operations

Human Resources.- The payroll data fed to the Corporate mainframe is compliant and Corporate Division have recently installed a new version of the salary module(Q-Pac). Testing is in progress and no malfunction is anticipated. Final test results are expected at the end of August 1999. The Bonus Incentive Scheme is compliant and certified as such. Testing with dummy data has been carried out and results are expected at the end of August 1999. This is a high impact item and no problems are foreseen. The scheme is heavily reliant on the Co-Driver vehicle management system to provide input. Contingency plans have been drawn up and will be tested to ensure no disruption to salaries takes place. The staff Identity photograph card system has been replaced with a compliant unit and is already in operational use. The building access-control card system has also been replaced in order to ensure compliancy. This is a low impact area. All staff vacancy monitoring, interviewing and assessment software has been certified as compliant. This is a very low impact area.

Libraries - The ILIS library cataloguing system continues to operate satisfactorily and is Year 200 compliant

Metering Systems.- The Bulk Tariff and Time of Use metering system was replaced and made compliant. Laboratory tests with the new equipment have been without problems. These tests will run for four theoretical months into the year 2000. Further tests in the live environment were also carried out in June and July1999. The new system will go live from 1999-09-01. Systems for downloading consumer meter readings to the central station are fully compliant and are being further tested to confirm vendors compliancy claims.

Meter Reading Systems - The RouteMaster meter reading system is fully Y2k compliant and all that remains is for integrated testing to the Corporate mainframe to be completed by 1999-09-30.

Methods and Standards.- This section have a brief to ensure ongoing compliance and carries out field inspections to ensure the acceptability of goods and services being provided by vendors. This vigorous monitoring will continue well into the year 2000 to prevent the introduction of non compliant goods.

New Projects, Plant and Systems.- The design team ensures all new projects, plant, systems and equipment are specified as compliant. It also monitors and tests goods arriving for installation into the network. Staff travel to manufacturers sites to witness new component testing that DME cannot carry out in-house.

Office machines.- Facsimile and photocopy machines are currently being Y2K upgraded by the lessors.

Planning Department - The planning and analysis software used to simulate electrical loads on a network has been certified as compliant and in-house tests confirm this status. The programme has been signed off.

Protection & Test Systems.- Nearly all numeric protection relays in use by DME have been satisfactorily tested. Results have been reinforced by Eskom test results, who provided DME with all their test documentation. Three relays remain to be tested in the field, when it is proposed the respective sections of the network will be de-energised for testing purposes. If it is determined that an unstable network might result due to testing requirements, then no tests will be performed. Eskoms test results for these same relay types being compliant will be accepted. All related software has been tested and found satisfactory.

Quality of Supply and SCADA Systems.- 52 major substations each with a remote terminal unit (RTU) relay information continuously to the Control Centres. Each RTU has approximately 700 to 800 input devices feeding into it. Thus, there is a huge amount of incoming data to be handled. Two compliant Hewlett Packard midrange computers manage this system. New upgraded compliant software for the SCADA system is operating successfully. Several DME staff members travelled to the USA to receive specialised training in this regard. Full and satisfactory testing of the SCADA system was completed on 1999-06-30. The Voice Logger is compliant and will continue to operate normally.

Radio Data Control - New firmware together with related software has been installed. Tests are already underway with preliminary results showing promise.

Standby Generators - Units in use by DME start up from battery power when loss of voltage is sensed and when supply returns the units shut down automatically. There are no Year 2000 implications.

Suppliers and Business Partners.- A circulation to important suppliers has been completed with a 76% positive response. We intend to carry out further in depth investigation to ensure minimal impact from this source. The major business partners have been identified and a plan to establish their impact on DMEs operation is being formulated.

Time Switches (Metering section) - The timers all operate on a seven day time of use cycle. Accordingly the year 2000 has no effect upon continued satisfactory operation.

Training Establishment - A new compliant server and further workstations have been added to the training establishment at Springfield. This enhancement caters for training all Users who require to work with the new GroupWise 5.5 software now being installed. First users instruction courses commenced 1999-05-17.

Transmission Sub Stations.- There is no equipment or plant within the substations that is affected by the Year 2000 date changeover. Numeric tap change relays (voltage control) were satisfactorily tested by the supplier during June 1999 and witnessed by DME staff.

Transmission Lines.- There is no equipment or plant within the transmission lines section that is affected by the Year 2000 changeover.

Conclusion

Continuous progress by DME towards full compliance is being made, and no slippage in the project plan has occurred. As mentioned in earlier reports, there appears to be no show stoppers which would prevent the continued distribution of electricity or the continuity of service as currently supplied by DME.

James R Prosser Year 2000 Project Manager 1999-08-02

-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999

Answers

James,

OK, that's more like it! I can deal with a report like this and I appreciate your taking the time to supply it. Rarely do we get such a detailed statement from our own electric utilities. Thank you.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999

If only I had a list like this here where I work...

-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999

Glad to see you are back James, and on such form! I'll post a copy of this to people I know in South Africa who need this information (and if they're interested, the responses on the thread). I hope you'll roll your sleeves up and join in the forum dialectic, even if does get a bit petulant at times.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999

Dear Jim P. and Gordon, I'm glad to see the two of you working together, and not being so grumpy. Sometimes we forget that we're really all on the same side on this issue: nobody wants to see the power go down. A verse from the Word comes to mind regarding the two of you, and other thoughtful posters on this site: Philippians 1:3 "Everytime I think of you, I thank God for you." You people are a real help to us non-techies. Thanks again.

-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999

James, Your post is an excellent example of how providing detailed reports of a companies Y2K status is in the best interest of all - the utility, and the public. This is the way trust is established. I wish all Y2K Project Managers had the farsightedness yand courage ou exhibit in doing this, and would tell the company lawyers to "sit down."

I have spoken with many others who have worked directly on Y2K projects in the electric industry and, as I do based on my own experience with two nuclear plant Y2K projects, they have strong confindence there will be no significant problems in the generation and distribution of electricity. Letting the public "inside" to see what we see, to find what we have found, is the best thing the industry could do.

Regards,

-- Anonymous, August 02, 1999