Our electric company states on its web site that the vendor of its "fuel management system" failed to provide a Y2K upgrade, and so it's projected completion date for that item isn't until September. When I mentioned this in a public forum Monday night, I was told by their representative that the "fuel managment system" has nothing to do with them being able to deliver electricity to us.

However, this same guy seemed unaware of any industry readiness deadlines or whether the company had any contingency plans. So I'm not sure what to think. Do you think he's right about the fuel management system being non-critical?

Thanks, Judy Hoskins

P.S. Thanks so much for your ongoing analysis of the electric industry's readiness!

-- Anonymous, August 12, 1999

Answers

Hello Judith. My guess is that the "fuel management system" is used for that company's fleet of vehicles, and keeps track of when and how much gas is put into each car or truck. These systems do have date awareness, and I know of more than one system that needed a change- out. If "fuel management" refers to a power plant system that controls the flow of fuel (coal, natural gas, etc.), then it is definitely a critical system.

Perhaps you could give the web address and someone could look it up and verify this?

Regards,

-- Anonymous, August 12, 1999

Dear Dan the Power Man:

I appreciate your input on this ... the web site of their latest update is:

http://www.nespower.com/y2990715.html

- Judy

-- Anonymous, August 12, 1999

Just curious: When a utility runs a coal, oil or gas fired plant do they just have a guy with a shovel stoke the boiler or do they manage the mixture of fuel and air in the combustion chamber of their boilers to generate as much power from as little fuel as possible? What kind of fuel do they burn at Dan the Power man's plant? Do they manage the combustion process to acheive the best efficiency? Is a computer involved? Fuel management could also have an effect on emissions control? I am no industry expert but it seems tracking the amount of gasoline used in company cars may not be the purpose of a fuel management system.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 1999

Maybe I should have explained, the company I'm talking about does not generate electricity, they get it from TVA and just distribute it. So maybe Dan the Power Man's first hunch is right (hope so!). Dan, thanks for cc'ing me on that e-mail to the company to check it out. Will post their answer here, when I get it.

- Judy

-- Anonymous, August 13, 1999

Nashville Electric responded: This system monitors the fuel usage of the trucks, is not mission critical, and will be upgraded in September.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 1999

Many thanks, Dan.

-- Anonymous, August 13, 1999

Fossil plants do have systems known as burner management systems. These are usually provided by DCS vendors such as Baily or Foxboro.

Jim

-- Anonymous, August 22, 1999