I've seen it mentioned in a few different threads that the grid is on GMT, and that therefore if it were to go down 'at midnight', it would go down when it is midnight GMT. Does anyone know whether or not the grid tied to GMT?

-- not that 6 hours is a big diff... (not@real.com), August 13, 1999

Answers

Only four hours now, since we will be on Daylight Saving Time on 1/1/2000 rather than EST.

-- elskon (elskon@bigfoot.com), August 13, 1999.

Most automated messaging systems that I've worked with, including the NATO Integrated Communication System, use UTC (Univeral Time Coordinated), which used to be called GMT. So the rollover will occur (I believe) 5 hours before midnight (EST) and (I am sure) 10 hours before midnight Hawaiian Standard Time (HST). The reason that UTC is used is that the various message centers are in different time zones, and this provides a stable reference basis...otherwise also, messages would arrive before they are sent much of the time.

I believe that the coordinating of the electric grid would also work on UTC, since it crosses time zones.

This will be something to watch closely. Also, it should be noted that many other (world regional) grids may be on UTC, so may not go down until AFTER midnight (e.g., Australia). This is also something to consider...The Australians, New Zealanders, Chinese, etc. could be celebrating their "win" over Y2K when the lights go out... Oops!

I'm not sure which time is used for small, independent power systems (such as Kaua'i).

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), August 14, 1999.

I have read that nmuch of the US and Canadian grid is synchronised to the atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado, which broadcasts continously on a good number of bands on freqs that always end in zero, such as 2000Mhz in the 160 meter band (don't quote me on that!) The transmitters are stabilized by the clock signal which makes them a dandy frequency reference as well. These signals can be picked up and used by a wide variety of equipment. This clock is a UTC clock.

-- Forrest Covington (theforrest@mindspring.com), August 14, 1999.