Caveat: This Powerpoint presentation was made in conjuction with a verbal presention. To my knowledge, NERC has not made the verbal portion available on their web site, as they have the written portion. Readers should keep in mind that the verbal part might add to, or change, the apparent import of the written part.

This recent (Aug.) presentation is titled, "NERC Year 2000 Critical Dependency Vendors EMS/SCADA" and was made by the ALSTOM ESCA Corporation, On-Site Support Services.

ftp://ftp.nerc.com/pub/sys/all_updl/docs/y2k

Look for the link: 08/05/99 06:04PM Panel-6a-ESCA-Vendor-Presentation.ppt

I'm omitting the first three pages, which are information about ESCA Corporation (location, etc.), their focus, and plan development. If anyone who can't access powerpoint files wants to see these initial pages, let me know and I'll add them. Everything from this point on is as close to a reproduction as I can accomplish. Any additions of mine will be in brackets. There is some info on individual utilities included by Alstom Esca, so read on:

Anticipate and Respond to Needs

* Installed Base in World Wide

* Many Customers on older EMS platforms

* Strict compliance dates created urgency

* Many lacked expertise and/or staff

* Option: Test current system or upgrade

Upgrade Versus Test and Remediation

* Some Customers chose to upgrade rather than test existing system

* Formed Specialized Tiger Team to fast track EMS upgrades

* Some Customers have no time to upgrade

* Testing and Remediation was the only solution

What We've Done

* EMP / Habitat Product Testing

* Y2K Web Site Posting

* Developed Comprehensive Field Services

* Phased approach in partnership with customers

* Developed Assessment and Analysis Tools

* Tools are not vendor specific

* Compiled Master Compliance Database

* Includes 3rd Party Software

[Skipping over user group meetings, etc.]

*Responded to all requests for Y2K support

Customers Served

[Readers should remember that the title of this presentation involved EMS/SCADA; therefore the lists of inventory, assessment, upgrades,and testing to follow will have EMS/SCADA focus, not the whole-plant focus we are used to reading about. I am also abbreviating inventory, etc. to help with the length of this post. The order of the list is Customer -- Description of Services -- Current Status.]

Allegheny Power...Inv, Assess, Upgrade, Testing...Complete

AECI....Inv, Assess, Upgrade...Complete

CitiPower...Testing...Complete

Con Edison....Inv, Assess, Upgrade, Testing...Complete

CONVEX....Upgrade, Testing....Ongoing.

[For those not familiar with the above, it is Connecticut Valley Electric Exchange (CONVEX) - convex provides a transmission control center for Connecticut and western Massachusetts; the site contains real-time power watch and warning system for Connecticut.]

ElectraNet...Assess, Testing...Complete

ERCOT--ISO....Inv, Assess, Upgrade...Complete

GPU PowerNet....Testing....Complete

ISO New England...Inv, Assess.....Complete

Madison Gas & Electric...Inv, Assess.....Ongoing

Montana Power....Assess, Testing....Complete

NEMMCO...Testing...Complete

NYISO.....Assess, Upgrade....Complete

Pennsylvania Power & Light....Assessment....Complete

Puget Sound Energy.....Inv, Assess, Upgrade, Testing...Complete

Virginia Power....Inv, Assess.....Complete

What We've Found

Third Party Hardware/Firmware:

* TrueTime GPS Satellite Receivers

* Siemens TI505 PLCs

* DEC 90M Terminal Servers

* Systems Northwest RTU / L&G 8979 [RTU stands for Remote Terminal Unit]

Software Problems

* Reports Application (Leap Year)

* Exchange Application (2 Digit Year)

* HDR (2 Digit Year in File Name)

* Alarm Format Configuration

Internal Planning [for Alstom Esca]

* Early Warning Notification System

* New Zealand, Europe, New York, Seattle

* Staffing

* Hotline telephone and remediation support

* Escalation emergency procedures

* Field Transition Service Team

* Backup Communications

Customer Planning

* Alternatives to Remediation

* Assessment of Risk Areas

* Traning for Operational Contingencies

* Preemptive Action Plans

* Restorative Action Plans

* Readiness Retention

The final page is a summary and I have omitted it here.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 1999

Answers

Bonnie, Might I also suggest a disclaimer at the end of each message!!! You could just change FAA to Bonnie Camp on each message you send out. If the FAA can give this message and then use this type of disclaimer then I feel you should too.

FAA Is 100 Percent Year 2000 Compliant

All computer systems of the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  including systems that involve the operation of the nation's air traffic control system  are now fully compliant for the Year 2000(Y2K).

RESTRICTION OF LIABILITY

The FAA makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this web site and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this web site. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantablility, fitness for a particular purpose and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to the contents of this web site or its hyperlinks to other Internet resources. Reference in this web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by FAA.

www.faay2k.com

-- Anonymous, August 18, 1999

Bonnie,

I am amazed. I think perhaps you need to take a break from your excellent work. I really thought you were joking about the warning message.

Perhaps we could instigate some new crusades on really important things, like putting warning labels on every stair step in the world "Caution! Tripping/Falling Hazard, Change in Eleveation", or put warning signs on evry building in the world, "Beware, if you jump of the building you may get hurt", or perhaps label every rock or pebble in the world "Caution! tripping hazard, if not properly avoided."

I am surprised at you wasting your efforts on such foolishness.

-- Anonymous, August 19, 1999

xBob, it's only an effort to be fair. And yes, it is a pain in the butt! But I said I would do it, so it will be done. I like Mark's idea (I got a good laugh, Mark, thanks!) but it would be a lot easier if we just had Philip Greenspun put a generic disclaimer on the forum which would pop up when anybody posted anything... (laughing myself silly). This world is such a tangled mess, isn't it?

-- Anonymous, August 19, 1999

Bonnie:

I'm not sure what the angle of this post was....

Anyway, ESCA has been a very responsive vendor on the Y2K issue. We upgraded to their compliant version in January of 1998. And yes we did our own rollover testing prior to putting the system online. The Truetime clock issue involved pulling the boards and sending the serial numbers off to Truetime for verification of the production run versus the lots that may have had issues. The DEC VMS Operating System had to be upgrated to their compliant version at the same time.

Other utilities that I have talked to have reported good response from their major SCADA/EMS vendors as well.

Jim

-- Anonymous, August 22, 1999

Jim, when you wrote that you weren't sure what the "angle" of the post was, it brought home to me how much the polarization of the Y2K issue has overshadowed simple information gathering.

The only angle to the post was that of providing information. Contrary to what some of us perceive on this forum, most of the people I hear from via e-mail are not interested at all in any doomer-polly debates. The only thing they're interested in is gathering specific information which might contribute to how their utilities (not just electric)are addressing Y2K and what potential impacts there might be for themselves and their families. I figured the ESCA customer chart would let some individuals be comforted and pleased to know their utility's EMS/SCADA systems had already been assessed, tested, and/or replaced, and the customers served or potentially effected by the two "ongoing" projects on the ESCA list would be glad to have that information, too. I also figured it was good to know what one of the major vendors was, and is, doing to address Y2K problems.

I hear from people all the time (and not only from those in the U.S. although most of them are) who ask for help in knowing where to look for utility information for their specific locale, or if I have come across any details which might help them assess _their_ locale. They're doing exactly what Mr. Koskinen (and Rick, too, for that matter, although it pains me to lump them together in any way)has advised -- trying to find specific local information. And they're discovering that it's much easier said than done. They don't give a hoot about angles, they may not even be aware of any polarization, unlike many of us who post here, but they do know that all the local information they receive sounds like it was written by the same lawyer, whether they're talking about electric, gas, phone, water, or sewage. And this worries them. As some have said to me, they may not be real smart, but they know when they're getting straightforward answers and "when they ain't".

I can maybe tell them to check their state Public Utilities Commission, supply the URL to locate SEC statements or give them suggestions for other research, but far too often specifics are just plain in short supply. When they see a list like that which Alstom/Esca provided, though, any Puget Sound Energy customers are happy they have that verification of work done. Those individuals in an "ongoing" work locale also have info which helps them in their own efforts to figure out local risks.

The only thing the average hard working Y2K-aware person wants is to know where they stand. They're not looking to cast blame, they're not thinking about lawsuits, whys, wherefores or angles, they're just trying to figure out the level of risk so they can do what they can to prepare for it.

-- Anonymous, August 24, 1999