I don't even think it matters to most sheeple anyway, as they would have a hard time distinguishing the two.

28 ELECTRIC UTILITIES FAULTED ON Y2K READINESS; GRID TEST SET...

http://www.drudgereport.com/

-- a (a@a.a), September 07, 1999

Answers

Yea, the next great non-event. I almost wish that something would happen. Better now than in cold Jan. Could wake a few up.

Tick... Tock... <:00=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 07, 1999.

Yeah, Drudge has been getting this wrong consistently. It bothers me that nobody at NERC is charged with alerting the media that this is NOT A TEST. Someone also ought to tell Drudge. Rick Cowles thinks NERC is actively promoting this sort of confusion, but I don't think they're that subtle or organized.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), September 07, 1999.

Utilities gear up for Y2K By Julekha Dash

More than 200 power companies are slated to take part in a North America-wide year 2000 readiness drill tomorrow and Thursday.

Participants will simulate response to the year-end rollover, including coping with possible telecommunications and customer- service problems. The exercise is based on guidelines issued by the North American Electric Reliability Council, or NERC.

Jon Arnold, CIO for the Edison Electric Institute, a trade association for investor-owned electric utilities, says that IT's role in the drill is mainly to ensure that contingency plans for Dec. 31 allow for adequate training of staff as well as backup communication devices.

Arnold will spend those two days at an electric-utility command center, making sure backup staff are ready to handle any disruptions with their customer information systems, such as the call center.

The utility will use other technical personnel in key locations to get information to various parts of its organization as well as external groups, such as emergency teams and the media.

By simulating hypothetical problems that can arise with customer information system, Arnold will be able to determine if workers can efficiently "report back to the command center and monitor any issues that may arise," he said. The readiness teams will also make sure that the staff can properly use alternative communications, such as radio and satellite phones, in the event that regular phone service is disrupted.

The drill won't involve computer system remediation and testing, which the industry has already completed, he added.

Jim Sinclair, director of public information at ISO New England, which handles the power grids in New England, says his organization will participate in the drill by increasing power plant staff, deploying backup people at distribution and transmission facilities throughout New England and alerting emergency response centers. Sinclair also chairs the communications committee for the Northeast Power Coordinating Council, one of the 10 regional councils that comprise NERC.

Gene Gorzelnik, NERC's director of communications, said the drill will "run in parallel with normal operations. It will not [affect] the supply of electricity to customers."

Drill results may help Y2K project managers across all industries "better assess what kind of backup plans they need to make," said Kazim Isfahani, an analyst with Giga Information Group Inc. The exercise might also help corporate Y2K managers "speak more knowledgeably" about whether utility industry's preparedness affect their own plans.

"Not many IT people know about how electricity is produced and distributed," Isfahani added.

This week's drill will mark the second North America-wide year 2000 readiness test. The first one occurred in April.

http://www.year2000world.com/

I seen this article and thought "only 200!" Then after I read the article, I realized the tests or drills as they call them, is a 'big joke'.

I

-- cath (cymchenry@seidata.com), September 07, 1999.

"second North America-wide year 2000 readiness test"

There's that word again, TEST. Did I miss something???

Tick... Tock... <:00=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 07, 1999.

Once again, I'm truly amazed by how all these comments seem as though they're made by people who actually really *KNOW* what the heck's really going on behind the scenes (AS IF).

How many of you geniuses are actually intimately involved with the electric utilities, with the NERC tests? On the nuts-and-bolts level? HUH? If you are, please say so. If you're not, please shut up.

And if you're NOT (which I'd bet good money is the case with 100% of these posts here), what makes you so eminently qualified to speak? HUH?

And if you're NOT, what gives you the expertise to contradict those who ARE? HUH?

[Basic Logic 101]

-- Chicken Little (panic@forthebirds.net), September 07, 1999.

CL, do you mean folks like this?

Mr. Cook, PE

Dr. Altman

FactFinder

Bonnie Camp, and the euy2k forum

Engineer

Shakey

Enough yet? More here, I just can't remember their handle.

PS

Still looking Chuck... <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 08, 1999.

Flint: I hope that you were joking. The official NERC press release, that came out over a week ago, explicitly states that this is a drill, a dress rehearsal for contingency plans. Go to their Y2k web site and upload the .pdf file.

Just because media outlets don't know or care to make a clear distinction between "drill" and "test" is not a reflection on NERC.

This same thing happend back in April: NERC made it clear that the industry was performing drills. It even issued a press release about correcting "drill misconceptions", and yet several media improperly assumed that it was some kind of big test. I know, because I was interviewed by several of them. I emphasized the drill aspect, but they still called it a test, and made it out to be a much bigger deal than it really was.

Tomorrow night is a dress rehearsal, with some contingency plans drilled. Nothing more, nothing less.

-- Dan (dgman19938@aol.com), September 08, 1999.

My Mr Little...

It is so nice to see you again...Would you want to include this old shirt tailed electrican into your ravings? An do you still want to put on a pair of steel toes boots and a hard hat and we'll go out in a coal-fired unit and do some calibrations.

I just love these one year at a construction job on a power house experts...

Incidenty...there is no test. There cannot be, if there where we would have y2k right now! The grid cannot be tested from end to end while it is in use..

There is monitoring, a contingency plan enactment,so every one will know what to do when the real test comes up on the 01/01/2000. And do not think that the "nuts and bolts" people are NOT worried. They are!

I am one of those N. and B. people who you said do not come here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- Shakey (in_a_bunker@forty.feet), September 08, 1999.

http://www.drudgereport.com/matt1.htm

X X X X X

28 ELECTRIC UTILITIES FAULTED ON Y2K READINESS; GRID TEST SET

The Energy Department is concerned that 12 electric utilities are not ready for Y2K, the NEW YORK TIMES is reporting Wednesday editions.

"Another 16 utilities, all municipal or rural cooperatives, have not reported on their state of readiness, and dozens of others are not ready but have convinced the North American Electric Reliability Council, which coordinates planning for power plants and power lines, that they have only limited problems to fix," the paper reports.

The news comes just as the electric utility industry was set to begin a large-scale Y2K grid-test Wednesday night and Thursday in preparation for New Year's Eve.

The tests run from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m.

On September 8, electric utility power plants across the country will prepare for and closely monitor the date rollover at midnight. 9/9/99 is a key date for Y2K testing because computer users have used nines to mean end of input, which could shut down computers programs on this date. The drill is intended to simulate as realistically as possible the exercise of operation, communications, administrative and contingency plans for the Y2K transition.

U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson will participate in the grid-test from the Department of Energy's Bonneville Power Administration in Vancouver, Washington. BPA owns and operates one of the nation's biggest high-voltage transmission grids. About 15,000 circuit miles of transmission line network across 300,000 square miles in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and sections of Wyoming, Nevada, Utah and California.

MORE...

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX MONDAY, SEPT 06, 1999 16:09:44 ET XXXXX

http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/09/biztech/articles/08year.html

Story From the New York Times: Must register to read, but registration is free.

FOR EDUCATIONAL/DISCUSSION PURPOSES ONLY

September 8, 1999

28 Utilities Faulted on Year 2000 Readiness

By MATTHEW L. WALD

WASHINGTON --- The Energy Department said Tuesday that it was concerned that 12 electric utilities were not ready for the year 2000, as the electric utility industry was set to begin a large-scale drill on Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for New Year's Eve.

Another 16 utilities, all municipal or rural cooperatives, have not reported on their state of readiness, and dozens of others are not ready but have convinced the North American Electric Reliability Council, which coordinates planning for power plants and power lines, that they have only limited problems to fix.

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said in a statement today that "until all the utilities across the country can say they are Y2K-ready with full contingency plans, I cannot assure consumers that we have done everything possible to keep the power on into the year 2000."

The Year 2000 problem, known as Y2K, arises from a long-time practice of computer programmers to enter only the last two digits of the year; some computers, facing the year after 1999, will assume it is 1900, and could fail or produce bad data.

The companies judged not ready are mostly small. Some much larger ones, like the Ameren Corporation, which serves 1.8 million customers in Missouri and Illinois, are considered "ready with limited exceptions." Spokesmen for companies in that category, though, said that they expected to be ready well before Dec. 31. Some said the delays were the result of new equipment that had not been tested, and others said there were economic and operational benefits to waiting until after summer.

By naming names, Richardson appeared to be trying to put pressure on laggards.

At one that was declared not ready, Tacoma Power, a municipal utility in Washington state that serves 143,000 customers, Max Emrick, an assistant generation manager, said that control systems at two hydroelectric stations were unprepared for 2000. Hardware was in hand to fix them, he said, but the stations would not be shut down until later this month and October.

If the utility had to, Emrick said, it could program the systems to believe it was 1972, a leap year like 2000 with the same day-date matchup.

But even if the utility did nothing, Emrick said, the two generators would keep working. "With these pieces of equipment, it's nice to have the right date on them, but we could do about any date," he said.

Emrick said he considered his company to be in the category of "Y2K ready with limited exceptions," even though the Energy Department does not.

At Ameren, Susan L. Gallagher, a spokeswoman at the St. Louis headquarters, said that the system had been running at full blast all summer because of the heat, and "we didn't want to monkey with it."

The devices that measure pollution on some of the company's coal-fired power stations are not ready for 2000, Ms. Gallagher said.

The company's transmission system also has software that must be upgraded, she said.

"Everything will be YK2-ready on September 30," Ms. Gallagher said. "We are now doing that work."

Another company on the Energy Department's "limited exception" list was Cilcorp Inc. of Peoria, Ill., the parent of the Central Illinois Light Company. A spokesman, Neal C. Johnson, said a 30-year-old system that communicates between substations and a dispatch center had been replace this summer. The new equipment is being tested now for Year 2000 compliance, he said.

This week's rehearsal is expected to involve over 2,000 companies that will simulate operating if a generating station or a voice link fails.

Some of the companies that the Energy Department said were not ready were traditional utilities, and others were owners of scattered power generating plants.

The department listed the Central Louisiana Electric Company; City Public Service of San Antonio, Tex.; Cogentrix Energy Inc. of Charlotte, N.C.; Lafayette (Louisiana) Utilities System; the city of Lakeland, Fla.; Milford (Mass.) Operating Company; the Utility Board of Brownsville, Tex.; and the Plains Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative of Albuquerque, N.M.

In addition, the Department listed four companies that the North American Electric Reliability Council said have since moved up into the "limited exception" category: Tacoma Power; the Platte River Power Authority of Fort Collins, Colo.; United American Energy Corporation of Woodcliff Lake, N.J.; and the Calenergy Company Inc., now known as MidAmerican Energy Holdings, of Omaha, Neb.

-- flb (fben4077@test.com), September 08, 1999.

Okey-pokey,

That brought out what I was asking for.

Now.

What position do you folks hold in your companies? How are you tied in with reporting results to NERC? Do you have axes to grind? Are you happy in your job? Do you have ulterior motives?

These are all valid questions. Doomers can ask all grades of questions such as these: so can we, bygosh. Fair's fair.

I used to be in charge of a large department in a large company (part of Toyota; large enough?). When the company did evaluations, the comments on parts of the 'grunts' varied widely with my comments on how the department was doing; because the 'grunts' didn't see the big picture.

I seriously wonder the same about you folks on this forum who claim to know so damn much. You're "big fish in a small pond" on this forum; but I wonder if you aren't "angry small fish in a big pond" when you leave the house, and go to work every day.

-- Chicken Little (panic@forthebirds.net), September 08, 1999.

more accurately, should have said, "comments on parts of SOME of the 'grunts' varied widely..." etc.

-- Chicken Little (panic@forthebirds.net), September 08, 1999.

Dan is right about this. Except, I am convinced that at least some parties in the electrical utility industry have counted on the media to misreport the situation.

-- Lane Core Jr. (elcore@sgi.net), September 08, 1999.

Here is something directly from NERC. Although it doesn't talk about today's drill specifically, it gives an idea as to how they view this drill vis a vis y2K.

ftp://w ww.nerc.com/pub/sys/all_updl/docs/pubs/98ras.pdf

(pages 30-32 of the document, Reliability Assessment 1998 - 2007)

Year 2000 Transition

An urgent challenge to electric reliability throughout the world is the transition to the Year 2000 (Y2k). This transition effort is necessary because certain software and hardware in use in the electric and other industries use a two-digit code to represent the last two digits of the year. As a result, these software and hardware may misinterpret the change from 1999 to 2000 as they process data. Additionally, there are a number of other key dates such as August 22, 1999 and September 9, 1999, that may be misinterpreted by computer programs and hardware.

[snip]

Y2k Defense in Depth

The second key element of NERCs plan is operational security through a defense-in-depth concept, which has been well developed in the design and operation of nuclear facilities. The defense-in-depth concept assumes that although an entity has taken all reasonable and necessary preventive steps, there can never be 100% assurance that major system failures cannot cause a catastrophic outcome. Alternatively, multiple defense barriers are estab-lished to reduce the risk of catastrophic results to extremely small probability levels and to mitigate the severity of any such events.

It is certain that not all Y2k problems have been or will be identified, fixed, and tested in the time remaining. Also, it would not be prudent to expend unlimited resources on potential problems in search of 100% avoidance of component failures. The cornerstone of the NERC Y2k plan, therefore, is to coordinate industry actions in im-plementing the following defense-in-depth strategy:

Identify and fix known Y2k problems _ NERC is providing a vehicle for sharing of information on known and suspected Y2k problem areas and solutions associated with the operation, control, and protection of bulk electric generation and transmission facilities. From this information exchange, a master list of critical Y2k problem areas and solutions will be developed and made widely available. NERC will initiate a reporting process for key entities to report progress against specific criteria designed to address a known list of Y2k problem areas. Through its Re-gional Reliability Councils, NERC will review the progress of these entities to verify that all responsible parties are taking appropriate measures. This identification of problem areas, solutions, and testing of the solution is a process that will continue into the next millenium.

Identify worst-case conditions _ NERC will coordinate the conduct of Regional and individual system simula-tions to identify moderate and worst-case scenarios in response to various classes of Y2k failures. Specific classes of failures that result in the worst conditions will be examined further to determine possible fixes and preventive or mitigation measures.

Prepare for the worst _ NERC will coordinate efforts to prepare for safe operation of the electric systems under potential worst-case conditions. Preparations will include development of special operating procedures and con-ducting training and system-wide drills.

Operate systems in a precautionary posture during critical Y2k transition periods _ NERC will coordinate efforts to operate transmission and generation facilities in precautionary configurations and loadings during criti-cal Y2k periods. Examples of precautionary measures may include reducing the level of planned electricity trans-fers between utilities, placing all available transmission facilities into service, bringing additional generating units on-line, and rearranging the generation mix to include older units with analog controls. Another example is in-creased staffing at control centers, substations, and generating stations during critical periods. Fortunately, from an electric reliability perspective, New Years Eve falls on Friday, December 31, 1999, and January 1 is a Satur-day. Therefore, electric system conditions are likely to be more favorable than during peak demand periods. The level of electricity transfers should be at lighter levels and extra generating capacity should be available during the most critical transition period.

-- Chris (%$^&^@pond.com), September 08, 1999.

My Dear Mr. Little

Sir you might shake some up with your "what's your little segiment of the world. But then, it doesn't apply to me.

Youngster...When I go out to where a power complex is to be built. Usually there are holes in the ground and the turbine pedistle is being set up to be poured. If I am an "indian" that trip around I go out and start running miles and miles of grounding cable...If a Cheif, I tell the "fore skins" (foremen) to get with it! And then when I choose to leave the job...There is usually a full fledged power generation complex standing there, a turn key operation for the utility boys to run.

Now you are into Toyota huh? You might be able to keep tabs on the wheels and door handles. But that doesn't impress me none. How do you change the rotation on a three phase motor? (Now run off some where and ask some one who knows...) Then come back and tell me.

Companies...Son there are thousands of companies out there! Bechtel corp. Sterns and Rodgers, Fishe Bache and Moore, Morris Kundson....Ling Engieering B & W Engineering. Honeywell...But then you would not know them, they hire craftsmen...I have no axe to grind!It has though...Always chapped my neither regions to see some one coming in some place and beating his/her chest about being some sort of a athority...When they know JACK about what it is that they are talking about! And you Sir...Are a B/S'er of the first water!!! In the now 34 years of professional life as an electrican/start-up engineer/tech. I have never ever before seen such a display of a desperate attempt to find out where some one works...LOL!!!

What? The next thing is that they hear that they should keep quiet about what they might know, or think they might know! Can't work with me , CHILD. I have a union card...chuckle! And I have done it all...been there, did that! Just too darn old to jump stumps anymore (though the line men today use bucket trucks).

Got any more impressing job histories? May be down at the local Burger King flipping burgers??/

To the Forum members:

I apoligize for ranting, I have too much respect for the posters here to not apoligize. But it this case, it was too much for me to remain quiet. I do not know who Mr. Little is shilling for...But he is shilling!The sad part is that his intellect is such that he doesn't seem to understand that when you go fishing you might not catch what it was that you where wanting. And in his case, his ruse a quickly apparent. Again...I do apoligize for my rants.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- Shakey (in_a_bunker@forty.feet), September 08, 1999.

I believe Chicken Little is a woman, which was revealed several months ago in a posting. Of course, if CL hisself wants to come out and state an opposition to my statement, I will stand corrected.

-- OR (orwelliator@biosys.net), September 08, 1999.

That so...I have known some really excellent Journeyman wiremen(a union term) who are ladies...But Chicken Little is not one of them! I don't care if he/she did spend a year out on a power generation complex. But it does explain why, when I asked her over on the c.s.y2k forum if she wanted to go out on a job with me, Mr. (I'll jump in and defend her) Sam Poole...Assured me that she would never misrepresent herself as being something that she was not.

In any case, if she is mystified on how to change the rotation on a three phase motor, she can ask Mr. Paul Milne. He will tell her how to do it. I have found him to be pleasent (if he is treated pleasently). And I feel sure he would help her to carry out her end of a job assignment, if she would but ask...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Shakey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- Shakey (in_a_bunker@forty.feet), September 08, 1999.

Shakey -

Actually, I think that was the ever-popular, "Certified Everywhichway Technophile" Stephen Poole who jumped in to lend CL a wing. You were probably wondering "what the Sam Hill" he was doing it for, hence the slip. 8-}]

CL -

I've been in touch with a number of folks who contribute here. A few of them head up F500 IT departments and/or consultancies. What's with your ad hominem about positions and work attitudes? Their attitudes are not material to the discussion.

Friend of mine manages the Y2K program for a govt entity, used to be pretty confident, and is now frankly worried sick about Rollover. Some others in other agencies say they're pretty sanguine about it, though I wonder somewhat about anyone being confident about something so fundamentally "untestable". Y2K is local. Your mileage (or lack of it) may vary.

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), September 08, 1999.