Our new SCADA system was installed yesterday. It has finally completed all its Y2K testing and all its bench testing. Our control staff are happy with it, and I used it live for the first time today.

As from tomorrow, no new systems, software or hardware, will be accepted on site until after the rollover. So we made it with one day to spare.

There are still two systems that have not made the grade. One has had its clock set back 10 years, and the other (Y2k OK, but with a server problem) has had a software patch applied which will enable it to perform its functions.

Looks like I'll be able to sleep easily during the rollover, but I'll be on duty all day 01/01/00 as the rest of the world experiences Y2K.

Malcolm

-- Anonymous, September 30, 1999

Answers

Thanks Malcolm, for sharing so candidly with us. While I must confess it is a bit unnerving to know some of the "Readiness" is stuff like setting clocks back, I am going to trust that there are many competent people paying very close attention. Again, I AM glad I don't live in the eastern interconnect region though.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 1999

How's the real estate market thereabouts? ;-)

-- Anonymous, September 30, 1999

Malcolm,

Thanks again for a fine information posting. I note that your plant has established a "lock down" right now for any new systems. That's a smart thing to do during the last 90 days. Unfortunately, this is not the case here in the US, including the nukes, some of which will be trying to replace equipment and systems right into December. I think it's safe to say that your company is a tad above a bunch of ours in getting things done, and being prepared. Good for you.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 1999

I am happy for you, now as Han Solo said to Luke Skywalker "Don't get Cocky" Considering the surface triviality of the problem ... something might have been missed. I am sure that double ought in your date quote is either a boast or an attempt at humor, not an oversight. To put it bluntly, we are depending on you. Do your best and thanks for the encouraging news.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 1999

Actually Gordon, that's not true. Most (and I can only speak for the large utilities I know, so maybe most is inappropriate) are implementing 2 stratigies to prevent new equipment from going into plats:

1- Clean Management- nothing goes into the plant without a full Y2k review and test (started after everyone finished their initial inventories on plant equipment)

2- Y2k Moratoriums, which say no new cumputer systems or software systems (or embeddeds) go into the plant at all, usually starting After June 30th, when the original Readiness deadline was. There are of course exceptions, because if something breaks, it needs to be fixed.

The reason some plants, like you mentioned, are continuing to put in new systems is to get to the Ready level, which they currently are not.

TM

-- Anonymous, October 01, 1999

TM,

Well, you have me thoroughly confused now. You start out by saying that *something* isn't true. Not sure just what isn't true. That Malcolm's plant is ahead of most of ours, or what? Then you go on to say that we are not doing a bunch of replacement of systems and equipment. That would mean a lock down. I don't see published statements about any lock downs in our utilities. Lastly, you say that there are utilities that are not yet ready, even at this late date, and so they are of course replacing equipment and systems. So, TM, what is it that is not true in what I said to Malcolm? With all due respect, your statement sounds like Koskinen double talk to me.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 1999

Lane,

The real estate situation is pretty much up and down. (Up in the hills, and down in the valleys) :-;

However it is still possible to a 10 acre block for around US$40,000

Malcolm

-- Anonymous, October 02, 1999

Malcolm,

Would that 10 acre purchase for $40,000 come with a house, or at least a shepherd's hut, and a small flock of sheep? ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 03, 1999

Gordon,

Let me try again-

The part you said about the US utilities not doing lockdowns was not true, in MY experiences.

1) After the project had identified what it considered its entire inventory of software/ embedded equipment, that inventory needed to me maintained. In other words, I can't be deciding if chart recorder xyz is Y2k Ready if the maintenance guy is out changing chart recorder xyz to AAA, that creates a hole in the system. So most utilities implemented some form of clean management, trying to maintain the original inventory, when possible, and ensuring that if something goes into the plant, it is verified to be Y2k Compliant prior to installation, so I don't infect my inventory.

2- The moratorium is set in place after I have declared myself Ready, so nothing gets into the system that I haven't looked at, and I don't have time to look at. I don't want a new system going in in November that wasn't already reviewed, it just adds more variables. (it's essentially the same as clean management, but clean management will continue after Y2k, so the snake oil salesmen don't infect the plant)

As for the plants that are continuing to do work in the field- if you are not Y2k Ready (like 8 Nuke plants appear to not be according to FF), you need to get there, which is why there will be work reported in the field until everyone is Y2k Ready, but hopefully they're only installing things they've identified in their original inventory, bench tested, but can't install until the system is in an outage.

As for the Koskinen comment, that hurt : (

Sometimes I do suffer from "I know what I MEANT to say, didn't you?" disease.

TM

-- Anonymous, October 04, 1999

TM,

OK, I'm going to let you off the hook on this one. Your explanation sounds reasonable for your own facility and you seem to be staying on top of it all. My comments were directed at "all those others" like NiMo, who seem to be screwing this thing up real good. Also, I have this allergy to Polly statements, and I was afraid you were coming at this from that direction, hence the Koskinen statement. Perhaps you will agree that Koskinen should offer one clear position, period. Either we will have problems, or not. When he glosses over the general remediation work here at home and then starts the except, except, except, business about foreign connections, etc, then we are not getting a clear message. For myself, I believe I do know what's going on for the most part, but it pains me to see questionable happy face statements at this late date. I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't intend your comments to just be another pretty face.

-- Anonymous, October 04, 1999