Simple question - just attempting to ascertain the concensus of the readers.

Curious Regards,
Andy Ray

-- Andy Ray (andyman633@hotmail.com), November 10, 1999

Answers

NO

-- Earl (earl,shuholm@worldnet.att.net), November 10, 1999.

My November Florida Power & Light bill had a flyer in it with the following claim.

"Tests Help Confirm Our Readiness for Year 2000"

Their claim of confirming readiness is based on these 2 "TESTS":

1. "We participated in the two day NERC drill to test contingency plans, resources, and backup communication.... Our contigency plans were successful."

2. "Our equipment performed without interuption during the roll-over to the date Sept. 9, 1999."

HEEEEEEELLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!

This, coupled with an article that ran in the Orlando Sentinel in April 1998 where FP&L said they began working on the 2K issue in 1996 and they were halfway (thats 1/2) done in fixing the problem. BUT the kicker to the article is that FP&L said they would be complete by December 1998. Their math didn't add up then. Doesn't now either. But I wanted to believe them.

I was dumbfounded when I read their insert about confirming readiness. If this is all they have to brag about.

I am glad that I trusted my instinct not to trust FP&L even though I wanted to trust them. I am glad I have done my preparations.

So...........

NO, It will not be UNinterupted. Still not sure how interupted it will be.

-- Norm (Prez22@aol.com), November 10, 1999.

Andy Ray

Actually a good question (what is it now... 2?)

Yes I expect power after the rollover, provided by BC Hydro.

Could you provide your assessment and provider AR? Fair enough eh?

-- Brian (imager@home.com), November 10, 1999.

In Chicago, where I now call home, ComEd had a significant problem with blackouts last summer just do to too many people running their airconditioners! I can't wait to see how they handle Y2K!

-- Ludi (ludi@rollin.com), November 10, 1999.

YES!!!

-- power man (notadoomer@noway.com), November 10, 1999.

Not endowed with talent of seeing into the future. Last time our electricity was out for three hours during Prime Time. Only had two cutsey, tall romantic candles. Wasn't I sorry!

-- Granny (candles&lanterns@galore.com), November 10, 1999.

In a word, NO!

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), November 10, 1999.

Ohhh AndyRay, you can rollover for me anyday!!

-- Porky (Porky@in.cellblockD), November 10, 1999.

one electric man in our neighborhood has told some customers that he is expecting the electric to go off and if so it will more than likely remain off for several days. so needless to say the sales of candles and oil lamps are sky-rocketing.

nina

-- nina (nina@home.net), November 10, 1999.

No

My former boss, who is now assigned to NIPC, has advised, that NIPC expects 7-10 days of brownouts and blackouts in CONUS. This is an estimate, not a prediction.

FSI, BR

-- brother rat (rldabney@usa.net), November 10, 1999.

no, I think they will come up with a way to make the meter spin without electicity

-- stupid answer (askastupi@question.nooneknows), November 10, 1999.

Yes. And BTW, here is a link to the Ohio Consumer Council. They have various links to Ohio utility companies Y2K pages to decide for yourself whether they are ready or not.

http://www.state.oh.us/cons/about/y2k.html

Ohio Consumer Council

-- Steve (sron123@aol.com), November 10, 1999.

According to an insert in my bill, my power company has already advanced their generating stations to the year 2027 and will roll them back next spring. The years 2027 & 2028 have the same calendar (month & day vs day-of-week) as the years 1999 & 2000. Well actually years 27 & 28.

I'll guess that they didn't miss any calendar settings in any critical devics and therefore I believe that Y2k won't cause any problems with my electrical power at the moment of rollover.

Mikey2k

-- Mikey2k (mikey2k@he.wont.eat.it), November 10, 1999.

No.

There will be Plenty of Problems and that's with a capital "P".

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), November 10, 1999.

Yes, I believe that the power should continue without interuption. So far I have not seen a single Y2K issue that would cause disruption to power.

However, it is possible for disruption to power supplies to be caused due to other reasons. Sabotage, mechanical failures, deliberate switching of large loads to cause instability etc, are not Y2k issues, but can happen at any time.

Malcolm

-- Malcolm Taylor (taylorm@es.co.nz), November 10, 1999.

yes....but...my power co doesn't produce power. I think most power plants will be up and stay up until they run out of fuel. Taz

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), November 10, 1999.

From the Senate 100 Day Report:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001Rwk

http://www.senate.gov/~y2k/documents/100dayrpt/exec_sum_100days.pdf

[snip]

UTILITIES A prolonged, nationwide blackout will almost certainly not occur; that is, the power grid will work. However, local and regional outages remain a distinct possibility depending upon the readiness of the 3,000 utilities serving any given area. Further clouding accurate assessment, only 25% of electric utilities routinely disclose Y2K information to the public, making it difficult for individuals and organizations to get detailed information on "their" utilities. While bulk power producers, including nuclear facilities, are generally well prepared, they still must develop comprehensive contingency plans to prepare for unexpected problems.

[snip]

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), November 10, 1999.

Well, since GPU nuclear says they'll be done remediating on Dec.15, I'll say .... NO FREAKIN" WAY.

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), November 10, 1999.

Here in small town USA in the PNW local electric workers buzz is 2 weeks power out minimum. Just the local buzz, otherwise official happy face is still in place ;-)

-- Sammie (sammiex0@hotmail.com), November 10, 1999.

My utility company, Boston Edison Company (the folks who send me the bills) claim to be ready. In this era of deregulation in my state, BeCo's status is increasingly irrelevant as to whether I'll have power since they have sold off all or pretty much all of their generating plants. Meanwhile, Kosky says that local (statewide) and regional (multi-state) outages are quite possible. So, I'm ready either way. What I am expecting is far dirtier power than usual - it might not be "uninterrupted", but if it knocks out my furnace or other major appliances it might as well be.

I believe that electrical problems will be more prevalent as the year goes on, with Monday, January 3rd being the most unstable if major utility customers have gone offline for the rollover weekend.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), November 10, 1999.

NO. I was at a home show this summer when I asked the service rep for our electric utitlity about our particular area ( We're outside city limits by 10 feet). Her response was, " We have people around the clock working on this, but for that particular local area and she named my road to make sure I had a wood burning stove." I appreciated her candidness and bought one. My main concern

NO! I asked the utility representive for our local area and she was already familiar with it.. She recommended a wood burning stove. We took her advice but now are faced with the challenge of of being on a very deep well. Can't afford a generator and 300 feet is obviously to deep for a handpump. Can only stock up on so much water. Any ideas? By the way, found this site about a month ago and it's nice to know I'm not alone in my concerns. Have watched the remediation and disinformation process in the health indusry where I worked. Not encouraging. By the way, read somewhere that the red cross is preparing emergincy packages for other countries to send. What about us? Do we get the " week storm" emergency kit. Just wondered if we were going to take care of our own first?

-- Diana (MAVERICK@neworld.net), November 10, 1999.

I really have to answer this one seriously. If you look out your window and see 7 pigs flying in a V formation, then you will have power. Thanks

-- looking_glass (alice@wonderland.fantasy), November 10, 1999.

I have no idea, that is why I am preparing. When I first called them I got in reply from them, "Do what?" (southern slang for what are you talking about). After being put on hold, I was told "We have it covered". This was before they were even done with assessment according the Georgia Public Service Commission.

So you tell me, would you wonder?

-- Dian (bdp@accessunited.com), November 10, 1999.

90% probable - Cinergy in SW Ohio has done very thorough job of both remediation and contingency planning. They identify outstandings risks as:

1. Other power companies draw/overload. 2. Big users with non-interuptible contracts that want to power down and up after rollover in short time frame. 3. Embedded systems.

Cinergy is net exporter of power has 3 times our regional demand and will have all generators up and spinning with 500 staff at all sub stations. Also, has 60 days stock pile of coal which comes in from WVa by Ohio River barges.

-- Bill P (porterwn@one.net), November 10, 1999.

I have crudely estimated that 50-100 NON-Nuclear Power Generating plants will have "glitches" on or about January 1, 2000 that will cause them to have to shut down. That in turn, will take down some of the 103 Nuclear Plants. That, in turn will cause other NON-Nuclear plants to trip off-line. That in turn will cause more of the Nuclear Plants to shut down, which will again cause other NON-Nuclear plants to trip off-line.

At some point I suppose, some of the NON-Nuclear plants may remain operational. Probably not enough to keep even one grid energized. They may "island" themselves but that is unlikely seeing some of the plants that tripped of-line will need the energy from those plants still able to produce, just to start back up from a "black start". However, before that can take place, a lot of re-routing of available energy will have to take place. That will take time.

Meanwhile, all the Local Power Distribution problems will be being placed on hold. Can't fix what you don't know needs fixing, and you won't know it needs fixing until the grid stabilizes.

All in all, I expect to be without electrical power for AT LEAST 10 days. That's my definition of a "BITR".

Meanwhile...the telecommunications, aviation, banking and chemical industries are...

OOPS, just realized I need more sugar, coffee, tea, rice, etc...gotta run!

-- GoldReal (GoldReal@aol.com), November 10, 1999.

An uninformed, gut feeling--NO. UNLESS there is no fuel to generate the 'lectricity. (maybe should start a new thread on that question)

-- (lars@indy.net), November 10, 1999.

In that period of time, yes I do. That is a guess, which is all anybody can offer, and it isn't a very well informed one. I'm not terribly concerned about the power here. We can do very well without it. The only reason it'd concern me much if the lights were off would be if the problem was wide-spread and/or long-term, because while we don't really need the utility company, other people do and we need other people.

-- Gus (y2kk@usa.net), November 10, 1999.

Doesn't matter to me either way. I'll go "off the grid" at 5 p.m. EST, and stay off for the rest of the night.

-- Dennis (djolson@cherco.net), November 10, 1999.

Wisconsin Electric Power Company (WEPCO) has said and, apparently, done, all the right things to convince me that the likelihood of having power at rollover is pretty good. It's the months after that I'm concerned about. My wood stove still remains my only major preparation purchase, just in case.

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), November 10, 1999.

I believe that the odds that my local utility will be able to supply uninterrupted power at full service (i.e., without rationing) from December 31, 1999 through January 1, 2000 are greater than 50%. So put me down as a Yes.

Of course, if my belief turns out to be wrong for that 48 hour period, I have a diesel generator, lots of fuel, and a battery/inverter system. Which just might come in handy for all those following days, weeks and months that Y2K problems (including those of supply, or a mandatory shutdown of nuclear plants, either of which could cause rationing of power) could affect.

51 days.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.~net), November 10, 1999.

In short... No. This is purely a regional prediction, but the local power co. just doesn't have it together. Extremes of temperature (defined as anything outside of a narrow 20 deg. F band around 65 degrees F) have caused them to have MAJOR problems this year. And it has been like this for the past couple of years. Can't wait to see them deal with Y2K.

(Of course, not planning on getting any 'services' for a while after the rollover as, on the water issue, the local village is clueless, the county is unprepared, and making plans to remain so, and the state, while giving 'rosy' PR, is not much better. Same for waste treatment. Gas is unknown, but they are at the butt end of a veeerry long supply chain, without much control over the other links.)

-- just another (another@engineer.com), November 10, 1999.

Does anyone know whether the Y2K liability law the President signed will apply to someone who gets their appliances fried because of spikes, etc? Will people be smart enough to unplug all of their appliances at the first sign of trouble? To tell the truth, I hadn't thought about it until reading these posts. Also, I don't recall anyone mentioning this in things I have read.

I happen to believe that we will have power interruptions. I also believe that eventually, power will be restored. I think I will unplug everything until things get back to some semblance of order. No use blowing up my stereo!

-- Darla (dnice@hgo.net), November 10, 1999.

If we are allowed to move off the grid, Central Arizona will be just fine. Question is...will our Republican Governor stand up to our Democrat (and FOB, FOH) Attorney General and order the state's utilities to Island, rather than send power to such noncompliant states as California (basket case), New Mexico (almost as bad), Colorado (so so), and Utah (OK!).

-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), November 10, 1999.

If we are allowed to moove off the grid, Central Arizona will be just fine. Question is...will our Republican Governor stand up to our Democrat (and FOB, FOH) Attorney General and order the state's utilities to Island, rather than send power to such noncompliant states as California (basket case), New Mexico (almost as bad), Colorado (so so), and Utah (OK!).

-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), November 10, 1999.

No.

York ELectric Coop, SC

Duke Power is the local generator of power. They are supposed to be way ahead of the average bear, but the employees I have spoken to off the cuff have repeatedly expressed concerns, including the recent observation of managers buying generators and other neat stuff like that. Doesnt give me a nice warm feeling.Neither does having 3 nuke plants in spitting distance.

-- LauraA (Laadedah@aol.com), November 10, 1999.

I think we will have power. But whether it will be consistant remains unknown. I think much depends on other areas and how they are impacted. Browning---yes. I probably will unplug items so they don't get ruined. ----From the Pacific Northwest. Ice

-- Ice (icemanltd@webtv.net), November 10, 1999.

Well I sure hope so. The company I work for uses more electricity in one day than the three largest cities in the state (out west) during the hottest days of summer. No power - no job.

Official power company response is "You Bet". However, since we are an "interruptable" power user we just may lose our power if everybody in the state decides to turn their porch lights on at Midnight.

wally wallman

-- wally wallman (wally_yllaw@hotmail.com), November 10, 1999.

What a silly question!

Nobody can be 100% sure so don't ask what we feel, think, know, or believe will happen regarding power.

ASK US WHAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR.

-- Kurt Borzel (Kurt.Borzel@gems8.gov.bc.ca), November 10, 1999.

I don't know that it will be uninterrupted, but if it does go down here I don't think it would be for more than a couple hours. I only say that because Wyoming exports 2/3 of the electricity produced here, and we are sitting on huge amounts of coal and natural gas. My provider has been working on the problem for quite some time, and belongs to a bunch of industry trade groups that have been exchanging info, etc., so I think they're on top of it.

I still bought a woodstove and generator though. I live 25 miles out in the sticks and should have had both a long time ago anyway!!

-- Don Wegner (donfmwyo@earthlink.net), November 10, 1999.

Since my power company is PSE&G the answer is NO! They started late and haven't caught up. I expect 2-3 weeks of black with 6-8 months of 'dirty' juice.

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), November 10, 1999.

well, since we have only one 'lectrik co' in Bermuda, i hope so,but two interesting notes : my last bill had the usual "we're ready" info, but on the same page had a checklist for personal hurricane preparedness. #2) they reportedly have a 9 week crude supply on hand, supplier? VENEZUELA. so...maybe 9 wks later? i'm ready (been ready !!)

on de rock

-- walter (on-de-rock@northrock.bm), November 11, 1999.

We have NOT heard from "The Squirrel King" yet!!!

He may have a plan afoot to foil us.

-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

Clinton Nuclear Power Plant

Original owner..........................Illinois Power Co. (Illinova)

Original build estimate..................................$450,000,000

Final construction cost................................$2,600,000,000

Method used to defray cost over-runs...........soaring electric rates

# of days on-line since startup (generating power)......less than 1/2

Length of last NRC ordered shutdown....................almost 2 years

Reason for NRC shutdown...........mismanagement and safety violations

Location of my house in relation to Power plant.....20 miles downwind

Do I think they'll experience problems?.....You're kidding,RIGHT?

-- TM (mercier7@pdnt.com), November 11, 1999.

Any faith I had left was beaten down when my local provider, Pacific Power, began running touch-feely radio ads about linesman saving baby falcons in nests on power poles, and promising that even though power sometimes goes out, like in storms, these same touch-feely heroes do their best to bring it back up. Kind of like the Postman, eh? So, no. I expect that by early February the power industry will be nationalized, with desperate bureaucrats trying to hold onto their own power.

-- stantheman (heidrich@presys.com), November 11, 1999.

Well, I reckon it will stay on. I know we're all just guessing about it, so I have to go on my first hand experience. I've seen Y2K bugs in power station code, and I've seen non-Y2K bugs, and the non-Y2K stuff was way nastier, and it hasn't taken them down yet. There's a lot of redundancy in there, especially in the nuke plants.

But are you all aware that fossil/nuke power stations don't have enough auxiliary generator capacity to start their main turbines? And that it requires a massive input of power FROM THE GRID to get a fossil/nuke station going again? And that you get transmission losses over the grid, so you need a working station NEARBY to kick start a shut-down station? Luckily, Scotland has enough hydro stations dotted all over the place to start the fossil/nuke plants back up again even if (god forbid) they do all go down or are shut down deliberately. However, if significant portions of the grid go down, and you have no nearby hydro stations (wind and water don't produce nearly enough of a jolt) then you are going to have a long, cold winter.

Note: I don't think it'll happen. But if the power goes, please bear this in mind - and TURN OFF YOUR APPLIANCES so that when the domestic grid is re-connected, you don't contribute to browning it straight out again.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

I am fully confident that my electricity will NOT be working for some time after rollover. I am sure they will fix it....eventually...va bene...domani....and all that. It goes off routinely now for up to three hours at a time, every other week or so....No doubt this is giving them LOTS of experience.

Got candles, got flashlights, got gas oven and stove(already checked and it works great after power goes down), got bombola heater, no problemo.....

-- Ynott (Ynott@incorruptible.com), November 11, 1999.

NO, I think the power will go off on Dec 31. I'm expecting weeks of power outages...

-- Crono (Crono@timesend.com), November 11, 1999.

Barring the always possible and unavoidable physical interruptions (such as downed lines from bad weather, drunks smashing their cars into power poles or honked-off Squirrel Kings cutting the lines), yes.

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), November 11, 1999.

No, I think the power here will stay up. Even so, we are advising people to be off the grid by 3PM (11PM UT).

-- bw (home@puget.sound), November 11, 1999.

No, or Maybe.

Expect rolling blackouts and brownouts. But, it's hard to get a real "fix" on how prepared PG&E "really" is. Not just what they say.

Duration... who knows?

Blackouts might NOT just be Y2K related.

*Big Sigh*

I'm counting on the CEO's of Silicon Valley to twist arms if we do have power outages.

(Small comfort).

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

NO

-- Mabel Dodge (cynical@me.net), November 11, 1999.

Yes. I feel too much emphasis has been placed directly on power. The general public usually thinks of Y2K as: Elec on, no problems AT ALL, elec off, TOTAL DISASTER. There is no middle ground and rearely think of anything related to Y2K except power and maybe banks. They never think about oil, supply chains, etc. I feel there WILL be power interruptions, but not necessarily right at rollover.

Power is one area that the polly argument of "they just have to fix it" may have a teeny teeny bit of relevance. Not so much as "they have to fix it," but that so many general public DGI/DWGI discussions involve power and power only. To bad they don't realize fuel and transportation play a key role in power production, not to mention phone service and (longer term) banking.

-- Jim (x@x.x), November 11, 1999.

Folks, it doesn't matter if we have no juice come January...with just 26 Federal Days left, I'm sure that Clinton will "run the Country" as he so often claims.

Seriously, folks, NO electric utility EVER did "end to end" testing for Y2K, and NO utility is running Y2K compliant software in 1999 production. The original date was December, 1998 leaving a WHOLE YEAR for testing. What 'they' meant was a Whole WINTER for testing. We know that a New York City wide blackout in the Winter produces cooperative spirit in the populace. But a SUMMER blackout...the City burns. (except for Staten Island)

Since the nation's power companies missed December 1998 (and March 1999), NO end to end testing was possible. Could not take the 'Hood rioting.

The ONLY test will be at the ROLL in just 49 days...Ya gotta love it!!

-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), November 11, 1999.

Jim

A little over a year ago on this very forum there were many discussions concerning electricity. The biggest concern was from the doomer camp basically saying - no matter what happens, nothing happens without electricity - we have to have electricity.

Some electric companies started achieving readiness shortly after that and it was immediately referred to as 'spin'. All along seveal doomers were saying 'if just ONE electric company would come out and say "we're ready", I'd feel a whole lot better'. Well, the electric companies did come out and say it but the doomers felt worse. That's pretty much the point where I realized it didn't matter what any one company proclaimed, some folks had their minds made up (and fingers crossed).....period.

YES - I think the power will stay on, uninterrupted, in my neck of the woods.

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), November 11, 1999.

I don't know what to believe.I do know that my electric provider (Aliant)has released statements that we customers should have personal backups.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), November 11, 1999.

No, not really. Glad I'm in a southern climate. But on a dead end dirt road at the end of a power line, if it goes, we will be the last to be "fixed".

Anyway, I have bought a "whole house" surge protector for around $50 from Home Depot that connects to the main switchbox thing. Shouldn't that be enough to protect in-house appliances from damage??

-- (Wishing@inone.hand), November 11, 1999.

Mutti has NO faith in her electric co-op...when the line crew was out trimming trees around here this summer they flat out told us that a generator was a good idea. We listened.

-- Mutti (windance@train.missouri.org), November 11, 1999.

I counted the responses, and attempted to fit them into one of three categories: Yes, No, and Don't Know. Results thus far:

• Yes: 16
• No: 27
• Don't Know: 9

Thanks for the participation!

Patient Regards,
Andy Ray

-- Andy Ray (andyman633@hotmail.com), November 11, 1999.

Oh, and Brian,

You're not my type, so stop trying to find out where I live.

Amused Regards,
Andy Ray

-- Andy Ray (andyman633@hotmail.com), November 11, 1999.

I predict that there is going to be a lot of date confusion in the early 2000's until idiots like Ray and most others stop being so lazy (poor little tired fingers) and start using FOUR DIGITS for years.

Doesn't anyone recall that using just two digits for years with computer programs and data can (WILL) cause problems?

It's not 000101. It's not 01/01/00. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01. It is 2000-01-01.

Get the point?

BTW, if Y2k is less than a 9 or 10, some of you may still be corresponding with Europeans. Tell me, what exactly does 01/02/03 mean? It depends on the country. It does NOT necessarily mean January 2, 2003, as an American might think.

-- A (A@AisA.com), November 12, 1999.

Come on doomers - Everytime the US has a big snow, hurricane or other natural disaster the utilities have performed. I've even seen reports where one utility will send people and equipment to the affected area to get things back up again. There butts are on the line. You talk as if the power execs are self-sufficient and aren't hooked to the grid. Do you really think they're going without the hot tub, blender and broiler or do you think they're going to China to wait out the New Year? They have a vested interest in keeping things on line. You can't have an idiot for a CEO of a big company but we can have an idiot for a president.

-- Guy Daley (guydaley@bwn.net), November 12, 1999.

wrong.

Andy Ray's Biggest Fan

-- Andy Ray's Biggest Fan (its.embarrasing.to.look.back@isnt.it?), January 19, 2000.

Man, what is up with that Porky guy? Are all doom and gloomers homosexual? Or are they just attracted to people who know more than they do?

jus...

-- jus' (wonderin@the.machine), January 19, 2000.

A, Is it 1/1/2000 yet? Is it 1/1/2000 yet? Is it 1/1/2000 yet? Is it 1/1/2000 yet?

Haha, jus...

-- jus' (wonderin@the.machine), January 19, 2000.

Many prepared for the unknown. It isn't a reason to be embarrassed.

http://hv.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001m1m

Link

Spokesmen say the Guard would be ready for just about anything the New Year might bring -- including massive power outages."

"For the Y2K phenomena, we're ready with fuel. For example, generator crews, we have 50 of them, we have trucks, C130s, Blackhawks and Chinooks (helicopters) and people and shelters and armories and so on," said California National Guard Col. Terry Knight."

"Crews at California's Office of Emergency Services will also be on duty round the clock through New Year's weekend."

"We are connected with all the counties by satellite with generators so even if there was a problem we would be able to communicate with one another to help protect public safety," said the agency's Tom Mullins."

-- Year (2000@consequence.management), January 19, 2000.