Electric Utility Website EUY2K: Some highlights
Transmission and Distribution
`As discussed elsewhere on this website, embedded controls exist in
every facet of electric utility operation. This includes transmission and
distribution.
PLC's and embedded date sensitive controls exist in
transformers, protective relaying, and breaker control. Date sensitive
computer systems are used for forecasting electrical load demand on
a given day, hour, and minute basis. Date sensitive systems are used
for bidding purposes in wheeling and power pools. These examples
all represent links in the ability to distribute power. Again, a break in
any of the links represents potential loss of ability to deliver power,
and as illustrated in the example above, even the ability to generate
power.
The following is a Y2K specific example, discovered during Y2K
inventory and analysis at Hawaiian Electric Company (HECo):
In 1996, HECo's Y2K project team identified significant
problems with it's energy management system (EMS). EMS is the
'brains' of the power distribution system at all electric
companies. This system is used to remotely control transmission
system breakers, coordinate power generation schedules,
compensate for large transmission line breaks, and provide
protection against voltage, current and frequency transients.
Without going into a lot of technical detail, HECo and their EMS
system vendor determined that EMS would crash on the date
rollover to 01/01/2000. This would have, in turn, resulted in
HECo's transmission network crashing, and by default, a major
power outage and loss of all generating capacity. If you want a
detailed technical description of HECo's findings and the Year
2000 fix that they put in place, I've put details directly from
HECo in a downloadable Word 6.0 format or you can read the
online HTML version.'
http:www.euy2k.com/tnd.htm
Conference:
Electric Power Research Institute
Embedded Systems Workshop for the T&D Area
When: May 6 - 7 1998
Where: Dallas, Texas
Registration Fee: Program membership req'd
For more information: Joe Weiss, (650)855-2751
Y2K Embedded Systems Workshop focused on the Transmission
and Distribution vertical. Doubletree Lincoln Centre,Dallas, Texas.
Agenda includes many breakout sessions on various areas of interest
to system operations support.
euy2k.com
Y2K Chat Group
A Year 2000 online Chat Group has been kicked off by Rich Gearity.
This is a real-time, interactive chat room devoted to discussing varied
Y2K topics. Scheduled discussions take place each evening from
8PM to 10PM EST, but the chat room is opened 24 hours a day.
Stop by! You never know who you're going to catch in the room -
many Y2K heavyweights stop by nightly - and you're guarenteed to
learn something new!
I look forward to chatting with you on-line!
euy2k.com
QUOTABLE QUOTES FROM THE ELECTRIC INDUSTRY <snip>
"...Virtually everything from supply, generation, and
distribution is controlled by hardware and software...there
will be power disruptions if things are not fixed..." - David
Mann, President of Nova Scotia Power (ATV-TV, Halifax, NS,
interview, 8 Dec 1997)
"Any one prepared to give me a guarantee that my DCS
wont experience a date problem?? (I can't even get the
manufacturer to give me this). Anyone prepared to run a
Power Station when the DCS is throwing alarms up at you
that indicates its getting no reading or a peculiar reading
either from a device it is monitoring or one of its front end
processors ??" - John Catteral, Western Power (Au) Y2K Program
Manager (open letter to Peter DeJager's Year 2000 discussion list, 6
Nov 1997)
euy2k.com
Here's some technical areas and plant systems that a southwestern
U.S. power company is reviewing at one of their coal fired facilities
(provided courtesy of a company insider):
Environmental (emissions) monitoring - Continuous Emissions
Monitoring system
Conveyor control systems (ash, coal, limestone) - General
Electric
Transmission / rectifier units (coal dust precipitator) -
Asea-Brown Boveri
Boiler and turbine control (plant control room) - Foxboro
Controls
Smart valves and other controls - Fisher - Rosemount
Onsite transmission switchyard
<snip>
The single most important element of ensuring that fossil plants stay
online is ensuring that the supply lines for fuel delivery remain intact.
euy2k.com
CONTINGENCY PLANNING
At this late stage in the game, it's safe to say that the chances are slim
that any private industry or government sector will successfully
complete a total Y2k remediation program. Those who have been
working on it for quite some time have a shot at completing the most
mission-critical systems, but any entity that got off to a late start on its
Y2k program can expect problems down the road. Given the
delayed recognition of impact from embedded systems exposures,
and the lack of resources and tools to identify and remediate such
exposures, the probability of Y2k impact on manufacturing and
industrial processes is exponentially higher.
So, based on the assumption that there's not much of a chance of
completing this important Y2k task, it's time to think about how to
maintain basic industrial processes (and services), including electricity
generation and distribution, post-01 January, 2000.
The theme of the January, 1998 Washington D.C. Y2K interest
group (WDCY2K) was `Contingency Planning'. Somewhere on the
order of 300 people (standing room only) listened as speaker after
speaker hammered the message that government and private industry
must start thinking now about planning for system recoveries in the
aftermath of Y2k. Most telling was a request by Dr. Joe Clema of
System Resources Company. Dr. Clema asked the audience of Y2k
professionals: "Is anyone confident that your mission critical systems
will be fixed and tested on time?" Not one hand out of 300 was
raised. <snip>
euy2k.com
General Industry Status as of 11/21/1997 (The results of the first EUY2K survey)
Current program phase:
Awareness / Inventory: 14%
Risk Assessment / Prioritization: 38%
Remediation / Testing (at least one system): 31%
Don't know (this is scary): 17%
euy2k.com |
