Year 2000 (Y2K) Embedded Systems and Utilities Message Board

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Technology Stocks : Year 2000 (Y2K) Embedded Systems and Utilities

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To: John Mansfield who wrote (39)	7/27/1998 1:59:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (2) of 89

'Subject: Response to disconnecting the grid 'From: Robert Schneider <schneiderr@asme.org> Date: 1998-07-25 12:32:02 This is a comment on Kelly Horn's post to the thread. As someone who has been an electric utility system planner, the people who look at transmission and substation expansion-which is usually driven by reliability criteria, and as someone who helped convert a utility from a non-generating utilty to one that had its own generation including exploring whether to establish its own load control area or remain part of another utility's load control area; I would like to say that I don't think the y2k problem is going to result in a complete blackout on new years day. If little is done, I think some parts of the US (and other countries) may have localized outages, but nothing to equal the famous east coast blackout. <p> Because of this belief (that is based on 25+ years experience as a power plant/transmission planning & design engineer for utilities) I think that your comments implying that all utilities "connected to the grid" will be dragged down to darkness is not correct. <p> I have been working and talking to a number of utilities that are addressing embedded chip y2k issues and have modified their energy management, control and dispatching computer systems (EMS & SCADA). I feel that there could be some problems with y2k outages, but that they will be isloated and geographically dispursed and not nearly as widespread as some have indicated. Most utilities I know of (or their consulting engineers) are taking steps on y2k issues. I think electric utilities have lagged behind certain industries (oil refineries especially; but are ahead of other industries). Most of the electric utilities I know prioritized billing and finacial computer systems first, then EMS/SCADA, then PC's, then embedded chip (wires & facilities). I personally don't agree with the priority, but they seem to be making progress. <p> I am working with one utility right now on embedded chip y2k compliance in its substation and transmission line and have found some y2k non-compliant equipment, but nothing that would disrupt the flow of electricity. The result for this client is going to be some equipment upgrades next year for just two of a few y2k non-compliant pieces of equipment. The other non-y2k compliant equipment is non-compliant in "optional features" that are not used at this facility. We are likely going to put some warning lables on them so that nobody will try to use those features in the future. The features that are being used work. <p> I think that y2k is a serious issue as power outages cause (even isolated ones in just a few areas) real problems. I think that gently pushing utilities to address their y2k embedded chip compliance is a important task, but I don't see either utilities refusing to act or widespread blackouts happening. <p> Bob Schneider From the www.euy2k.com discussion board

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