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Technology Stocks : Discuss Year 2000 Issues -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Mansfield who wrote (2712)	10/15/1998 2:18:00 PM
From: Ken Salaets	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9818

Washington Update (sorry for formatting): For Immediate Release Contact: Jack Gribben October 15, 1998 (202) 456-7010 YEAR 2000 COUNCIL KICKS OFF ?NATIONAL Y2K ACTION WEEK? Helping to Prepare Small and Medium-Sized Businesses for the New Millennium October 19-23, 1998 Citing ongoing concerns about the lack of preparations for the Year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem among many of the Nation?s small and medium-sized businesses, the President?s Council on Year 2000 Conversion today described plans for ?National Y2K Action Week,? October 19-23, 1998, to promote action on the problem by these companies. During the Week, Federal agencies including the Commerce Department and the Small Business Administration (SBA) will use their national field-office networks to conduct hundreds of educational events and outreach activities designed to help managers of small and medium-sized businesses address the Y2K problem. Materials promoting the Week will appear in the Nation?s post offices and in major newspapers across the country. ?Let no one be mistaken. The Y2K problem could spell doom for any small or medium-sized company that isn?t prepared,? said Council Chair John A. Koskinen, who was joined by U.S. Secretary of Commerce William M. Daley and SBA Administrator Aida Alvarez at today?s press conference held at the Commerce Department. ?The goal of this week is to give these businesses the informational tools they need to help ensure that their systems are ready for January 1, 2000.? The field office efforts will focus on helping managers to assess how their businesses may be vulnerable to the Y2K problem, both in their own computers and embedded systems and in relationships with outside service providers, develop strategies for remediation and replacement work, find technical resources for addressing the problem, and formulate contingency plans. Citizens can get information about events being held in their area by calling 1-800-U-ASK-SBA or at www.y2k.gov or www.sba.gov/y2k. The Commerce Department will use its network of field offices to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to act on the Y2K problem. In particular, Commerce is well positioned to promote Y2K action among small and medium-sized manufacturers and minority-owned businesses through its 400 manufacturing extension partnership offices, 104 export assistance centers, and 65 minority business development centers, many of which will be holding events during the Week. "While publicity about the Year 2000 problem is widespread, many small and medium-sized businesses have not yet assessed their risk," said Daley. "But time is running out. If these firms do not pay attention to this potential problem today, they risk losing customers, or even their business. The Commerce Department field office effort during National Y2K Action Week will help these businesses address this urgent problem." With its 1-800 number and Y2K web site section, SBA has been a key source of information for small businesses in need of guidance on how to best address the Y2K problem. During the Week, SBA will hold nearly 250 educational events at field offices and with resource partners across the country. More than 450 events will be held over the next two months. ?We have been working hard to help the Nation?s 23 million small businesses understand that they need to confront this critical challenge,? said Alvarez. ?SBA events during Y2K Action Week will advance our efforts to help these companies answer the critical question: Are You Y2K OK?? The President?s Year 2000 Council has also been working with more than 150 national organizations, representing industries, professions, State and local government, and the non-profit sector, who have agreed to encourage their members to act on the Y2K problem and take advantage of the educational opportunities available during the Week. Highlights of the Week will include: Educational events and outreach activities held by many of the following: the Commerce Department?s 400 manufacturing extension partnership offices, 104 export assistance centers, and 65 minority business development centers; SBA?s 69 district offices, 950 small business development centers, 52 business information centers, 69 women?s business information centers, and 17 tribal business information centers; the Agriculture Department?s 3,100 county extension offices; and the Social Security Administration?s 1,350 field offices. Promotional materials including: National Y2K Action Week posters that will appear in the Nation?s post offices, a commemorative National Y2K Action Week cancellation mark that will be issued in major cities, advertisements about the Week that will appear in leading newspapers across the country, and an Internal Revenue Service mailing, to 6.5 million small businesses, of SBA Y2K awareness materials. -30-30-30-

To: John Mansfield who wrote (2712)	10/15/1998 2:37:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Respond to of 9818

'Energy 'breakdown' alert over 2000 bug by JONATHAN PRYNN Major industries vital to the British economy have been warned of a potentially catastrophic lack of preparation if energy supplies break down on New Year's Day, 2000. Back-up plans to cope with a total failure of the national electricity and gas networks caused by the millennium bug are inadequate or do not exist, according to the Energy Intensive Users Group. In the letter the EIUG said it came away from recent crisis meetings with regulators Ofgas and Offer, the Cabinet Office and the DTI, "with little reassurance". It has estimated that it would take at least 14 hours to get the Grid, headed by David Jones, up and running again, far longer if the weather is bad. In that time, continuously operating plants such as blast furnaces, aluminium smelters and chemicals factories would run out of back-up emergency supplies, risking explosion or irreparable damage. The main body representing the electricity industry, the Electricity Association, had been contacted but EIUG "have been given no idea of what the group is doing", the letter said. If gas supplies fail, or are interrupted without warning, the cost could run to billions of pounds and take years to put right. ============ thisislondon.co.uk

To: John Mansfield who wrote (2712)	10/15/1998 2:44:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9818

'Houstoun Lighting & Power - y2k compliance 'From: mlivius@ix.netcom.com (Marcus Livius Drusus) 19:40 Subject: Houstoun Lighting & Power - y2k compliance After lurking here for a few months, and thanks to all you posters, mickey, Cory, Jo Anne, BOTH Tims, Alan, Frank, Bill, the Egans, and yes, even bks and Milne, the variety of opinions and flames have helped me find my own personal spot on the Eastabrook spectrum. But I thought it was time to contribute to the signal in the group. So this AM, I dialed up my local powerco's website. There on the Homepage, a big, fat link to theirY2k page - a sexy animated GIF. Exhaustive reading thereof - nothing of substance. For example: </boilerplate mode on> Houston Industries has been working on a company-wide resolution to the Year 2000 issue since 1997. Some business units began to address it even earlier. In a company as large as HI, there are many different computer systems. To keep systems in operation, all critical computer systems must be checked, corrected and tested. </boilerplate mode off> (from their website FAQ) houind.com Houston Industries has developed three priorities: Priority 1: Any activity that would immediately disrupt the physical production and delivery of energy. Priority 2: Any activity that impacts company financial, customer service and operation (e.g. billing, payments, payroll and other back office activities). Priority 3: Any activity that causes an inconvenience or productivity loss in normal business operations (e.g. air conditioning systems and elevators). All business units have completed an analysis of the above critical systems that control the production and delivery of energy, as well as corporate, departmental and personal systems. Testing and modification of these systems, where necessary, is now underway and is scheduled to be complete by the end of third quarter 1999. How can I find out more about the Year 2000 issue? All inquiries regarding the Year 2000 issue should be directed or forwarded to Houston Industries' Year 2000 Team: Phone : (713) 207-6600 Fax : (713) 207-9567 Address: Project Year 2000 P.O. Box 9546 Houston, TX 77210-4567 (Why no email?) So I called and asked the following questions. (N.B. All quoted answers are accurate paraphrases - I don't type fast enough to transcribe a conversation) I spoke with a pleasant lady named Cheryl(sp? - didn't ask) Botts. Why no email contact? "The website's being redone" What is your budget for y2k remediation? "35-40 million." The original budget? "Originally 25 million." Why the increase? "It is due to new plants we purchased in South America" Really? Will those plants be compliant? "I have no information on that." How much of this budget has been spent? " I have no exact figure." When exactly in 1997 did assessment commence? "In the third quarter." How many full time employees are at work on this? " I have no exact figure. They were 'matrixed' (quotes mine -never heard of this term before) in from other areas as needed." So you primarily drew from your existing IS staff? "Yes." Did you bring in any outside consultants or contractors? "Some. I don't know the exact number." How many of those employees are programmers, as opposed to testers, engineers, etc.?" "No information on that." How many lines of code was it necessary to examine? "I don't know." In what languages were these programs written? "I don't know. I believe we are installing SAP." So y'all (hey, this is Texas) are replacing all of the old COBOL code with SAP? "I believe so." How many embedded systems were found in your inventory/assessment phase? "I have no exact number." How many needed or still need replacement/remediation? " No idea." To date, how many of the embedded system vendors have replied to your inquiries re Y2k compliance? How many have not? How many are no longer in business? "We are working very closely with vendors." It's been my understanding from reading on the Net that this is one of the thorniest problems for your industry. Have you been able to contact all of those vendors?" "Our embedded systems were puchased from one of our business partners, we work very closely with them, and I can definitely say that they are still in business." When did testing commence? "We are currrently testing now." But when did testing commence? "I don't know." How many days worth of fuel will be stockpiled in case of supply and/or delivery problems? "I have no idea." What are your contingency plans in case other PG's experience Y2k related problems? Will HL&P be able to disconect from the grid as a whole if there are problems? "We are not on the the national grid." Not on the grid? Don't you buy and sell power to other entities? "Yes, we buy & sell power to other power companies, and even some of our customers." But you're not on the grid. "No. We are on, I believe it is ERCOT, you can find it on the Net, I forget what it stands for... " It is my understanding that reliable telecommunications are needed in order to operate modern power generating and distribution systems. What contingency plans are in place if the telcos go down? "We are currently working on that contingency plan." What particular issues were discovered in relation to your nuclear plants? That plant is operated by South Texas Power Operating Company. I have no information on that. I do know they'll have to prove compliance by a certain date or they'll be shut down by the NRC." You guessed my next question! Will they be able to prove compliance in order to stay up after the mandated NRC shutoff date? "You'll have to ask them." Do those plants have an in-place coldstart capability? Do your fossil fuel plants? "You're asking me very techical questions now. I'd have to refer you to someone else." Will HL&P guarantee reliable power after 2000/01/01? "I think nobody's guaranteeing anything at this point - we plan to be finished by the 3rd quarter of 99. If we we have problem in making the deadline we'll let everyone know, and make a new contingency plan." On a personal note - are you making any personal preparations in case there are problems? "No, none. I don't really cook, and I've got natural gas, so if things go out I can grill for a few days." So what do YOU think will happen on 2000/01/01? "I don't think anybody really knows." So how can I get the information on the questions that you've not been able to answer? "I'll take your name and number and have someone get back to you." OK, when can I expect to hear back from them? "They're very busy in meetings, so it will be sometime next week." While Ms. Botts was at all times very courteous, she seemed at times skeptical of my motivations. I assured her several times that I was just a plain old HL&P customer, not an attorney, etc.. She referred several times to knowing that there were a lot of "alarmists" out there, and at one point stated that it was obvious to her that I had gotten the series of questions I was asking from some website. I replied that, no, I was just concerned citizen that had been reading the available info, and just created this list of questions so that I could share in her tranquil outlook. I'll not comment on her answers, but let the newsgroup go first. I see a few small problems. I'll investigate the nuke plant and ERCOT, and post a followup. Later, Marcus (Note 2 self - get a cool sig)