I'm a y2k coordinator for our mfg plant and have yet to hear anything about the supply of natural gas. During normal power failures (lightening or ice storms) our gas fireplace will still work. However, if there is a massive failure of the grid, I would think that natural gas would also be subject to the failure. Does anybody have an Idea about this?

Personal comment: I've been seeing a disturbing trend in my own company as well as others. I'm labeling it as the chain of communication problem. Those people who are actually doing the work on evaluating and fixing y2k stuff, report to their boss that the status is "we're making progress". That manager reports to his boss that "Things are proceeding well". That manager (or PR person) reports publicly that "We are on schedule and will be finished in time". No one wants to give a negative report since our business politics seems to stigmatize and limit the careers of those who aren't a "can do" people.

I think we're in real trouble,

-- Laird J. Mott (laird.j.mott@monsanto.com), October 20, 1998

Answers

At a city council meeting in my city, a special Y2K meeting, the Mayor and council members heard from suppliers of services and energy. The parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric sent a representative. She gave the standard lawyer boiler plate schpiel about how they were working toward and confident that the Gas Co. would be compliant. She did however say along with Pacific Bell, and other suppliers that their "all will be well was contingent on the grid not failing. She did not say they could provide emergency electric power to power their distribution system, in fact there was no discussion of the Gas Company's alternative power backup systems.

Not a meeting that inpired confidence, no matter what angle it was approached from. Everyone is "just hoping" the grid will stay up. Don't know about anyone else's experience with natural gas companies. The threads on this board about what has happened in New South Wales and the gas explosion are very telling about what happens to communities when only ONE of the suppliers of essential goods and service fail. Having propane for cooking is high on my preparedness list.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 20, 1998.

"The threads on this board about what has happened in New South Wales and the gas explosion are very telling about what happens to communities when only ONE of the suppliers of essential goods and service fail."

Donna, they weren't one of the suppliers, they were the ONLY supplier. That alone would scare me!

Rick

-- Rick Tansun (ricktansun@hotmail.com), October 21, 1998.