United Utilities in 2000 bug chaos alert

by JONATHAN PRYNN

North-west energy and water supplier United Utilities today became the first major company in its sector to spell out the stark truth about the millennium bug, warning that there is "a risk of failure" on the big night.

The company insisted that while it was making every possible effort to test and rectify the thousands of computer systems in its water and electricity networks, it is also preparing for a possible break in supply.

In a statement it said: "Despite our best efforts, there remains a risk of failure of systems. Therefore a dedicated continuity project is now under way identifying the additional risks presented by Year 2000."

The group already has emergency and disaster plans in place, which "will be used as a basis on which to develop the additional plans necessary to ensure we are ready to cater for impacts of the millennium date change".

The statement is in marked contrast to other utilities, which have shied away from any reference to the possibility of failure on 1 January, 2000.

[snip]

Original reference: Declan McCullagh
Politech is at http://www.well.com/~declan/politech

Story appeared in "This is London Evening Standard Online." URL: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/business_story.html?in_review_id=93322

-- Bill (billdale@lakesnet.net), November 22, 1998