PG&E's Y2K Statement In Latest Bill (& California Energy Links)

Well, no guarantees from PG&E. -- Diane *Big Sigh*

Slick little color insert ...

Meeting The Challenge Of 2000

Now that the year 2000 is less than a year away, folks are already making gala plans to welcome in a new era. Many companies are also preparing -- to make sure their computer systems will run properly when 2000 arrives.

The Year 2000 Problem (or Y2K) is worldwide. The trouble stems from computer programs and electronic devices that recognize only the last two digits of a year. This could create big headaches on 1/1/2000, when some computers and devices may think its 1900, then make mistakes or shut down.

Like other companies Pacific Gas and Electric Company has been tackling this issue for several years. Our job is to deliver gas and power to you, safely and reliably. Thats why were working hard to reduce the chance of a service interruption due to a Year 2000 problem.

Big efforts are underway at PG&E. Weve identified software, hardware and embedded chips that may be vulnerable to Y2K. Weve set priorities and are making repairs and testing. We expect to have all essential systems and equipment Y2k-ready by the end of third quarter of 1999.

In todays market, we work with many groups to deliver energy to you. With these organizations, were making backup or contingency plans if needed.

Were also talking with the supplies and public agencies we depend on for vital products and services about their Year 2000 efforts. Again, we will develop backup plans in case these groups wont be Y2K-ready.

We also encourage you to consider your special needs. Make your own contingency plans in case communications, transportation, power or financial services may be interrupted by Y2K. No one knows if or how long any of these services might be affected, but being prepared helps in other kinds of emergencies, too.

Because of the complex ways that computers and communications interact, and because were dependant on other firms and groups, we regret that we are not able to issue any Year 200 guarantees. But, be assured that PG&E is taking strong measure to avoid service interruptions due to Y2K.

For the latest Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure information, please see our website at

http://www.pge.com/2000/

Or write to:
PG&E Y2K Information Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 770000
Mail Code H27F
San Francisco, CA 94177

See also other California Electric Utility Links ...

Independent System Operator (ISO)

Which oversees the transmission of power throughout California. The Cal-ISO controls 75 percent of the California Grid and includes the transmission systems formerly operated by the three investor-owned utilities in the state (Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric). This backbone to the state's transmission network covers 124,000 square miles or three-quarters of the state. More than 164-billion kilowatt-hours of electricity will be delivered each year across the Grid, enough to serve the annual energy needs of 27 million Californians.

Power plants meeting up to 45,000 megawatts of peak demand are connected to the Grid. This makes the control area the second largest in the U.S. (Pennsylvania-New Jersey Maryland Interconnection 'PJM' is the largest) and the fifth largest in the world.

http://www.caiso.com

The ISO is dealing with potential Year 2000 issues through our Y2K Project.

http://www.caiso.com/pubinfo/Y2K/

8 Page Awareness Presentation PDF Format (Graphics Intensive -- Y2K Lite -- Do like page #3 Where Could the Y2K Problem Surface and #8 showing the bucket brigade)

http://www.caiso.com/pubinfo/Y2K/docs/Y2KPageAwarenessPresentation.pdf

ISO Sitemap

http://www.caiso.com/sitemap/

ISO Links (Fairly good)

http://www.caiso.com/aboutus/links/

See also ...

The Power Exchange (PX) which buys, sells and schedules much of the power in the state.

http://www.calpx.com/

Click on Year 2000 for further info.

See also ...

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) (More Y2K Lite)

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/

Status of the Year 2000 (Hard to read & may be a work-in-progress. Have to choose sub-levels in Telecommunications, Energy, Water, Transportation, or Y2K Within the CPUC and then they appear blank)

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Y2K/100598Y2KReport.htm

Other Investor Owned California Utilities

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) (Y2K Lite)

http://www.sdge.com/

Southern California Edison (SCE)

http://www.sce.com/

SCEs Y2K Statement

http://www.sce.com/y2ksca/index_y2.htm

Finally ...

Check out your electric companies latest SEC 10Q filing here:

Search the SECs EDGAR Archives database ...

http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/srch-edgar

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), March 09, 1999

Answers

Its funny, but at this point PG&E's overall blurb (and their hilarious claim "We expect to have all essential systems and equipment Y2k-ready by the end of third quarter of 1999") looks almost routine these days. Consider that if they had put out anything even remotely approaching this level back, say, four months ago, it would have been absolutely radical (if not considered "scaremongering").

Y2K CANNOT BE FIXED!

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), March 09, 1999.

Well, that little insert woke up a neighbor, long time DGI, this last weekend. He has gone from thinking I'm looney to asking for lots more comprehensive prep info. Gave him:

http://www.greatdreams.com/basic.htm - basic material list for long term prep. He is a much more happy camper now. Hopefully he and wife will follow thru.

-- Mitchell Barnes (spanda@inreach.com), March 09, 1999.

Diane

Funny, but this is almost word for word the same blurb that was in my last bill from Puget Sound Energy, especially the last couple paragraghs about Y2K and no guarantee. Could this be something they are sending out to all the electric companies on the entire Western Grid?

"In addition, Y2K is a regional issue. Because Northwest utilities receive electricity from a transmission "grid" covering the western United States, instability elswhere on the grid could cause problems on our system as well. Our company and other utilities are cooperating and working with several state and federal regulatory agencies to address this issue." This is under the heading "Yet, there is no guarantee" Therein lies the classic CYA statement of the future.

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.net), March 09, 1999.

Diane; Thanks for PG&E post. Chilling!

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 09, 1999.

October 5, 1998 "Week" a Publication for Employees and Retirees, PG&E "Less than 500 days remaining until the Year 2000"--Since 1995, PG&E's been working to develop and implement plans to mitigate any potential Year 2000 (Y2K) problems. The utility's Year 2000 Program team is divided into three projects: application software, embedded systems and supplier management.

The business units and corporate service department completed an inventory of their application software last June. As part of this inventory process, the applications were categorized according to how critical they are to sustaining PG&E's business operations. Of the 1,818 applications identified, 506 are considered critical to the business.

"We met a key milestone when the utility approved the application inventory they're responsible for, and made decisions regarding criticality and how we should address the problem: repair, replace or retire the application," says Chuck Shaer, Y2K project manager for application software.

An inventory of all equipment containing microchip, or chip, was completed on June 30, 1998. "By July 14, a first-pass categorization was completed," says Ed Leech, Y2K project manager for embedded systems. "This entailed determining exactly what equipment and systems were mission-critical."

Time is of the essence, because next year the utility needs to certify that all of the computer systems can work together after changes are made to them.

"PG&E's goal is to keep the lights on and the gas flowing," says utility program manager John Greer. "But there are no absolutes in this game, PG&E's Year 2000 readiness depends, in part, upon the readiness of all the other organizations and systems that make up PG&E's business chain." For this reason, PG&E has sent Year 2000 compliance questionnaires to all critical suppliers and business partners.

When asked what a PG&E employee can do to help, Schaer says, "Make time for us. If someone comes to you with a Y2K question, respond and quickly. Give it your priority." -- Jane Christophersen

Not very much information has come from PG&E other than they are working on it.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), March 09, 1999.