Heres just a fact Id been wondering about:

This is the Brooklyn Union Gas (NYC's primary gas natural gas suppliers, they call it Keyspan now) Q-10 statement to the SEC. http://www.keyspanenergy.com/finance/keyspan/10q0998/y2k.htm

I find it dissapointing to say the least. In summary:

as of 12/31/1999

Inventory of systems 100%

Remediation of IT systems 65% Remdiation of non IT systems 20%

They do have a contingency plan tho

This report is now 3 months old , I hope those numbers have gone up. Mark this company up as one of those that you might plan to do without.

For the politically minded (all 3 of you , ( just a bit of humor)) who might be affected by this. It might be time to call the Congresman and lite a fire under these peoples ass. There close enough to finish this job, maybe, just maybe a little prodding will do it. Better yet call them and just plain complain, let them know people are watching.

Supposedly, these people have competitors now, due to gas deregulation, anyone have any ideas how this works? Can it be used to leverage them into action or provide an alternative source of gas?

Just a few thoughts,

nyc

-- nyc (nycnyc@hotmail.com), March 12, 1999

Answers

In the wake of this data - which is not good, even if it is for "last quarter" thus has data from perhaps the "early Dec" reporting time period - I'd recommend you get at least a couple of letters to the editor asking them "What is status?" probably will attract no interest. But "Why are they so slow?" "What about poor and elderly?" are useful to attract the attention of liberal tear-jerkers on the editorial staff. 8<).

Course, you could always ask Hillary on her next internet metting whether socks help keep her buddy's feet warm when the gas goes out.

The only date to look for from the gas company is integrated systems testing - and even that relies on the local storage source (liquid nat gas ? ) or the whole gas line form TX, OK, and LA to NYC. And all the pumping stations and metering stations in between. And all their power and telephone stations and relays.

More seriously, there were a series of very troubling inspector general or "auditor's " reports about the major department progress (or lack of it) in NYC about three weeks ago here - but these reports seemed to be from last summer - couldn't really tell.

Those would be equally telling as an indication of your safe future there. I would arrange for some form of alternate heat and cooking source -- regardless of whether you are in an apartment, walk-up, or separated housing.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), March 19, 1999.