From http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/990504/mn_reliant_1.html

Tuesday May 4, 10:12 am Eastern Time

Company Press Release

SOURCE: Reliant Energy Minnegasco

Reliant Energy Minnegasco Confirms Y2K Readiness of Its Natural Gas Distribution System

State's Largest Gas Distribution Firm Completed Final Tests Monday

MINNEAPOLIS, May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Following final Year 2000 (Y2K) readiness tests Monday, Reliant Energy Minnegasco today said it expects its natural gas distribution system to perform without a hitch when Jan. 1, 2000 arrives.

The announcement comes five years after Reliant Energy Minnegasco began assessing its computerized systems for Y2K readiness -- and almost two months ahead of the June 30 completion date the company had set for its distribution system. Serving more than 240 communities, Reliant Energy Minnegasco is the state's largest natural gas distribution firm.

``Interruptions in natural gas service are unusual at any time, and we don't expect any interruptions in our service due to Y2K-related problems,'' said Gary Cerny, Reliant Energy Minnegasco president and chief operating officer.

``Minnesota homes and businesses have counted on us to keep them warm and comfortable for more than 100 years,'' Cerny noted. ``We recognize the critical role we play, and we want to make sure we continue to deliver on our commitment when we enter the next century -- and beyond.''

Additionally, the company said that it has completed assessments of its critical customer service functions, such as service requests and billing, and that those functions also are Y2K ready.

The company also has been working closely with its major natural gas suppliers to help ensure those firms' Y2K readiness. Based on progress to date, Reliant Energy Minnegasco doesn't anticipate any Y2K-related problems with obtaining natural gas supplies, according to Cerny.

Reliant Energy Minnegasco now will focus on finalizing the Y2K readiness of systems that support less critical business processes. That work, which is ongoing, is expected to be completed by or before deadlines later this year, Cerny said.

Distribution process is largely mechanical

On Monday, May 3, Reliant Energy Minnegasco employees completed the final major test of the system that monitors the natural gas distribution process. The centralized system, housed in Minneapolis, monitors and measures the flow of gas through Reliant Energy Minnegasco's distribution network.

Previous tests included the company's 11 storage facilities, where supplies of natural gas and propane are stored to supplement pipeline supplies on very cold days.

Tom Somers, the Y2K program manager for Reliant Energy Minnegasco, said only 1 percent of the computerized energy management systems in the company's assessments posed problems that required fixing. Even then, those problems would not have interrupted the distribution of natural gas to the company's customers, he said.

Somers noted, ``Our natural gas distribution system is largely mechanical, and is designed to operate safely and effectively with or without computer assistance. The system has few automated functions, and our technicians can override those functions and control them manually if needed.''

Reliant Energy Minnegasco launched its Y2K readiness assessment in 1994 and began updating its systems in 1997. Because the company started its assessment early, it has been able to assign internal staff to work on the project. As a result, the Y2K initiatives will have no effect on customer costs.

Company's Y2K work carried out in three stages

The company has divided its Y2K systems readiness work into three priority areas. Those areas and their status are as follows:

Priority 1 projects. Reliant Energy Minnegasco's first priority has been the mission-critical systems that have the greatest impact on customers -- that is, the systems controlling the physical distribution of natural gas to customers' homes and buildings.

``With the final testing completed, all that remains of our Priority 1 projects is ongoing follow-up with our suppliers and pipeline providers,'' said Somers.

Priority 2 projects involve systems related to Reliant Energy Minnegasco's customer service processes. Examples include customer service requests, billing and payments, service dispatching, and line repair and construction. The company successfully tested its major customer-service mainframe computer systems in March, and expects to conduct a final test in July using additional operating software that was not available earlier.

``Our critical customer service functions are now Y2K ready,'' said Somers. ``We expect to complete our other Priority 2 projects well ahead of our Sept. 30 completion target.''

Priority 3 projects involve systems that support and control Reliant Energy Minnegasco back-office processes, office building functions, department-specific operations and individual workstations. Evaluation and testing is well under way, with the project on target for completion by December 1999.

For more information about Reliant Energy Minnegasco's Y2K activities, call the company's Y2K hotline at 612-321-4929, or toll-free at 800-234-5800, extension 4929. Or visit the company's Web site, http://www.minnegasco.com

Headquartered in Minneapolis, Reliant Energy Minnegasco is the state's largest natural gas distribution company, serving about 660,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 240 communities. The company is a division of Houston-based Reliant Energy, the nation's fourth largest natural gas and electric energy services company, serving nearly 4 million customers.

Reliant Energy Minnegasco also provides non-regulated services through its Home Service Plus division, which offers a broad range of home services including the Service Plus® heating, cooling and appliance repair and maintenance service plan; plumbing; locally monitored home security systems; and sales of heating and air conditioning equipment, exterior home maintenance services and other home comfort products.

-- Hoffmeister (hoff_meister@my-dejanews.com), May 04, 1999

Answers

Thanks, Hoff, for posting this. It is good news.

Up here in the Great White North we are awaiting final status on Consumers Gas, the biggest gas supplier in my neck of the woods. They have a 30 June 99 compliance timetable - let's hope they found as few problems as Reliant Energy Minnegasco.

-- Johnny Canuck (nospam@eh.com), May 04, 1999.

Hi Hoff,

Thanks for that post. Since most of my relatives live in the Mpls area, I'm sure happy to see that the gas company was on the ball.

Now I hope that Northern States Power can say the same thing.

-- Dean -- from (almost) Duh Moines (dtmiller@nevia.net), May 04, 1999.