From http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/990518/99.html

Tuesday May 18, 7:04 pm Eastern Time

Canada's electricity industry Y2K report

(Full text of press release from Canada NewsWire)

Attention: Report says Canadian electricity industry will be prepared

for the Year 2000

MONTREAL, May 18 /CNW/ - The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) released its latest quarterly report on the state of Y2K readiness of the Canadian electricity industry today. The findings of the report show that Canadian electric utilities will be prepared for the Year 2000.

The report further indicates that significant progress has been made since the fourth quarter of 1998, with 100% of inventory, 99% of assessment, and 91% of remediation and testing complete as of March 31, 1999.

``As recognized leaders in addressing Y2K issues, Canadian electric utility companies are working together to ensure a smooth transition into the year 2000, across the continent's power grid.'' Said Hans Konow, President and CEO of the Canadian Electricity Association. ``Canadian electric utilities are solving Y2K while maintaining their commitment to putting public safety, environmental protection, and customers' interests first.''

The electricity industry in Canada started addressing Year 2000 issues several years ago, and is devoting substantial financial and human resources to resolving Y2K related operational issues. It is expected that throughout the course of their programs, Canadian utilities will collectively spend between $250 million, and $300 million on this critical initiative.

This third report on the state of readiness of the Canadian electricity industry was prepared by the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA), and is an addendum to the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) readiness report released two weeks ago in Washington DC. In addition to producing the Canadian readiness report, CEA is a partner in the North American study.

To view the report, please go to: www.canelect.ca/y2k.html

For further information concerning this report or CEA's Y2K program, contact Francis Bradley 514-866-5356 or Romanie Vernham 514-866-5370.

-0- 05/18/1999

/Renseignements: Francis Bradley, (514) 866-5356; Romanie Vernham, (514) 866-5370/ CO: Canadian Electricity Association ST: Quebec IN: UTI SU:

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-- Hoffmeister (hoff_meister@my-dejanews.com), May 18, 1999

Answers

Hoff, That little gal' from Texas put a verbal ***whuppin on the last set of statistics released from Canada. With all due respect, I think I'll wait for her assessment.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), May 18, 1999.

Gimme some PR pieces that say a company is done. Better yet, that an industry is done. Until then, this is meaningless. There are very few companies who will admit that they will not finish "Mission Critical" systems. "I'm close" or "I will be done" is unreliable and you know it.

-- Doug (douglasjohnson@prodigy.net), May 18, 1999.

Toronto -- Department of National Defence officials planning for the year 2000 computer problem have been worried about a collapse of Canada's electricity grid and lax preparations by NATO, according to records obtained by The Globe and Mail.

"From a national, domestic perspective, . . . the greatest area for concern is the entire power grid (national-provincial-municipal levels)," the records said.

"Given that this is a provincial responsibility, there is not much that can be done at the national level at this time. Conversely, the consequences of a widespread failure in this sector will be far- reaching."

The heavily censored documents consist of briefing notes prepared for Defence Minister Art Eggleton and General Maurice Baril, Chief of Defence Staff, on the year 2000, or Y2K, problem. They were obtained under federal access-to-information legislation.

Colonel Charles Lemieux, head of strategic planning for the Defence Department's Y2K effort, said progress has been made in ensuring that the electricity grid continues working.

"Yes it is [a concern] and it continues to be, but I'm just saying that's where a lot of work has been going on," he said yesterday in an interview.

Click here for more

-- It gets (cold@in.canada), May 18, 1999.

Self-Reporting continues to be accepted as viable.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), May 18, 1999.

Hoff

Thanks for the tip! Must say it is a happy report. You could not have read the report though as it continually mentions the fact that Canadian providers are ahead of the North American average. Now where does that put the States? Also as a matter of course they mention that folks could get generators if they felt the need. Just install them correctly for everyones safety.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), May 19, 1999.

Brian, why do you say I could not have read the report? Yes, I did, and yes, Canada seems ahead of the US reports (91% vs 75% at end of March). Doesn't mean US won't make it, just that Canada is ahead. Great.

-- Hoffmeister (hoff_meister@my-dejanews.com), May 19, 1999.