http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000dVC

Heres ConEds response to concerning thier Y2K status;

Q1) We inventoried 6.5 million lines of software code and then changed several thousand by a technique called windowing. The company has 403 software systems such as accounts payable and receivable, materials management and customer assistance. When renovated code is returned to Con Edison, it goes through testing by company analysts and business users. Tests by IT personal are done on a separate platform within one of our mainframes. There is a technical term for this type of testing, but I'm not an IT type so I don't know it.

As of 2/28/99, 331 or 82 percent of the above 403 software systems have been changed, tested and put back in service. In other words, business functionality is always tested.

We also did a complete inventory of our electric, gas and steam systems to identify any digital components. Once that list was developed, we assessed each one to see if it was:

a) A digital device that controlled the function of the equipment vs. just logging or monitoring data from the equipment - such as temperature or pressure in a power plant valve or pipe. A control function would be an RTU that sends a signal to a control room device, which opens or closes valve. If the digital device controls function, it may stop delivery of its product if its not Y2K compliant.

b) If it was digital, did it contain a year-sensitive function, or just a smaller time period such a second, minute of hour.

c) If it did contain the date, was it Y2K year sensitive and did the company still need the function it provided. Lastly, if was renovated, should the equipment be replaced, microcode changed or should just the chip or card be replaced.

To date, we are done with our embedded system inventory and are about 98 percent done with assessment. We are now well along with remediation. We expect to be Y2K ready by June 30, 1999. The good news is that we found very few items that control equipment function. Why? Since we have been in business for many years, most function is electromechanical or analog, not digital. You find most digital equipment in monitoring functions, what we commonly call operator aids. If systems are renovated, we have and will test them, if possible. An alternative to testing is to have a component deemed Y2K compliant by the vendor through manufacturing process or tests.

Q2) The systems are tested, not certified.

Q3) The CE Annual Report, 10K and 10Q will mention the testing program for Y2K readiness, but won't give results.

I hope this was helpful,

Mike Spall, Media Relations

-- Cherri (sams@brigsdoon.com), May 19, 1999

Answers

This is Minnesotasmith, author of the Y2K-preparatory website http:y2ksafeminnesota.hypermar.net and I believe that Cherri will never give her response to Cory, due to the fact that she is one happening gal.............

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), May 19, 1999.

This is Minnesotasmith, author of the Y2K-preparatory website http:y2ksafeminnesota.hypermar.net I would like to make a correction on the above statement. Her response is slow in coming due to the fact that her mommy took her crayons away....

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), May 19, 1999.

Cherri - Things sounded pretty good, until I got to this part:

<If systems are renovated, we have and will test them, if possible. An alternative to testing is to have a component deemed Y2K compliant by the vendor through manufacturing process or tests.>

OH NO - Remember this from Dave Hall? http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000qGe

4. The vendor-supplied "fixes" are turning out to be inaccurate or incomplete in many cases. Compliance statements are changing faster than ever. No one should trust a vendor compliance statement or "fix" without first determining if the testing done to verify the fix matches the way THEY use the equipment or system. Many vendors do not test all functions of their software/equipment/system, so the fix only works for the EXACT configuration they say it does. And even at that the fix may interfere with some other application you have running on the equipment.

-- Cheryl (Transplant@Oregon.com), May 19, 1999.