Could this mean "light out" in Europe? I think we can smell the toast burning here.

http://www.globetechnology.com/gam/Y2K/19990617/TWCAFE-4.html

Compiled by The Globe and Mail; with files from news services Thursday, June 17, 1999

RAO Unified Energy Systems, operator of Russia's electricity grid, says its network of power stations will be updated in time to prevent computer breakdowns and blackouts on Jan. 1.

There is, however, room for skepticism about this assertion. Consider:

The company says it will spend the equivalent of $22-million to adapt antiquated computer systems for Y2K. By comparison, Ontario Hydro alone is spending $125-million to get ready, The Globe's Technology section reported in its April Y2K supplement.

The company is relying on its own computer specialists, saying advice from companies such as Microsoft Corp. is too expensive.

Russia broke off consultations with U.S. specialists on the year 2000 computer program after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization began bombing Yugoslavia in March.

Lastly, it sounds like officials themselves are hedging. "No one can give a 100-per-cent guarantee that there will be no problems," said Alexander Remezov, deputy chief executive of UES.

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), June 17, 1999

Answers

Dave - pretty common knowledge in the industry that in house remediation is much cheaper than contracting. Check just about any of the trade journals - most all of them have printed something to that effect in the last couple of months. And Russia did not go in for wholesale automation - Communist philosophy re jobs prevented it except where they pretty much had to do it.

They say they are fixing it, you are skeptical. Since you are thousands of miles from them, I have to take your skepticism with a grain of salt.

And you won't find any power official here that will unconditionally guarantee you will have power in your house 10 minutes from now - much less a year from now. They will tell you they will make every effort to keep the power on - but no one on earth can promise you constant and perfect service for anything whatsoever - not power or fuel or water or anything else. The probablity is excellent that all these things will work in your home 10 minutes from the time you read this - but it is not, and will never be, 100%.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), June 17, 1999.

(theme from "Jaws") DOO DOO - DOO DOO - DOO DOO - DOO DOO

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 17, 1999.

Pal Davies (sic)says --They say they are fixing it, you are skeptical. Since you are thousands of miles from them, I have to take your skepticism with a grain of salt.

PD, since you are soooo far out in left field, I will have to expect that the next grains you take will probably be *lead* from someone that listened to your porthole of potty and lost a loved one because of it. GOOD HUNTING FIEND

-- Nastastie (Cosmo@naut.yet), June 17, 1999.

Paul said:

"but it is not, and will never be, 100%."

Well then Paul, what are the odds of having electricity in Russia after the rollover? Are they the same as the odds of "all of the electrons in the universe suddenly converging into one point" (bT Paul Davis) or are they somewhat worse?

-- a (a@a.a), June 17, 1999.

I don't suppose it really matters how much it costs the Russians does it.......it will be paid with 'borrowed' money from the West that will never get paid back......I think these news articles that talk about how much money the West are loaning Russia should be changed to say how much is being GIVEN to Russia.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), June 17, 1999.

Paul I live in an area where the electricity goes off and on at least twice a week. Once it was off for 7 days during an ice storm, and even though that was years ago, I've always had food and water stocked since then. My electricity will probably be on for the next 10 min., but frankly I wouldn't bet more than $5.00 on it.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), June 17, 1999.

This is stupid beyond belief. It doesn't matter what Russia says it will cost. The fact is that they didn't even acknowledge the problem until this year.

Lights out? Better believe it. Better hope they don't try the Van Nuys Sewage Plant test run on their nukes.

Paul, do us all a favor. Swear to us you'll be on vacation in Moscow for New Year's.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), June 17, 1999.