Utilities, industries tout Y2K readiness

By MECHELE COOPER, Staff Writer Copyright ) 1999 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. E-mail this story to a friend

AUGUSTA  Y2K? Not to worry.

It seems everyone has done their homework, and all the hullabaloo associated with rolling over into the next millennium is just that  a hullabaloo.

According to panelists at the Y2K Community Conversation held Tuesday at the Augusta Civic Center, local utilities, telephone systems, banks and grocery stores are ready for Y2K, and even have contingency plans in place in case something minor does happen.

Wayne Mitchell, executive director of the Board of Trade, who was the event's monitor, told the audience no one has defined totally what will or will not happen when the date changes from 1999 to 2000, so it is good that so many people have paid serious attention to the issue.

After four years of working on Y2K preparedness, Peter Reilly, director of public affairs for Bell Atlantic, said Jan. 1 will be just another day for Bell Atlantic.

"What we have is a highly computerized network, and we've evaluated some 100,000 elements to ensure Y2K compliance," Reilly said Tuesday. "We're confident that we'll roll over into the millennium with no problems for our customers."

Reilly did say anyone with date-sensitive equipment, such as Caller I.D. boxes, should make sure they are Y2K-compliant by contacting the manufacturers. He also said telecommunication networks are not set up to handle a dial tone for every customer, so if at the stroke of midnight many people picks up telephones to see whether they are working, they might not hear dial tones.

"Be sensible and utilize the network in a responsible manner so emergency calls can go through," he said.

Peter Bedard, from Central Maine Power Co., said his company began working early with the North American Regulatory Agency on the issue. By last June, Bedard said, it was reported to the agency that CMP was 100 percent compliant for Y2K.

Bedard said the company has been rolling the date forward on a number of its different systems, and they continued to operate without affecting customers.

"We've put together an extensive contingency plan for the absolute worst scenario, and we're extremely confident during the transition period, in the event something happens, we are in very good shape," he said.

Chuck Hayes, from MaineGeneral Medical Center, guaranteed the continuance of patient care during the event. Scott Minor, from the Augusta Water District, and Dale Glidden, of the Augusta Sewer District, said there will be no disruption of services.

James Chase, of Kennebec Savings Bank, said 99.7 percent of the nation's banks regulated by FDIC are Y2K-compliant. Marc LaCasse, of Augusta Fuel Co., said he is confident the fuel industry can handle anything that might happen.

"The thing that's going to create any kind of a problem is hoarding or stockpiling any kind of commodity when it isn't necessary," LaCasse said.

Quita Ryder, vice president of Hannaford Bros., agreed, saying Hannaford will keep extra inventory in its stores and warehouses into the millennium, but suggests not waiting until the last day or two to stock up.

"This kind of reaction will make it difficult to stock shelves. Although we have the inventory, it takes time to get it there," Ryder said.

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Copyright ) 1999 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Utilities, industries tout Y2K readiness

By MECHELE COOPER, Staff Writer Copyright ) 1999 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. E-mail this story to a friend

AUGUSTA  Y2K? Not to worry.

It seems everyone has done their homework, and all the hullabaloo associated with rolling over into the next millennium is just that  a hullabaloo.

According to panelists at the Y2K Community Conversation held Tuesday at the Augusta Civic Center, local utilities, telephone systems, banks and grocery stores are ready for Y2K, and even have contingency plans in place in case something minor does happen.

Wayne Mitchell, executive director of the Board of Trade, who was the event's monitor, told the audience no one has defined totally what will or will not happen when the date changes from 1999 to 2000, so it is good that so many people have paid serious attention to the issue.

After four years of working on Y2K preparedness, Peter Reilly, director of public affairs for Bell Atlantic, said Jan. 1 will be just another day for Bell Atlantic.

"What we have is a highly computerized network, and we've evaluated some 100,000 elements to ensure Y2K compliance," Reilly said Tuesday. "We're confident that we'll roll over into the millennium with no problems for our customers."

Reilly did say anyone with date-sensitive equipment, such as Caller I.D. boxes, should make sure they are Y2K-compliant by contacting the manufacturers. He also said telecommunication networks are not set up to handle a dial tone for every customer, so if at the stroke of midnight many people picks up telephones to see whether they are working, they might not hear dial tones.

"Be sensible and utilize the network in a responsible manner so emergency calls can go through," he said.

Peter Bedard, from Central Maine Power Co., said his company began working early with the North American Regulatory Agency on the issue. By last June, Bedard said, it was reported to the agency that CMP was 100 percent compliant for Y2K.

Bedard said the company has been rolling the date forward on a number of its different systems, and they continued to operate without affecting customers.

"We've put together an extensive contingency plan for the absolute worst scenario, and we're extremely confident during the transition period, in the event something happens, we are in very good shape," he said.

Chuck Hayes, from MaineGeneral Medical Center, guaranteed the continuance of patient care during the event. Scott Minor, from the Augusta Water District, and Dale Glidden, of the Augusta Sewer District, said there will be no disruption of services.

James Chase, of Kennebec Savings Bank, said 99.7 percent of the nation's banks regulated by FDIC are Y2K-compliant. Marc LaCasse, of Augusta Fuel Co., said he is confident the fuel industry can handle anything that might happen.

"The thing that's going to create any kind of a problem is hoarding or stockpiling any kind of commodity when it isn't necessary," LaCasse said.

Quita Ryder, vice president of Hannaford Bros., agreed, saying Hannaford will keep extra inventory in its stores and warehouses into the millennium, but suggests not waiting until the last day or two to stock up.

"This kind of reaction will make it difficult to stock shelves. Although we have the inventory, it takes time to get it there," Ryder said.

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Copyright ) 1999 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

-- Darlene (boomer@tdstelme.net), October 28, 1999

Answers

Tis is the 2nd time a report like this has come out in the papers in the last 2 or 3 months. 100% ok!!! I'm going to be just fine.!!! LOL

Darlene

-- Darlene (boomer@tdstelme.net), October 28, 1999.

**************According to panelists at the Y2K Community Conversation held Tuesday at the Augusta Civic Center, local utilities, telephone systems, banks and grocery stores are ready for Y2K, and even have contingency plans in place in case something minor does happen***************

So, they are prepared should something ---minor---- happen. What if if something -----MAYOR-------is happening? Are they still prepared?

-- ME (me@me.meo), October 28, 1999.

I hope so. Last night got cold.

I sent Gov. King a few things and asked a few ? of him early this summer and I got some not so nice come backs from him.

I give up.

Darlene

-- Darlene (boomer@tdstelme.net), October 28, 1999.

This is the same group of representatives that was on the Maine PBS show indicating that things were fine. Callers and emailers from all over the state of Maine had cogent, and very directed questions indicating to me,at least that they gotit big time. All of these reps pooh poohed them, and refused to see any interconnectedness to the rest of the world, economy, etc. It seems to be a case that the representatives feel they must put on a happy face, and the populace outflanked them by knowing more.

-- Charlie (cstewart@ime.net), October 28, 1999.

Darlene: Save those "not so nice comebacks" from hizzonor. If TSHTF up there, I'm sure the press (or whatever will be left of it), will be interested to see how TPTB addressed everything. (Wasn't it Maine where the Y2k consultants to the state were ordered NOT to put their report in writing but rather to give the results ORALLY so there'd be nothing to be released?)

I like that one part: "The thing that's going to create any kind of a problem is hoarding or stockpiling any kind of commodity when it isn't necessary..." Well, if you think it IS necessary, what's the problem? Lord knows, there aren't all THAT many people doing anything!

Try to stay warm. Good luck.

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), October 28, 1999.

>>>thing that's going to create any kind of a problem is hoarding or stockpiling any kind of commodity when it isn't necessary," LaCasse said.

>>>>Quita Ryder, vice president of Hannaford Bros., agreed, saying Hannaford will keep extra inventory in its stores and warehouses into the millennium, but suggests not waiting until the last day or two to stock up.

These two consecutive sentences are contradictory, and the writer of the release doesn't even realize the irony. Stockpiling is bad. So the company will stockpile. In this case, stockpiling is good.

In any event, they are worried enough to stockpile. If they know their market well enough to be prepared for shortages, why shouldn't I also prepare for shortages? Who cares if shortages are caused by the computers or by people? A shortage means I can't get what I want. Hence, stockpiling is called for.

And this kind of message is meant to be reassuring????

-- Rocketwoman (cape@kennedy.fla), October 28, 1999.

Darlene picture this Its 2 days after New Years and the power has been down for 5 days because the new rewritten software once it was uploaded in the electric utilities computers crashed hard. They cant give a time when the electric will be back on, It's freezing and you have only a little gas in your car because you didnt think y2k would be a big deal. Everything is closed except emergency shelters, dusk to dawn curfew are being enforced by the military and the police. Water and food is low and so is your money. Do you want to put your family in that great of danger. Think about it.

The y2k bug was built into every computing device both hardware and software over the last 30 years. Rewritting the code to make the computer process the year 2000 properly is no joke very tough work. It's a big task that was not fully realized until late and some still are not doing it. The computer wont feel your hunger,thirst or apprension about not being able to receive a paycheck or get your money out of the back when they go down. they wont care if you can flush your toilet or have water to wash with.

Those officials are morons. Instead of acknoledging that y2k can present some serious challenges and promote accelarated community prepareness they have chosen a lie that puts your family's life safety at tremendous risk. Not only have they chosen to accept and believe the lie ,they are trying to get you to believe and accept the lie to.

Put your thinking cap on. #1 Why would big Govt and Industry spend trillions of dollars trying to fix a non problem. #2 do you really think they would alter the liability laws if they thought that it would be fixed in time thereby preventing risk. #3 Big money doesnt always mean it will get fixed in time. Large software projects almost never finish on time,30 years of software metrics does not support the happy face news that it will be fixed in time to prevent significant supply chain breakdowns. The world is now to highly automated to go back to manual operations with out extreme complications.

God gave you a brain, use it. y2k means a unknown undefinable period of disruptions to our normal way of life. prepare hard the computers of the world that we have come to depend on for goods and services have date broken code in them that will take some time to be made right. Dont expect a qick fix, it wont happen. It wont be the end of the world either but it will be an uneasy period of adjustment ahead. Preperation will help ease the period of transistion. I wish you and your family the best, dont be stupid prepare.

-- y2k aware mike (y2k aware mike @ conservation .com), October 28, 1999.

I have food,water,2 wood stoves 100 ac. of land to cut from,5cord already cut,gas grill,cast iron pots,make my own soap,lots of oil lamps and oil,warm clothes,lots and lots of food for my 2 cats and dog and my kids know all about it.

I've been here for well over a year just never post between preps for winter and work and now my 16 year old (who was always good now) has gone and done almost everything in a 4 month span I have little time and hair left. But thanks for the heads up anyhow.

-- Darlene (boomer@tdstelme.net), October 29, 1999.