According to Action2000, the UK government sponsored Y2K body, the UK gas industry is 100% "blue" status, i.e. "Assessment has not identified a significant risk of material disruption." Today, we find out just how weaselly that phrase is.

BBC News 24 reported that one of the UK gas transport utilities, B J (something, sorry, I didn't catch the full name) are warning that there "may" be failure of the supply post rollover.

The details were confused and sketchy, but the wording used by BBC News 24 definitely included the following "quoted" phrases. B J are still claiming that the "main network" is "100% compliant", but that "some areas" "may" experience "failure".

The short report didn't address how the network could be compliant if "some areas" were affected, nor what those areas were. The possibility was quoted as "may", not "might", and it was "failure", not "disruption". I don't know if those were B J word's or whether News 24 re-interpreted them.

Frankly, it's not the reported details that worry me, it's the fact that they thought - internally - that it was serious enough and likely enough to call a press conference and make it public at this late date. I also think that it's disgusting that they let it break in this way without saying which areas "may" be affected, so if there IS a late rush on emergency heating, it probably won't go to the people most likely to need it.

It hasn't hit any of the news sites yet, but I'll keep looking and update this thread as more details emerge.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999

Answers

Followup: my mail to BBC news online, and their prompt reply. Note that the first URL just points to an "all is well" fluff article.

Field Name: From Data Type: Text List Data Length: 37 bytes Seq Num: 1 Dup Item ID: 0 Field Flags: SUMMARY NAMES

"NewsOnline "

Hi Colin

Well our latest article on the subject does not mention disruption to gas supply except for York Gas: http://news2.thls.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid%5F479000/479999.stm I have forwarded your email to News 24 who will contact you directly.

Regards BBC News Online http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

> -----Original Message----- > From: Colin_MacDonald@Mitel.COM [SMTP:Colin_MacDonald@Mitel.COM] > Sent: 12 November 1999 10:53 > To: newsonline@bbc.co.uk > Subject: Y2K gas disruption? > > I caught an brief article on News 24 this morning about possible > disruption to > the gas supply after the Y2K rollover. It concerns me deeply that I can > find to > further reference to this: it's hardly a "non-story". If it was in error, > why no > retraction? If you have been advised to put a lid on it, you're too late, > it's > wildfiring round the online Y2K online discussion forums. > > Very curious. > > -Colin MacDonald-

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.

Update: Found this this story which deals with BG gas. This story is about industrial action by BG's workers near Y2K. However, the story I heard reported this morning was definitely a BG gas Y2K non-compliance issue.

What is going on here?

I've mailed BBC online to ask them just that, and they've said "dunno" and forwarded my query onto BBC News 24. I await their answer...

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.

Good catch, Sherlock!

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 12, 1999.

Update: From here. Looks like it's BOTH issues at once. I still can't find the original source, be it news conference, or an impromptu disclosure. Will keep checking.

New Year's Eve won't be a gas

The company responsible for providing Britain with gas, BG, has said it cannot guarantee its supplies won't be disrupted by the millennium bug.

"The risks associated with the Y2K issue are unpredictable and wide- ranging," the company stated. "An extended disruption could cause the group's activities to be materially affected."

What this really means is: "Get out your camping kit and blankets because you probably won't be hearing from us over the New Year."

The announcement also coincides with a 96 per cent vote by offshore technicians to strike over the Christmas break over unhappiness with a 1.5 per cent pay increase. Not what you would call a good sign.

But let's be practical about this. All it means is that you will be cold and hungry as well as hungover on the first day of the new millennium. .

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 12, 1999.