FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 1999
CONTACT: Leslie Peterson
303-275-1233 peterson@wapa.gov
GOLDEN, Colo.- Western Area Power Administration -- the Federal agency that markets and transmits Federal hydropower throughout much of the West -- reported to the North American Electric Reliability Council that its mission-critical systems are Y2K compliant. The agency confirmed it met the utility industry June 30 deadline for completing testing and ensuring Y2K readiness of its systems that directly impact the delivery of power and for having contingency plans in place.
Most other noncritical systems and equipment are also Y2K ready (suitable for use into the new century). A few nonessential systems, or those reported as exceptions to NERC with good business reasons for later completion dates, will be completed well before the end of the year. According to Western's Administrator Michael Hacskaylo, "Rigorous renovation and testing indicates nothing that would disrupt the power system. We expect the lights to stay on and are taking every precaution to make sure they do."
Now Western is implementing methods and guidelines to ensure "clean" systems remain compliant and is preparing for the industrywide Sept. 9 NERC drill. Y2K Program Manager Don Nord sees the drill as "an important dress rehearsal for testing our contingency plans for dealing with power and telecommunications losses, rollover staffing needs, manual operations, back-up communications and coordinating with other agencies and utilities."
Hacskaylo noted, "Reliability is Western's business. If a problem occurs, we have the people and resources to respond rapidly. Y2K preparedness is one of our top priorities."
For more information on Western's Y2K program look up Western's Web site at www.wapa.gov/ and click on the Y2K button.
Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 central and western states.
(Editor's Note-The above is a Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure Statement in accordance with Public Law No. 105-271.)
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Serving the West with Federal Hydropower