FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan.1, 2000, 12:45 a.m. MST
CONTACT: Leslie Peterson
720-962-7052 peterson@wapa.gov
LAKEWOOD, Colo.- Western's Rocky Mountain Region, in the Mountain time zone, and Desert Southwest Region, also on Mountain Standard Time, transitioned to the year 2000 without a hitch.
The RM Region operates 5,200 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, 120 high-voltage substations and 150 communication sites. Dispatchers at the region's control center in Loveland, Colo., also direct generation at 28 powerplants owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The DSW Region operates 2,350 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, 39 high-voltage substations and 118 communication sites. Dispatchers at the region's control center in Phoenix also direct generation at six hydropower plants owned and operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
"Everything is operating smoothly," noted RM Regional Manager Joel Bladow. "The smooth transition demonstrates the success of the extensive preparations and contingency plans of all the utilities, power producers and others involved in the electric utility industry across the region and across the nation."
"Particularly noteworthy is the dedication of our employees across the system," added DSW Regional Manager Tyler Carlson. "We had 89 people at 14 locations in DSW and RM had more than 50 staff at 39 sites to operate and monitor the system during the rollover. Their preparations and diligence in making our equipment Y2K ready paid off tonight."
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.
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