Senior Engineer
Greeneville Light & Power System
Memo to GLPS Board
To : Greeneville Light & Power System Board of Directors
From : Allen Tweed
Senior Engineer, GLPS
Date : January 22, 1999
Subject : Year 2000 update
Gentlemen,
I have been asked to provide an update concerning Year 2000 (Y2k) system readiness at Greeneville Light & Power System. Our systems can be divided into four main groups:
Power Delivery Systems
Power Supply (TVA)
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
Embedded controls in substation equipment
Internal infrastructure
GLPS telephones, radios, etc.
Customer Information System
Billing
Accounting
Bookkeeping
Banking
Personal Computers
GLPS Servers
Desktop and Laptop PCs
PC Software
Vendor Supplied Services and Materials
Utilities – Water, Electricity, Telephone, etc.
Construction Materials
Power Delivery Systems:
TVA: As you know, GLPS has no generation capability and purchases all power from TVA. I have been in contact with the TVA Y2k office and have received correspondence outlining their progress. (See attached letter).
Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition System (SCADA): Our SCADA system is provided by Advanced Control Systems, Inc. and is based on an HP 9000 mini computer. A large percentage of substation remote terminal units do not have any date related clocks as part of their operation and are therefore compliant. We have performed exhaustive test on both CPU and RTU equipment and found no functional abnormalities. Our SCADA computers are not connected to other systems outside GLPS facilities and can not be corrupted by systems owned by others.
Embedded controls in substation equipment: All older equipment that does not have microprocessor controls are compliant. Only the newest 10% of substation equipment has microprocessor controls. We have tested the devices and found no functional abnormalities.
Internal infrastructure – GLPS telephones, radios, etc: The telephone PBX owned by GLPS is under evaluation by Sprint. There is a possibility that changes in hardware and/or software in the PBX will have to be replaced or upgraded. Ronnie Waddell, Rates and Contracts Engineer is working closely with Sprint to ascertain the changes needed to make the PBX compliant. The GLPS operations center and main office has several direct private telephone lines in place should an unanticipated problem occur. Two way radio equipment and repeaters do not have internal clocks and are compliant. SCADA 900 Mhz radio equipment also does not use internal clocks and is compliant. Environmental systems such as heating and air-conditioning equipment does not have internal clocks and is compliant. GLPS does not have any elevators. Fire protection equipment is Y2k compliant.
Customer Information System:
Central Service Association (CSA) in Tupelo, MS provides the customer accounts and billing computer system at GLPS. CSA has been evaluating, upgrading, and testing their hardware and software during the past two years. We have received correspondence from them outlining their progress and anticipated completion date. (See attached letter) Bob Windham, Comptroller at GLPS has been in contact with CSA on a regular basis and is confident their systems will function properly. Ronnie Waddell, Rates and Contracts Engineer has coordinated the update of our hand-held meter reading equipment. Installation of the new system should be complete by April 1, 1999. Lamar Neas, Meter Department supervisor has checked our large customer meters and is confident those meters are compliant.
Personal Computers:
GLPS, like all other business organizations has several personal computers including desktop, laptop and server machines. While these computers are used to perform necessary functions, they are not critical to providing services to our customers. Most PCs at our company have been tested and are functionally compliant. The remainder of the systems will be tested by April 1, 1999. Some of the older hardware and software will be replaced when abnormalities are found that prevent the computer from properly performing it’s assigned task. (See attached list)
Vendor Supplied Services and Materials:
Utilities: I have contacted Sprint telephone company and have been assured by Mr. Dennis McNeas that the central office equipment is now completely Y2k compliant. Their switch is self reliant and can function autonomously should equipment in other cities fail. Mr. Ken Earl of Greeneville Water Commission indicates that all the water supply equipment is now Y2k compliant and their accounting software is in the process of being updated. The electricity supply to our operations center is very reliable due to location near one of our substations. Switching can be performed to re-established service should that substation fail. We anticipate no Y2k related problems with the power distribution system. GLPS has battery backup in place to power telephone, radio and computer equipment should the power fail due to other natural disasters or substation equipment failure.
Construction Materials: GLPS does not use "just in time" inventory. Our stores department has ample material and equipment spares to repair outages due to storm damage as well as routine construction and maintenance. Mike French, Purchasing Agent has been in contact with critical vendors and is confident that no Y2k related shortages will occur. He has mailed letters to 20 of our most critical vendors requesting Y2k readiness statements.
Summary:
GLPS is very much aware of potential Y2k problems and is actively investigating, testing, and documenting equipment and information systems that could be affected. I am confident that there will be no Y2k related power outages due to miss-operation of equipment owned and operated by GLPS. I encourage members of the Board and/or representatives of local groups or organizations that wish to know more about how power is delivered to their homes and businesses to visit our facilities anytime. We will be happy to share any information concerning our operating procedures and look forward to serving our customers in the next millenium.
Allen Tweed
Senior Engineer
Greeneville Light & Power System
JAT/me
Attachments