TVA Year 2000 Update
6/4/99
Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure
TVA’s Year 2000 Project is on track to meet its goal of being operationally ready in June 1999. As of the end of May, 98% of all mission-critical items being tracked in the agency-wide program have been closed.
Special attention is being given to fixing and testing electronic devices and systems that control important equipment in nuclear and fossil power plants, flood control and power generation dams, the power transmission system, and power supply operations.
Hydro Operations has completed 100 % of its mission-critical work at 30 hydro plants. All 11 plants that have undergone Year 2000 conversion and integrated site testing are still running in Year 2000 mode.
Fifty-two fossil units at nine sites have been converted to Year 2000 dates and 48 units continue to generate power in the Year 2000 mode. The four units at Gallatin were reset to the current date to facilitate state reporting requirements. All remaining fossil plants are scheduled to be converted by the end of June.
All transmission substations and switchyards containing microprocessor relays and programmable logic controllers have been converted and are transmitting power in the Year 2000 mode. The Transmission Program has closed 98 % of all mission-critical items.
TVA is working with distributors of TVA power, interconnecting utilities and other customers to help mitigate the impact of service disruptions that might occur along the electricity supply chain. One hundred percent of all TVA distributors and directly served customers have indicated that they will be ready on or before December 31, 1999. TVA is also working with its vendors to avoid Year 2000 problems and is sharing information with electric utility industry groups on Year 2000 compliance.
Following spring refueling outages at TVA nuclear sites, 95% of all mission-critical items have been closed. Sequoyah and Watts Bar conducted onsite NRC reviews of their Year 2000 programs during May. The Browns Ferry review will be conducted in June. TVA will submit a written response to the NRC confirming that its nuclear plants are Year 2000 ready by July 1, 1999.
Although TVA expects to continue to provide a reliable power supply, it is developing contingency plans to address potential Year 2000 problems including a Business Partner Program with major customers and suppliers and a Business Continuity Program for its own operations. TVA will conduct internal drills in June and August in preparation for the nation-wide drill on September 8 and 9.
TVA is keeping congress, oversight agencies, customers, and the public informed of its Year 2000 activities through a variety of means such as congressional reports, its Internet home page (www.TVA.gov), and news media contacts.
The projected cost of TVA’s Year 2000 work is approximately $39.8 million.
Michael H. Davis, Information Services, TVA