KCC: Most utilities ready for Y2K bug

Although there is still work to be done, the Kansas Corporation Commission is cautiously optimistic about the progress of the state's utilities in preparing for the Year 2000 computer problem.

"The comfort level is rising almost daily," said Jeff McClanahan, senior regulatory auditor at the KCC.

That message was delivered Tuesday to the utilities committees in both chambers of the Legislature. The computer problem, called the Y2K bug, hinges on the fact that many programs were written to account for only a two-digit date field. When 2000 arrives and the numbers 00 are entered, many computers may read that as 1900. "What we expected is that the major utilities had addressed the problem," McClanahan said. "What the big unknown was, was where the smaller utilities were. "While we were pleasantly surprised with the progress (of utilities), we still don't know where a lot of the smaller ones are at." As of February, the KCC had received mandatory reports on Y2K readiness from 69 percent of the state's electric companies, 50 percent of natural gas companies and 66 percent of telecommunications companies. McClanahan said the companies that have filed with the KCC represent 90 percent to 95 percent of utility customers. The electric industry, specifically the generation portion of operations, faces the greatest exposure to the Y2K problem, while distribution operations are least likely to be affected, said a principal analyst from the Kansas Legislative Research Department. Utilities differ from other industries when it comes to fixing Y2K because lines are connected on a nationwide grid. Therefore, a disruption in another state could potentially affect service in Kansas. "It is in every business, and therefore every utility's best interest, to get this problem fixed," said Sen. Don Steffes, R- McPherson, a member of the Senate Utilities Committee. "I can't imagine any corporation not being concerned about it. I cannot conceive of that happening." The KCC agrees. McClanahan said he doesn't expect any major power outages, although there is always the possibility of minor disruptions. Utility companies are required to submit quarterly reports to the KCC on their Y2K progress. "While we want to monitor their progress, we don't want to take the companies away from fixing the problem," McClanahan said. "We don't have the authority to say 'you're going to do this.' Now, if the lights go out, we've got some jurisdiction."

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