To date, most gas utilities have addressed and tested their software issues. They are now working on their embedded systems the mechanical devices governed by computer chips. Embedded chips can be found in everything from cell phones and fax machines to the equipment that controls and measures gas flow through the underground natural gas delivery system. The companies that supply utilities with everything from the natural gas they distribute to ordinary office supplies also face Y2K issues. In order for local utilities to be Y2K ready, many of their vendors must be Y2K ready too.
Officials are confident in the industry s ability to provide safe and reliable natural gas service.
The following are a few of the industry s efforts to see that the gas still flows if there are any temporary malfunctions. Natural gas companies already have preparedness plans in place to handle a variety of potential service interruptions, including natural disasters, storms and other emergencies. However, unlike storms and natural disasters that can strike with little warning, gas companies have been aggressively preparing for the year 2000. Utilities also work with the federal government, state regulators and other utilities to test the emergency preparedness of our systems. Computer chips built into mechanical systems and pipelines control a variety of gas company operations, including gas flow, delivery, purchasing, billing and metering.