For more than 30 years, NERC has played a leadership role in the United States achieving the most dependable electric system in the world. After considerable effort and with significant cooperation from our industry partners, we are pleased to be able to deliver that assurance to you and to the American public. Based on data received through June 1999, NERC believes that the electric power industry will operate reliably into the Year 2000 with the resources that are Y2k Ready today. The North American electric industry, which encompasses more than 3,000 organizations, has undertaken a massive effort to identify, assess, test, remediate, and retest components potentially susceptible to Y2k problems. Working with the Edison Electric Institute, the American Public Power Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Nuclear Energy Institute, and the Canadian Electricity Association, NERC has established milestones for Y2k readiness, tracked industry progress toward Y2k readiness, and facilitated contingency planning activities.
Ready today is based on the following findings.
These findings are documented in a formal report delivered to the Department of Energy yesterday, a copy of which accompanies this statement. Ready with Limited Exceptions. These exception items represent a fraction of a percent of total facilities being addressed within electric industry Y2k programs. NERC believes that the work schedule provided to complete these exception items in the next few months represents a prudent use of resources and does not increase risks associated with reliable electric service into the Year 2000. The readiness of investor-owned, public power, and rural cooperative electricity distribution systems markedly improved in the past quarter.