In addition to resolving Y2K problems within utility energy management systems, these supporting satellite systems outside of utility control must be Y2K compliant. Telecommunications is another critical area. Electric supply and delivery systems are highly dependent on microwave, telephone, frame relay, and radio communications systems. Therefore, the dependency of the electric supply on facilities leased from telephone companies and commercial communications network service providers is a crucial factor. Telecommunications systems are the nerve center of the electricity networks and it is important that we address the mutual dependencies of electric utility systems and the telecommunications industry.
Utilities have similar mutual dependencies with natural gas pipelines.
The final technical area of concern is in relay protection devices, which are used to rapidly isolate a portion of the transmission system that may be in trouble. Many protective relays are electromechanical and will not be affected. However, newer relays are digital and may have a risk of a common failure in which all the relays of a certain model fail simultaneously, which could result in coincident transmission facility outages. As a final observation, New Year's Eve 1999 falls on a Friday which, of course, is followed by a holiday weekend. Therefore, for nearly all of the country, during the first critical 72 hours, electric system conditions are likely to be favorable, with the level of electricity transfers at relatively light levels and extra generating capacity available.