Nevada Power hurries to solve 2000 computer bug

CARSON CITY -- Nevada Power Co. says it won't be able to provide timely and reliable electric service to its customers if it doesn't solve the year 2000 computer problem.

The Las Vegas based-utility says however it has been working for five years to inventory and to correct any problem before Dec. 31, 1999.

In a report ordered by the state Public Utilities Commission, the company said it has spent more than $2 million in converting its computers to be 2000 compliant and it should be finished with most of the work by June 1999, six months in advance of the change over.

While most users won't have to make any changes, Nevada Power said it is working with its largest customers to determine if there are any problems that might interrupt electric power on the consumer side of the meters.

Many of the older computers in business, government and industry won't be able to work when Jan. 1, 2000, arrives unless changes are made in software programs. The old line computers recognize only numbers tied to the 1900s.

Several thousand work hours have been used to upgrade or replace personal computers on a rotation basis to make them 2000 compliant.

Public Utilities Commissioner Tim Hay said Monday the staff would review the report by Nevada Power which most likely will be followed by public hearings.

Government, business and industry are all working to change their computers so they will recognize the 2000 dates. A failure in government, for instance, could mean inaccurate payments to people on social programs; a mix-up in prison sentences; and inaccurate salaries for those employees.

Sierra Pacific Power Co. of Reno which is merging with Nevada Power said it has been working for nearly two years to correct its computer system. If it doesn't meet the deadline, the utility said computer records on customer information, accounts payable, power plant maintenance and controls for plants, electric substations and natural gas regulation systems could be affected.

Sierra Pacific said it expects to have all its business computer system ready by the end of March next year. Nearly 3 million lines of program code for Sierra Pacific's customer and billing information and billing system has been tested and implemented. Company officials say they expect to spend more than $3.1 million on the conversion.

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