Utilities tell regulators Y2K no problem

Public Utilities Commissioner Tim Hay asked utility representatives to outline their plans at a meeting Thursday in Las Vegas.

Hay referred to the problem of old computer software that used only two digits to identify years. Computers using these programs may think 00 refers to 1900 rather than 2000.

Representatives of Nevada Power Co., Sprint Corp., MGC Communications and Southwest Gas Corp. all were confident they will avoid Year 2000 problems in their computer systems but were less confident about those of suppliers.

"We feel confident that our operations will not be interrupted by Year 2000 issues," said Bob Weaver, a computer expert with Southwest Gas Corp. "We began working on the Year 2000 issue in 1994."

Ron Etheridge of Pioneer Citizens Bank said most U.S. banks' preparations have been rated satisfactory.

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