Power supply key to Y2K solutions

Jace Radke

Wednesday, March 31, 1999 | 10:37 a.m.

No matter how many times the possible Y2K computer problems are studied in Southern Nevada, one fact always remains constant -- Nevada Power Co. is the linchpin in any kind of preventive plans.

Whether it's the Las Vegas Valley Water District, the city of Henderson, the Sanitation Department or some other agency or government talking, all of the planning is contingent on Nevada Power delivering the juice.

That message was again delivered Tuesday as Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, held a meeting in Las Vegas of the Senate's Special Committee on the Y2K problem at the Las Vegas Valley Water District.

Nevada Power spokesman David Barneby explained to Bennett and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., that by June 30 Nevada Power will have completed testing and replacing of all critical equipment that may be affected by Y2K.

"Nevada Power does not expect any power supply interruptions to customers resulting from the year 2000 issue," Barneby said.

A panel of Southern Nevada governments and utility providers joined Barneby in reporting that Y2K compliance in the state is progressing and is scheduled to be complete before the new year.

The Y2K problem could cause older computers to malfunction or shut down when the date hits Jan. 1, 2000, fooling computers into believing it's 1900.

The Senate committee chaired by Bennett is working as a clearinghouse on Y2K information.

"If nothing else, I hope that this committee can become a repository for information," Bennett said. "Everyone has a little piece of the correct information and we want to bring that together."

Bennett says he sees the committee as a modern-day Paul Revere, spreading a warning that Y2K is something that needs to be planned for, but not something that is going to cause the sky to fall.

On the whole, Bennett said he was impressed with the level of preparedness in Nevada.

"What really impresses me about what I hear from this state is the level of understanding here," Bennett said.

Reid said he was glad that the committee took the time to get Nevada's perspective.

"Our purpose is not to tell Nevadans to build bunkers and hide underground with a generator and three-month food supply," Reid said. "The purpose is to educate Nevadans and the committee on Nevada's Y2K status."