Great River Energy to participate in Y2K preparedness drill
Elk River, MN (September 8, 1999) - Electric utilities will conduct a Year 2000 (Y2K) readiness drill tonight as a rehearsal for the transition from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1, 2000. The drill is intended to simulate as realistically as possible the exercise of operating, communications, administrative and contingency plans for the Y2K transition.
“Great River Energy will treat the evening as if it is Dec. 31, 1999. That means, we will test our preparedness and have staff available at all remote facilities from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.,” says Sam Kokkinen, who is coordinating Great River Energy’s Y2K efforts.
In addition to the System Operations Center in Elk River, Great River Energy will have key staff present at its North Dakota power plants, Minnesota peaking stations, its DC Terminal and Converter Station in west-central Minnesota, and principle substations. All staff will be familiar with restoration procedures in the event of a blackout.
During the drill, communications will be tested between the Mid-Continent Area Power Pool and Great River Energy system operations, and Great River Energy System Operations and the organization’s remote sites. Communication methods include a MSAT (satellite) communications with the MAPP center and private radio communications with the remote sites. Amateur ham radio operators also will be utilized throughout the Great River Energy system.
“We believe our mission-critical systems used to produce, deliver and transmit electricity are ready for date changes associated with the year 2000,” Kokkinen adds. “We believe our primary functions relating to the production and delivery of electricity will continue reliably through tonight and on New Year’s eve.”
Great River Energy is a generation and transmission cooperative providing electrical energy and related services to 29 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Great River Energy system covers approximately 70 percent of the state of Minnesota and serves more than 500,000 members, or approximately 1.4 million people. Great River Energy is a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative.
