ALLENTOWN, Pa.---
WHAT: PP&L, Inc. -- in conjunction with the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) and the regional PJM interconnection power pool -- will conduct a Y2K drill to simulate various hypothetical circumstances and corresponding hypothetical corrective actions by PP&L in preparation for the Year 2000 rollover.
The drill will coincide with another important computer date rollover - 9/9/99 - which makes the exercise a realistic prelude to New Year's Eve. The September date is significant because computer programmers may have used all nines as code values to end older computer files. PP&L's Year 2000 readiness program has found no actual problems associated with such files.
Reporters interested in covering this event should contact the PP&L Corporate Communications office by 5 p.m., Sept. 7.
WHEN: Preliminary briefing and observation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 8.
Drill 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 8, into Thursday, Sept. 9.
WHERE: PP&L's Transmission Control Center, Route 309 and Tilghman Street, Allentown
BACKGROUND: Prior to news media representatives being admitted to observe activities on the floor of PP&L's Transmission Control Center, a background briefing will be conducted by PP&L Power Delivery executives.
Activities to be simulated during the drill include: operation of electric transmission and distribution systems with impaired communications between the control center and key outlying facilities; deployment of key personnel to critical locations; and communications with internal staff, neighboring utilities, surrounding pools and government. The exercise will be used to evaluate current Y2K operating contingency plans and internal procedures.
Media representatives will be permitted to photograph and tape the briefing as well as the activities on the floor of the Transmission Control Center. The preliminary briefing and observation opportunity during the afternoon of Sept. 8 will be modified from the more detailed and involved night session.
PP&L's policy is to restrict admittance to its primary operating facilities to authorized PP&L personnel during December. This drill will give media representatives an idea of the activity that will be going on behind the scenes on New Year's Eve into New Year's Day. For media representatives who cannot attend this drill, PP&L will make available background information and B-roll footage of the drill for use in covering Y2K.