Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 11/98) - The NWT Power Corp. will spend $1 million to guard against the biggest bug of all -- the millennium bug.

Ensuring reliable electrical service through the computer dilemma Y2K has been the focus of a Power Corp. task force for the past year, corporation president Leon Courneya said.

"We're confident the lights will stay on, and we're taking considerable precautions to make sure our support systems stay up and running with the same efficiency we have today," he said.

"We are putting special emphasis on making sure our power systems and engines can be manually operated and controlled."

The corporation has inventoried its computer systems and machines and upgrades or replaces where needed. It has also designed backup plans to cover failures.

Another move involves working with suppliers and contractors to ensure their service is Y2K compliant.

Some 295 employees have been notified that all holidays and leave will be withheld from Dec. 13, 1999 to Jan. 15, 2000. Depending on operational requirements, this condition may be relaxed for some positions.

Plans are to have all administrative and operational systems checked and cleared by March 31, 1999, John Locke, Power Corp.'s information systems director, said.