Glitches not necessarily work of bug

By STAFF REPORTERS

Organisations gearing up for the stroke of midnight and the possibility of Y2K problems have delivered a final message - if the lights go out, it's not necessarily the bug.

Mathew Boland, of Auckland electricity lines company Vector, said it was advising customers to treat the millennium night the same as last New Year's Eve.

"If the lights go out, it's more likely to be a car hitting a power pole than the Y2K problem."

But he said residents should not turn off electrical goods before midnight and then restart them again soon after.

"That could cause a surge of power use. The best way to act is to treat it as a normal New Year's Eve."

Water, electricity and telecommunications companies all say they have checked their systems and they do not expect problems - except from anxious residents calling about non-Y2K accidents.

Hamilton City Council spokesman Curt Christiansen said: "Our advice is for people to first avoid phoning anybody and to listen to radio news bulletins. We'll be informing people through the media."

Auckland City's Metrowater said it had prepared thoroughly for possible problems. But it said generators had been set up at critical pump stations to minimise risks if power did go off.

Telephone companies say the sheer volume of calls, rather than any Y2K problem, is likely to be the biggest problem tonight.

In a joint plea, four of the largest companies - Telecom, Clear, Saturn and Telstra - have asked customers to avoid making calls around midnight and not to keep dialling if the connection is overloaded.

"It's a matter of common sense. If everybody calls at midnight, no network can handle it," said Telecom spokeswoman Kerry Lamont.

But if problems do develop, what should people do?

Waitakere City spokesman Dai Bindoff: "People should do what they would ordinarily do if service is lost. Ring the suppliers and, above all, listen to the radio."

In the event of a civil defence emergency, information will be broadcast by radio and television.

Emergency services say the 111 system for urgent calls will operate as normal. If problems do develop, these services are available:

Water and wastewater

Contact your local supplier. After-hours emergency numbers are being manned in case of problems. In many areas, local bodies provide water. In Auckland, water companies include: Metrowater (Auckland City): 0800 367-928; United Water (Papakura): 296-2626.

Electricity Contact your local supplier. After-hours emergency numbers are being manned in case of problems. Power companies include: Vector 0508 832-867; Counties Power 0800 100-202; UnitedNetworks 0800 87 87 87; WEL Energy Group 0800 800-935; Power New Zealand 0800 NO POWER or 0800 66 7693.

Councils Each local body has a contact number for after-hours emergencies. These include water supplies, wastewater and sewage or traffic.

Emergency services Police, fire and ambulance can be contacted as usual in an emergency on 111.

Civil Defence

In case of an emergency, all warnings are broadcast over the radio and TV. Monitor them for latest advice.