Energy Department To Watch Energy Supplies For Y2K Mishaps

The U.S. Energy Department will team with industry experts to monitor any disruptions to energy supplies worldwide as Year 2000 dawns, department officials said. The department reportedly plans to staff its existing emergency operations center around the clock between Dec. 28 and early January to collect information on electricity, oil and gas industries. Government and industry experts will keep tabs on all domestic and international energy sector activities to track the Y2K bug. Status reports will be used to brief President Clinton and other government officials, and to keep the public informed. The status reports will also be fed to a $40 million White House Y2K Information Coordination Center.