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| EEI Urges Broadcasters: Don't Exacerbate Y2K Fears, Seize Opportunity |
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- With NBC set to air this Sunday a
made-for-TV movie depicting widespread chaos and social unrest caused by the
Millennium date change, the Edison Electric Institute has urged NBC affiliate
stations to help allay potential public concern by thoroughly covering local
Y2K preparations.
EEI, the trade association representing U.S. shareholder-owned electric
utilities that generate and deliver three-fourths of the nation's electricity,
made the request in letters sent to the nation's 100 largest NBC affiliates in
advance of the November 21 airing of "Y2K," whose script includes widespread
power outages.
"Regrettably, fear and opportunism regarding the new Millennium are
widespread and likely to grow as the New Year approaches," said M. William
Brier, EEI's vice president, communication. "We are concerned that the film,
coming just before the conversion, will fan flames of panic and unnecessary
alarm."
In recent days, network news programs, including NBC's Dateline and Today,
have made reference to the "millions of people" who anticipate Apocalyptic
events timed to the New Year's weekend. Recent reports by the FBI and the
Anti-Defamation League voiced similar concerns.
According to EEI, while the movie is clearly an entertainment vehicle, it
may unintentionally reinforce the beliefs of many individuals that a chaotic
event is imminent. Indeed, the media have frequently noted reports of
stockpiling and arms purchases connected to Y2K. The movie includes depictions
of societal disintegration. In one scene, federal troops shoot a homeowner who
refuses to leave his home in the course of an evacuation. EEI attended a
preview of the movie earlier this week.
"For the record, we have confidence in the Y2K readiness of the nation's
network industries," Brier said. "The electric grid is Y2K-Ready today. We
anticipate a New Year like any other. Isolated electric outages occur every
day. It would be a serious mistake to assume that any outage over the holiday
weekend is related to the Millennium change." Brier noted that the electric
utility industry, like other network industries such as telecommunications,
oil and gas, has spent billions of dollars over several years to prepare for
the transition to 2000.
"We hope that prior to and following this program print and broadcast news
organizations will seize the opportunity to step up to the plate and offer
viewers and readers clear and thorough coverage of local Y2K preparations,"
Brier said. "The Millennium transition presents a unique challenge to provide
accurate information without sensationalism."
Edison Electric Institute is the association of shareholder-owned electric
companies, international affiliates, and associates, whose domestic members
deliver about three-quarters of the nation's electricity.
The Edison Electric Institute sent the following letter to the top 100 NBC
affiliate stations in the country dated October 26:
As you know, your network is planning to air on November 21 a movie titled
"Y2K," which will depict a nation plunged into chaos on New Year's Eve because
of widespread computer failure. Its plot includes electric blackouts, near-
nuclear meltdowns and widespread panic.
At EEI, which represents the nation's shareholder-owned electric
utilities, we are concerned that the NBC film -- while clearly intended as
entertainment and not news -- may unnecessarily cause Americans to have
unjustified fears about U.S. preparedness for the conversion to the year 2000.
Our member companies, which deliver about three-quarters of the nation's
electricity, have worked diligently with the President's Council on Y2K
Preparedness, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the North American
Electric Reliability Council to ensure that the lights will keep burning on
January 1. In fact, our members have spent about $2.5 billion to make sure
that this coming New Year's Day is like any other. We cannot guarantee that
there won't be any localized outages -- they occur every day. But we can state
unequivocally that the electric utility industry is Y2K ready.
Regrettably, however, fear and opportunism regarding the new millennium
are widespread, and likely will grow as the New Year approaches. We are
concerned that the NBC film, coming just before the conversion, will fan
flames of panic and unnecessary alarm.
Reports of Americans stockpiling food, electric generators, gas masks and
even weapons are widespread in the media. These reports have prompted many
organizations, including most recently the Anti-Defamation League, to issue a
report on the dangers from Americans overreacting to Y2K anxiety. We have
attached that organization's press release.
In short, at EEI, we believe the network film may exacerbate these
anxieties. We understand the need for creative, exciting programming. But we
also believe in the importance of social responsibility at critical moments
like the one we're about to enter.
Therefore, it is our hope that your station might be willing to consider
alternative programming that evening. Otherwise, you might consider airing a
disclaimer or a crawl reminding audiences that the scenes depicted in the NBC
film are imaginary and very unlikely to unfold in real life on January 1.
Alternatively, perhaps your station would consider airing a news report on
your city's Y2K preparedness, featuring interviews with local officials and
industry leaders.
We hope that you will seize this opportunity to make a positive impact in
your viewing area, and we are ready to assist you with any information on
electric utility Y2K-related issues. Please feel free to contact John Castagna
on my staff at 202-508-5661 or visit the Edison Electric Institute website at
http://www.eei.org.
SOURCE Edison Electric Institute
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CONTACT:
John Castagna of the Edison Electric
Institute, 202-508-5661, or email: Jcastagna@eei.org
