FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Advanced Utility Systems brings 110,000 of Hydro Ottawa’s Customers Live in Record Time

TORONTO, CANADA. Advanced Utility Systems is pleased to announce that Hydro Ottawa has gone live with CIS Infinity, Advanced Utility Systems’ Customer Information and Billing Solution. The implementation was completed in record time, taking just over three months to convert, amalgamate and go-live with over 110,000 of Hydro Ottawa’s customers.

Hydro Ottawa is the newly formed electric distribution utility providing services to Customers in the Ottawa region, formed by the amalgamation of the former Ottawa Hydro, Nepean Hydro, Goulbourn Hydro, Kanata Hydro and Gloucester Hydro. The amalgamation was completed on November 1st, with the formation of a common call center and the successful implementation of CIS Infinity from Advanced Utility Systems Corporation.

The Project leader of the CIS team for the Ottawa Transition Board and former General Manager of Kanata Hydro Guy Cluff was excited about successfully meeting the tight implementation deadline. “Given that we started the implementation in the late summer we are very pleased to meet our November 1st deadline. The team at Advanced demonstrated exceptional professionalism and dedication in getting the software up and running. They provided the expert resources and commitment we needed to meet our aggressive goals.”

Advanced Utility Systems has experience implementing more than 40 CIS solutions, but found this installation presented new challenges. According to Patricia Sorbara, the President of Advanced Utility Systems, the tight timing and the need to complete the implementation while an amalgamation was occurring represented a huge challenge. “The leadership team from Hydro Ottawa remained focused on the November 1st goal, ensuring that even in a time of uncertainty and transition the implementation team received the resources necessary to successfully complete the project. This focus, and the dedication from the team at Advanced enabled the go-live to run smoothly and effectively.”

CIS Infinity will handle complete customer relationship management activities, including billing, inventory management, customer contact management, and service management. The Ontario electric market moves to open access early in 2001 and Hydro Ottawa is well positioned to compete successfully. The combination of strong brand recognition, a well trained customer service team, and tools such as CIS Infinity will support their marketing and service efforts.

The movement to CIS Infinity represented a significant change in technology for the customer service team at Hydro Ottawa. However users benefited from the system’s ease-of-use, and the extensive classroom training provided. “Users at Hydro Ottawa embraced the new software, and responded very well to CIS Infinity. They recognized that the new software would help them make serving the customers of the new Hydro Ottawa that much easier,” continued Patricia Sorbara.

About Advanced Utility Systems Corporation:
Advanced Utility Systems Corporation is a privately owned and operated software and services Company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The company has grown from its 1997 start-up to serve over 40 North American water, electric and natural gas utility clients with its billing and customer service software CIS Infinity. The team at Advanced Utility Systems delivers whatever it takes to develop the ideal solution for the utility market. For additional information visit www.advancedutility.com.

About Hydro Ottawa:
The Ottawa Transition Board has overseen the amalgamation of over 250,000 customers within the utilities previously known as Ottawa Hydro, Goulbourn Hydro, Kanata Hydro, Nepean Hydro, and Gloucester Hydro. They employ over 500 staff and have provided reliable electric service to the area for numerous years.

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