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CONTACT INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Australia's Country Energy
Selects Peace Software for Merger Expansion
Rapid installation,
flexibility and scalability key to selection
MIAMI, FL., October 11, 2001 - Leading Australian energy
company Country Energy has licensed Peace Software's Energy suite
for customer management of its nearly 750,000 electricity and gas
customers and for its regulated distribution operations. Country
Energy is the largest regionally based company in Australia and
serves both residential and commercial and industrial (C&I)
customers. Its customer base is located in Queensland, Victoria,
South Australia and covers three-quarters of New South Wales - an
area approximately the size of Texas.
Country Energy was formed on July 1, 2001 by the merger of Advance
Energy, Great Southern Energy and NorthPower. The merger provided
economies of scale for the business to compete effectively when
the Australian residential market opens to full retail competition
(FRC) in January 2002. Merger synergies also give Country Energy
the competitive edge in the open C&I market.
"We evaluated many system options and Peace was years ahead
of the rest," said Craig Murray, Managing Director of Country
Energy. "Our decision to install Energy to support our merger
plans is testament to Peace's successful track record of dedicated
support for more than six years. Peace has demonstrated its foresight
and flexibility to anticipate and respond to market shifts in Australia.
We're banking on that flexibility and commitment as we execute against
our vision to deliver new benefits to people throughout the states
that we serve."
The association between Peace Software and Country Energy dates
back to 1995 when Peace's Energy suite was initially deployed at
Ophir Electricity in New South Wales. Ophir Electricity later merged
with four other electricity companies to form Advance Energy, which
selected Energy as the customer management framework for its restructuring
and expansion.
Brian Peace, Peace Software CEO and chairman, said "We're
delighted to be part of Country Energy's plans to deliver exceptional
service to customers in multiple Australian states. Our international
experience in large-scale mass market and C&I operations positions
us extremely well to support Country Energy's evolution into Australia's
largest and leading energy retailer.
Scalability was a strong factor in Peace's favor. Energy will consolidate
Country Energy's nearly 750,000 residential and C&I customers
spanning electricity, gas and other energy-related products on one
system. This includes nearly 10,000 large C&I customers on half-hourly
interval metering contracts. Each interval-metered customer generates
more than a thousand times more usage data than a typical monthly-read
customer.
The Energy suite also scored high marks for its browser user interface
(BUI) technology, which will connect more than a hundred offices
and service centers throughout Country Energy's expansive territory,
as well as enabling more effective call center customer care.
Additionally, Energy delivers advanced Internet self-service options
highly valued by remote customers. Remote customers can access their
account and energy consumption information, enter meter readings
and pay their bills online without needing to visit a service center
or post office. C&I customers have the added benefit of viewing
3D graphical demand profiles of their half-hourly electricity consumption
to better manage their energy budget.
Peace has strong ties to Australia and recently expanded its Australian
operations by establishing a regional sales office and professional
services hub in Sydney. Peace's 250-strong Energy Development Center
is based nearby in Auckland, New Zealand.
About Peace Software
Peace Software, Inc. delivers the most comprehensive and cost-effective
customer management solutions for utility and retail energy companies.
Peace Software's industry-leading Energy suite is being rapidly
deployed in 30 U.S. and international energy markets. Based on open
industry standards, the innovative and customer-proven Energy suite
integrates customer and commodity management for commercial and
industrial (C&I) and mass markets. Headquartered in Miami and
founded in 1984, Peace Software is a global company with offices
in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Visit us
at www.peace.com
About Country Energy
Country Energy is a regionally based energy retailer and distributor
supplying power to the Australian states of New South Wales, the
Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Queensland. Formed in
July 2001 from the merger of Advance Energy, Great Southern Energy
and NorthPower, Country Energy operates a vast franchise across
72% of NSW in addition to successfully competing in the national
retail electricity market. Country Energy's core businesses include
energy retailing, network operations and infrastructure construction
and maintenance. Visit us at www.countryenergy.com.au
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