CONTACT INFORMATION

Systems & Software Inc.
www.ssiutilitysuite.com
Kate Thornton
Kate.Thornton@ssiutilitysuite.com

COLCHESTER, VT – December 1, 2004 – Systems & Software, Inc. (S&S) today announced that the Electric Power Board (EPB) of Chattanooga has successfully upgraded to enQuesta, the latest in CIS offerings from S&S. EPB has shared a partnership with S&S since early 1999, when EPB commenced the cross-divisional implementation of S&S' full range of UtilitySuite offerings, including CIS, FMS, selected aspects of Asset and Work Management, and the integration of S&S' FMS to EPB's DCIS (Distribution & Construction Information System). EPB, established in 1935, provides electric power and telecommunication services to more than 150,000 metered-accounts in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area.

There were many contributing factors to the success of this upgrade, including co-ownership of the project plan, a series of well-defined test cases, and the utilization of web-based training tools accessed by EPB through an S&S hosting center. "The project plan clearly identified each organization's roles and dependencies, which alleviated the question of 'which party is accountable for each project task?'" comments Anita James, Project Manager, EPB. In addition, and due to the shared long-term relationship, both organizations named their project managers six months prior to the contract signing. "We are delighted to continue to be able to aid EPB in terms of its desire and ability to reach its utility customers and serve them well. EPB is a strong force in the public power and telecommunications arena, and S&S is proud to count itself as a trusted EPB partner," adds Burt Willey, President & CEO, S&S.

EPB migrated to an Oracle back-end from an IBM database product. Seven months prior to go-live, S&S delivered a converted dataset to EPB which allowed EPB to design and administer test cases on its own data that were specifically relevant to the utility’s unique and ever-changing business processes. As a Cognos business partner that shares S&S’ reporting philosophy, EPB’s cross-divisional ad hoc/report writing personnel are amongst the most sophisticated in the industry and are now able to utilize enhanced reporting functionality with the migration to Oracle.

In terms of training, EPB was able to incorporate enQuesta’s e-learning solution that is both self-administered and provides both pre and post assessments – a real-time report card. This tool allowed both EPB and S&S to easily identify specific areas and/or personnel that required more individualized/specialized training. "The navigation training in enQuesta was an excellent addition and enabled our users to quickly adapt to the navigation within [this] new version," adds Anita James.

enQuesta's ease of navigation, coupled with quick access to information, which allows customer service representatives to serve utility customers more efficiently, has enabled utilities to increase overall productivity and heighten user satisfaction. “We are a utility that has the goal of being the best public power utility in the nation as well as a premier employer. enQuesta has further promoted both satisfied customers and satisfied users,” comments David Thomas, CIO, EPB.

About the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga
EPB was founded to ensure the availability of reliable, low-cost electric power service for Chattanooga area residents, industry and businesses. But with deregulation around the corner, EPB is becoming more than a power company. EPB is becoming a powerful company--an innovative, progressive company people can depend on for a wide range of reliable, affordable services. But whether individuals have electric, telecommunications or other services from EPB, one thing will never change -- the way EPB always put the needs of their customers first. It's a way of doing business that's served EPB well for more than six decades -- a philosophy which is, indeed, more current than ever.

About Systems & Software, Inc.
Founded in 1973, Systems & Software, Inc., (S&S) provides a proven, scalable, and configurable Customer Information System (CIS) to municipal and investor-owned utilities. In addition to the CIS offering, enQuesta further heightens operational efficiencies by providing Work Flow Management, Job Costing, Field/Mobile Service Management, Asset Management and Financial/ERP software solutions. S&S' offerings perform critical billing, work management, and customer care operations numbering in the millions of transactions per month across North American-based water, wastewater, refuse, gas, and electric service providers. S&S assists utilities by enhancing the quality of the relationship they have with their customers through the delivery of exceptional customer care as afforded through its core enQuesta COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) software solution in traditional or hosted environments. S&S also provides industry-leading professional services offerings, including integration of its core products with a broad range of leading, utility-focused business solutions. More information about Systems & Software, Inc. is available at www.ssiutilitysuite.com.

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