CONTACT INFORMATION

Systems & Software Inc.
www.ssiutilitysuite.com

Kate Thornton
Kate.Thornton@ssiutilitysuite.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Systems & Software Expands Michigan Presence with SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company
Customer information system’s flexibility, open configuration of strong appeal

COLCHESTER, VT; February 15, 2005 – Systems & Software (S&S), a leading customer information solution (CIS) provider for the utility industry, today announced a new partnership with Michigan-based SEMCO ENERGY GAS COMPANY. According to Tim Lubbers, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications for SEMCO ENERGY, the CIS implementation will substantially improve and update SEMCO ENERGY’s ability to report, gather data, and serve their customers’ needs.

SEMCO ENERGY struggled to meet expanding business needs while using the existing 25-year-old legacy CIS system. According to Laurie Owens, Director of Customer Service, "We were looking for a solution that was more flexible and configurable than our existing system. With enQuesta, our business-end units such as marketing and customer service can manage the system, as opposed to that work falling on the IT department."

Lubbers noted other benefits. "The new CIS system will enhance our ability to service our customers, gather data and also features an easier interface both for our Customer Service Representatives and for our consumers; it replaces a current system that’s not 'user-friendly.'"

When the system goes live in mid-2006, it will handle about 277,000 accounts throughout Michigan and have the capability to integrate additional companies and accounts into the system as required.

"This is not only an exciting step for us expanding our presence in Michigan," said Burt Willey, President & CEO, S&S, "but it also speaks to our ability to replace a legacy-type system with one that addresses today’s needs and future requirements."

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. S&S assists utilities through its core enQuesta COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) software solution, which provides billing, premise-based or customer based credit & collections, integrated payment processing and meter inventory, workflow management, and multiple customer self-service options including web access. S&S supports customer care operations totaling in the millions of transactions per month across North American-based water, wastewater, refuse, gas, and electric service providers. More information about Systems & Software, Inc. is available at www.ssiutilitysuite.com

About SEMCO ENERGY, Inc.
SEMCO ENERGY, Inc. (NYSE:SEN) distributes natural gas to more than 392,000 customers combined in Michigan, as SEMCO ENERGY GAS COMPANY, and in Alaska as ENSTAR Natural Gas Company. It also owns and operates businesses involved in propane distribution, intrastate pipelines and natural gas storage in various regions of the United States.

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