Mincom Wins Software Solutions Contract With Pacific Northwest's Cascade Natural Gas

Business Wire, Dec 6, 2000

Business Editors

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2000

Mincom Inc., a global provider of information technology solutions for the utilities industry, and Cascade Natural Gas Corporation, a Seattle-based utility company servicing the Pacific Northwest, have signed a $1.7 million deal for Mincom's complete Ellipse software application solution.

Ellipse, the web-based version of Mincom's flagship MIMS software, will integrate and streamline Cascade's many business processes, including maintenance, materials, financials, human resources and payroll. In addition, Ellipse will integrate with Cascade's existing customer management systems. The Cascade-Mincom implementation process is expected to take eleven months, with an anticipated 'go-live' date of September 2001.

Cascade's Vice President of Information Technology, Linda Cies, said Cascade's multi-state Pacific Northwest natural gas distribution to 184,000 customers requires an integrated solution that can be implemented seamlessly and grow over time.

"Ellipse was a very good fit. We think we can grow with the system, which will provide good cost value over the long-term," Ms. Cies said. "We were also looking for a strong commitment to the implementation process from a company like Mincom that knows the utilities business."

Larry Hagewood, President of Mincom North America, believes that the deal will increase Cascade's efficiencies and productivity. "Mincom's integrated solutions enable utility companies like Cascade to boost productivity and respond to the dynamic requirements of today's competitive, deregulating environment," he said.

The Cascade agreement builds on Mincom's strong existing utility customer base in North America and throughout the world, following on the heels of other significant recent sales within the utilities sector. Mincom's recent utility successes include a $2.3 million contract for Ellipse to Australia's Tarong Energy and a landmark business partnership agreement with Western Power, Western Australia's energy corporation. Western Power will "road-test" Mincom's software in a real-world utilities environment, ensuring the end products are finely tuned to meet the specific needs of the utilities industry.

About Mincom

Mincom, Inc. is a global provider of enterprise application software solutions for capital asset-dependent companies in the utilities, transportation, mining, and government/defense industries. Mincom serves customers in over 40 countries with fully integrated software solutions and professional services, along with e-business procurement capabilities and Applications Service Provider (ASP) services through subsidiaries Innotech and Tequinox, respectively. Headquartered in Brisbane Australia, Mincom's 1,100 employees populate thirty offices worldwide in 18 countries.

About Cascade Natural Gas

Cascade Natural Gas Corporation is a Seattle-based local distribution company that provides natural gas service to 184,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation customers in 90 communities in the states of Washington and Oregon. The company's stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:CGC).