Country Energy Deploys Peace Software's Energy CIS For 750,000 Electricity and Gas Customers

Business Wire, Nov 4, 2002

Business/Technology Editors

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 4, 2002

Australian energy retailer Country Energy has deployed Peace Software's Energy(TM) CIS(Customer Information System) for its entire customer base.

The browser-based Energy suite is supporting billing, customer care and Internet self-service for 750,000 electricity and gas customers in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.

Country Energy was formed in July 2001 by the merger of three regional New South Wales electricity companies, each of which had their own CIS. The recent deployment of Energy for Country Energy's northern customers marked the final phase to consolidate all Country Energy customers onto the advanced Energy CIS; this consolidation will improve efficiencies and service capabilities across more than 100 service centers and 2,700 employees.

"The text book perfect rollout of Energy for our northern customers is the latest in a string of successes for Country Energy," said Craig Murray, Country Energy Managing Director. "We have successfully merged three companies, entered the fully competitive retail market and implemented an innovative customer management platform to cement our position as one of Australia's leading energy retailers."

At Country Energy, Peace Software's highly scalable Energy suite is processing nearly ten million interval meter reads for 10,000 large commercial and industrial customers on half-hourly metering contracts. The system is also able to support consolidated billing for electricity, gas, insurance and ISP (Internet Service Provider) services.

Brian Peace, Peace Software CEO, said, "2002 has been an outstanding year for Peace Software. We have proven time and time again that we can meet client expectations to scope and on budget, and that our Energy software is highly scalable to support large-scale retail energy businesses. Our clients, including Country Energy, can rest assured that we have the technology, the agility and the determination to support their growth strategies."

About Peace Software

Peace Software is exclusively dedicated to developing open, component-based CIS solutions used by utilities and retailers for business innovation in regulated, transitioning and competitive global energy markets. The company's browser-based Energy suite has been selected to drive efficient operations and provide excellent customer care for 13 million mass market and commercial and industrial (C&I) customer relationships in 40 markets around the world. Founded in 1984, Peace Software has offices in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit 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, South Australia 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 New South Wales 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