BC Gas and Peace - Phase Two e-Business Expansion

BC Gas and Peace Software Launch
Phase Two e-Business Expansion

Phase Two builds on competitive advantages created in Phase One
for customer service, operational efficiency, and cost savings

Auckland, December 5, 2000 – Peace Software today announced it had started phase two installation of its Energy software for one of North America’s leading retail energy utilities, BC Gas Inc, ahead of pending energy sector deregulation in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest.

“Our decision to proceed with the next stage of implementation is founded on Peace Software’s proven ability to deliver interactive web-based services to our 250,000 Interior customers,” said Patrick Lloyd, senior vice president, Business Technologies & Support, BC Gas Utility Ltd. “Since installing the Energy system in April this year, we have realized vast improvements over our previous systems, greater operational efficiencies and real unit cost savings. These benefits came just in time as our customer service capabilities have been greatly tested by the customers’ confusion about dramatically higher gas prices.”

Brian Peace, chairman and CEO of Peace Software, said, “This highly productive joint effort by Peace and BC Gas demonstrates our successful and continuing partnership. BC Gas has chosen a leadership path in the industry, and we are delighted to be an integral element to its plans and operations.”

Edna Katrichak, senior manager, Customer Management Technologies at BC Gas Utility Ltd., said, “The Energy system empowers our customers to directly access their account and consumption information via the Internet and automated telephone system without needing to speak to a customer representative. Additionally, we have taken 35 seconds off our average call time in the call center.”

The next implementation phase involves enhancing the utility’s online customer care environment with new automation of business processes. For example, field service work will be automatically scheduled and dispatched at the time the customer calls the call center. In addition, Peace’s Energy system will be interfaced with the SAP financials system. Interfacing with third-party applications is efficient due to Energy’s open-architecture standards.

Expansion of commercial and industrial (C&I) billing capabilities is also part of the scope for stage two implementation. This includes flexible contract management so that BC Gas can provide its C&I customers with customized and consolidated bills for multiple premises, products and services.

In preparation for deregulation of British Columbia’s gas markets in November 2002, a result of the phase two project will be BC Gas’ ability to separately charge for its various energy products and services, including gas transportation services. Additionally, Energy’s billing engine will support multi-commodities, namely electricity and water, so that BC Gas can offer new products and value-added services.

ENDS.

About Peace Software
Peace Software International delivers the broadest and most comprehensive e-business solutions to the global retail energy market. The industry-leading Energy suite is being rapidly deployed in 20 deregulating markets spanning North America and Australasia. Based on industry standards, the innovative and customer-proven Energy suite integrates comprehensive customer care, e-Commerce and customer self-service, EBPP for C&I and mass markets, and commodity management. Headquartered in Atlanta and founded in 1984, Peace is a global company with offices in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Visit us at www.peace.com.

About BC Gas
BC Gas Inc. the largest distributor of natural gas to British Columbians. The company owns two regulated operating entities - BC Gas Utility Ltd. and Trans Mountain Pipe Line Company Ltd, as well as a number of non-regulated businesses. BC Gas Inc. shares are traded on the Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver Stock Exchanges. Additional information about BC Gas is available at www.bcgas.com

© Scoop Media