Account4 Selected to Power IT for Philadelphia Gas Works.

Business/Technology Editors

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2001

Joins Account4 Utility Clients Verizon, NSTAR, Salt River

Project, and Consolidated Edison

Account4(R), a pioneer of Web-based Professional Services Automation (PSA) software, announced that Philadelphia Gas Works, the largest municipally-owned gas utility in the country, has selected Account4 to automate core IT processes and project work. Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) joins Account4's growing list of leading utility customers, including Verizon, NSTAR, Salt River Project, and Consolidated Edison of New York.

PGW will use Account4(R) software as an efficient means to better manage IT projects and the resources working on them. The evaluation team had several key factors in mind for the right IT management solution, including system accessibility, software usability, and a common storage area for critical data. The team concluded Account4 met all requirements. Account4 uses thin-client Web-based architecture, allowing all users access to the system via a standard browser. The software's straightforward design encourages staff compliance. Finally, Account4's powerful central data repository and flexible work request process offer tremendous administrative and decision-making advantages.

"IT workgroups in a variety of industries, spanning from IT services and consulting firms to corporate IT departments within vertical industries such as utilities, are realizing the benefits of PSA" said Dick Artus, Senior VP of Marketing at Account4. "Account4's flexibility allows it to be tailored to meet specific organizational requirements, and is a cost effective way for many organizations to optimize IT practices and achieve higher levels of customer service."

With Account4, corporate IT departments can realize several benefits, including the ability to:

-- Align IT goals with those of business units

-- Charge costs to other departments or customers

-- Meet delivery promises - on time & under budget

-- Expedite billing and accounting processes

-- Track actual time & expenses against a budget

-- Streamline administrative operations and reduce

-- Improve workforce acquisition, management & bottlenecks optimization

About Philadelphia Gas Works:

Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) is owned by the City of Philadelphia and is used for the acquisition, storage, processing, and distribution of gas within the City. PGW is the largest municipally-owned gas utility in the country, maintaining a distribution system of approximately 6,000 miles of gas mains and service pipes serving approximately 518,000 customers.

About Account4(R) Software:

Account4 is a fully integrated, Web-based, end-to-end PSA solution grouped into three major areas that mirror the business model of a typical professional services organization (PSO) or corporate information technology (IT) department: Business Development, Service Delivery, and Administration. Account4's thin-client (browser only) architecture coupled with a central repository provides users the ability to access, share, and collaborate on key data integral to the success of their business.

About Account4:

Account4 (www.account4.com) develops Internet-based software products and services that enable PSOs and corporate IT departments to successfully manage projects and increase the utilization, productivity, effectiveness, and retention of their workforces. Over the past 14 years, Account4 has provided solutions to a premier customer base of over 175 companies representing over 290,000 licensed users.