AccuDocs Provides Central Hudson Gas & Electric Statement Proof, Print, Mail and Online View Services.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 10, 2000

AccuDocs LLC, a leading innovator of electronic document solutions, today announced an agreement to produce statements for 271,000 Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation customers in traditional paper and PDF formats. Central Hudson, a New York state gas and electric company, will rely on AccuDocs to provide a comprehensive document processing solution that includes Internet presentment and proofing, printing and mailing services. AccuDocs will use a complex business rules engine and leading edge electronic document technology to process and deliver statements to Central Hudson customers and customer service staff in a timely, efficient manner.

On a daily basis, Central Hudson will send the print streams for billing, collection notices and various other customer correspondences to AccuDocs via FTP. AccuDocs will print and mail the documents the same day the data is received.

Central Hudson employees will be able to handle customer inquiries more easily now that AccuDocs will be converting IBM print streams to PDF format for Internet presentment and viewing by Central Hudson customer service representatives. Central Hudson will load the files onto their server and eventually transition the files to tape for longer-term archival purposes.

Under the agreement, statements requiring special attention will be diverted to AccuDocs' proofing system during pre-processing, and presented on a password-protected area of the AccuDocs Web site for Central Hudson to review. Central Hudson will have the option to release a statement to AccuDocs, print and mail it from their location, place it on hold, delete it or replace it. The proofing system will inform customer service representatives of pending items to be reviewed, color code statements placed on hold too long and produce an aging report to track statements held up in proofing by employee number and revenue.

"We are excited about putting AccuDocs' document processing and Internet presentment technology to work for Central Hudson," said Martin S. Steber, President and CEO of AccuDocs. "AccuDocs is looking forward to helping Central Hudson improve customer service, while decreasing costs."

"AccuDocs' employees have taken the time to understand Central Hudson's needs, and design products and services that enhance our ability to serve our customers," said Patrice Abruzzo, Customer Account Services Division Manager. "We are saving a significant amount of money by outsourcing to AccuDocs instead of developing our own document processing solution in-house. That helps us to control costs for our customers."

About AccuDocs

As the largest independent provider of document processing services, AccuDocs transforms client data into highly readable statements, forms and invoices for delivery and payment. Step-by-step systems integration is an integral part of AccuDocs' custom print and mail and EBPP solutions. AccuDocs can process data in any standard format for document delivery to printers, Internet, email, fax, database, archive and complimentary customer care or financial systems. Based in Birmingham, AccuDocs has seven regional facilities nationwide. Visit www.accudocs.com for more information.

About Central Hudson

Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation is a regulated electric and gas utility serving a population of approximately 625,000 people in a 2,600-square-mile service territory in the Mid-Hudson Valley region of New York State. It is a primary subsidiary of CH Energy Group, Inc., a family of companies seizing exciting new opportunities in the competitive energy marketplace of the 21st century. Visit www.chenergygroup.com for more information.