Automated Power Exchange Names Victoria Reader Vice President of Human Resources.

Business Editors

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2001

Automated Power Exchange Inc. (APX(R)), a leading provider of e-commerce services for the electric power industry, today announced that Victoria Reader has joined APX as its vice president of human resources.

With extensive experience in designing and administering human resources programs that support the business objectives of technology companies, Reader has previously held human resources management positions at BMC Software, Boole & Babbage, Solectron Corp., and IBM Corp.

"Vicky Reader is a valuable addition to our senior management team who will play a key role in our company staffing as we continue to roll out our Internet-based wholesale power markets in the U.S. and internationally," said Rich Amen, APX CEO, to whom Reader reports.

From 1999 to 2000, Reader was human resources director for Houston-based BMC Software, a Forbes 500 company that is one of the world's largest independent software vendors. For the company's 400-employee West Coast operations, she was responsible for recruiting, compensation and benefits, employee relations, employee development, and acquisition integration programs.

Before that, Reader was the senior human resources executive for Boole & Babbage, based in San Jose, Calif., from 1997 to 1999, when it was acquired by BMC Software. As corporate director of human resources, she oversaw all personnel functions for the 1,000-person worldwide company.

Reader's career also has included human resources management positions at Solectron of Milipitas, Calif., from 1992 to 1997 and IBM in San Jose and Armonk, N.Y., from 1975 to 1992.

Reader holds B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif.

Automated Power Exchange operates Internet-based exchanges and clearinghouses for the buying and selling of electric power, renewable power, and related products and provides the core market and scheduling technologies needed to support power system administration. A privately held company with approximately 100 employees, APX has its world headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., and its European headquarters in London. More information is available at www.apx.com.

Note to editors: A high-resolution portrait photo of Victoria Reader is available at http://www.apx.com/sHome_html/pic.html.