ConneXt Announces ConsumerLinX, a Comprehensive and Flexible Customer Information System for the Deregulating Energy Market.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1999--

ConneXt Joins Forces with GE Information Services to

Provide Large Scale Service Bureau Capabilities for ConsumerLinX

ConneXt(R) Inc. (http://www.connext.com), a leading developer of software solutions for the energy industry, today announced ConsumerLinX(tm), its next-generation customer information system (CIS) solution designed specifically for regulated utilities competing in the deregulating energy market.

ConneXt also announced an agreement with GE Information Services that enables utilities to outsource their Customer Information System; GE will host ConsumerLinX as a service bureau solution. In addition to the service bureau-based solution, ConsumerLinX is available as a licensed software product.

As the energy market restructures, only a powerful and flexible customer information system that manages third-party relationships, streamlines operations and reduces overhead costs will provide the competitive edge required by utilities. ConsumerLinX, designed specifically for the energy market, delivers this competitive advantage through its completely customer-centric approach.

ConsumerLinX was designed using input and requirements from multiple utilities to create a solution capable of tracking all interactions with utility customers. It is completely parameter driven, allowing quick customization to support a variety of business rules and processes. In addition to handling all the standard CIS functions -- cash processing, call center support, billing, service order tracking, service outage functionality, etc. -- ConsumerLinX provides full support for advanced requirements such as complex rate structures, new product introduction, marketing campaign tracking, and extensive per product line credit rules.

"ConsumerLinX is a highly flexible, scalable client/server solution that allows utilities to cost effectively meet the challenges of deregulation. It can be configured and customized quickly by business people without the need for extensive programmer support and can be integrated with major ERP systems," said Robert Bismuth, ConneXt president and CEO. "ConsumerLinX is available under license to utilities looking for an in-house solution. However, in recognition of an industry trend towards outsourcing major IT systems and the growing demand to integrate solutions with state-of-the-art E-Commerce infrastructures, ConneXt has entered into an agreement with a leading electronic commerce provider, GE Information Services. Under this exciting agreement, the companies will work together to provide a highly cost effective and competitive ConsumerLinX bureau-based service."

In addition to its traditional CIS functionality, ConsumerLinX was developed to help utility companies remain competitive amid a changing retail delivery model for energy and energy-related products and services. To date, gas and electricity has been mainly purchased directly from infrastructure owners and utility distribution companies. However, with the onset of state-by-state deregulation in the energy industry, more and more consumers are purchasing energy through third-party energy service providers. This change in the delivery of energy-related products and services has mandated new levels of data sharing among traditional utility companies and new energy service providers, including needs for enhanced payment management, invoice creation, price calculation and metering options. This mandate has caused functions such as call center management, billing and remittance processes, and credit and collection to often be spread across several companies, geographic regions, and jurisdictions. ConsumerLinX was specifically designed to accommodate these complexities.

"The integration of customer care data with infrastructure and operations is poised to transform the energy industry," said Barton Taylor, senior analyst at the Aberdeen Group in Boston. "By helping customers get billed the way they want to get billed -- by location, by company, by division, or by product or service -- utility companies will increase customer retention, lower costs and ultimately have an edge on the competition. ConneXt understands this like few others in the industry."

ConsumerLinX is a scalable, TCP/IP-based client/server solution. Desktop support is provided for Windows 95 and 98, plus Windows NT and OS/2 using standard IBM PC-compatible systems. Backend server support is provided using an IBM mainframe-hosted relationship data base environment. Desktop to server connectivity can be provided by a corporate Intranet or, via secure tunnels, wide area public Internet connections. A ConsumerLinX solution is only limited by network and mainframe capacities and can scale to over 20 million customer accounts. It also includes a fully integrated metering subsystem capable of supporting major AMR meter systems such as those provided by CellNet and Itron, in addition to full support for manually read meters.

GE Provides Key Technology Support

To bring ConsumerLinX to market as a cost effective and competitive bureau-based service, ConneXt is teaming with GE Information Services, a worldwide leader with over 30 years of experience in providing electronic commerce solutions, electronic data interchange (EDI) services, and data center services for the utilities industry. Under this agreement, GE will host the ConsumerLinX software at their world class data center, provide network connectivity, and process monthly bills on behalf of the utility.

"GE Information Services and ConneXt both understand that utilities increasingly want to focus on their primary core competencies and look for 'best in class' software and service providers to help them gain a competitive edge. Working with ConneXt, GE will provide an extremely attractive CIS solution to help utilities compete in the deregulating energy market," said Haskell Mayo, vice president of Utilities and Telecommunications for GE Information Services. "We look forward to meeting the demands of the utilities industry by bringing together ConneXt's utility software and GE's substantial data center and electronic commerce expertise."

About GE Information Services

GE Information Services inter-networks companies with their business partners through the power of electronic commerce. As the experts in global extended supply chain, including electronic data interchange, messaging gateways, extranets, electronic catalogs, and electronic marketplaces, GE Information Services manages the world's largest electronic community of more than 100,000 trading partners. GE Information Services is part of the General Electric Company, USA and is headquartered in Rockville, Md. The company's Web site is http://www.geis.com.

About ConneXt, Inc.

ConneXt is a privately held, Seattle-based software and services company that connects energy providers to customers. ConneXt designs, develops and delivers world-class software and service solutions capable of managing the energy industry's information systems, customer relationships, services and commerce for utilities (UDCs), energy service providers (ESPs) and energy service companies (ESCOs). Products include ConsumerLinX(tm), a large-scale customer information system, and Tellus(R), comprehensive distribution and design management tools for utility market. ConneXt's TransaXions line is designed to give ESCOs and ESPs a premier solution to jumpstart their business services and maximize the opportunities presented by the restructuring energy marketplace.

ConneXt's current customers include DukeSolutions, Nicor Energy LLC, Pacific Gas & Electric, Puget Sound Energy, and other major North American energy providers.

ConneXt is located at 1301 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1900, Seattle, WA 98101. Phone at 800/706-1976, fax at 206/521-2400. www.connext.com.