GE Power Systems Invests in Advanced Energy Software Firm.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 1997--GE Power Systems has announced it has taken an equity position in Praxis Engineers, Inc. of Milpitas, CA, a private company specializing in advanced software solutions for reducing power plant operating and fuel costs. As part of the agreement, GE will market Praxis software through its global sales and service network. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The immediate focus of GE's participation will be the marketing of PECOS (Plant Environmental and Cost Optimization System), an advisory software package developed by Praxis for fossil-fired power plants. PECOS assists plant operators in minimizing all controllable costs of power generation while maintaining NOx, SO2, CO and other emissions within acceptable limits. In the process, all aspects of the power plant are taken into consideration including fuel quality, heat rate, emission credits and sale of by-products.

When applied on a system-wide basis, PECOS allows utilities to develop least-cost strategies for compliance with NOx emissions. PECOS also provides a real-time breakdown of costs for use in bidding into power pools, or for economic and environmental dispatch.

PECOS, available commercially, has been successfully proven on-line with excellent results including verification of anticipated economic pay back.

"This is one more step we're taking to provide our customers with leading-edge solutions as they prepare for operating in a deregulated, competitive power market. Our investment in Praxis Engineers will help our customers gain productivity in their single largest cost category - fuel," said Robert Nardelli, President and CEO of GE Power Systems.

"We are very pleased to have GE as a partner and see this relationship as a major step in bringing our advanced technology to the global power generation market," said Randhir Sehgal, President of Praxis Engineers.

Praxis Engineers, Inc., founded in 1983, specializes in developing on-line software products to monitor and control processes in the power generation and coal industries. Praxis offers a family of OptiMation software products that optimize, automate and provide information management to power plant operators.

GE Power Systems (GEPS) is one of GE's major businesses and is the world's leading supplier of power generation technology, services and energy management systems. GEPS serves customers globally through a network of local offices and service centers, with regional headquarters in Hong Kong, London and Schenectady, NY.

CONTACT: GE Power Systems

Howard Masto, Ken Darling, 518/786-6488

or

Praxis Engineers

Suzanne Shea, 408/945-4282