Nexant Boosts California Energy Efficiency Efforts; New Web Application Helps California Public Utilities Commission Manage Multiple Statewide and Local Energy Efficiency Programs.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Nexant, Inc. (www.nexant.com) announced today that it has successfully deployed the statewide energy efficiency groupware application (EEGA) for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). EEGA enables the CPUC Energy Division to oversee implementation of 185 state and local energy efficiency programs.

The application maintains an electronic repository of energy efficiency program information, helps monitor and track program activity, provides analysis-based reports, and supports long-term decision-making strategies.

A key objective of EEGA is to provide accurate, up-to-date information and reports that will allow the CPUC to track energy efficiency programs more effectively. Using EEGA, the CPUC can quickly communicate key performance statistics to stakeholders, including the state legislature, energy program managers, and members of the general public whose public goods charge payments support CPUC energy efficiency programs.

Currently, EEGA's primary functions involve streamlining the administrative monitoring process, gathering program information, and documenting program activities. In late fall 2004, these functions will be augmented by the addition of extensive, well-organized analytical and reporting capabilities.

According to Terry Fry, principal consultant in charge of Nexant's work on the project, more than 100 energy efficiency programs and related workflow tasks have already been implemented within EEGA and over 150 users are now working within the application. "The total of 185 programs represent energy efficiency measures worth $550 million in Public Goods Charge funding for 2004-2005 budget cycle. EEGA enables the CPUC to monitor real-time program performance of this complex portfolio and ensure that targeted goals are on track," Fry said.

"EEGA is being implemented using a scalable and flexible solution architecture that adheres to current industry standards and accommodates future requirements and technology developments," stated Dr. Venky Ravirala, Nexant project manager. "Working with the CPUC and our development team, we managed a well-coordinated effort to build a custom solution that integrates best-of-breed technology components to achieve timely deployment of a comprehensive, user-friendly, and secure solution."

"Before the CPUC embarked on this effort, monitoring and improving energy efficiency programs made substantial demands on its staff, especially due to a significant increase in the number of energy efficiency program implementers and the more frequent and expanded requirements for regulatory reporting," Ravirala said. "EEGA will decrease the burden on CPUC resources. It will provide a secure, easily accessible central repository of comprehensive energy efficiency program information while also streamlining reporting and analysis in a way that helps hundreds of users."

The EEGA web application is being developed on the Microsoft(R) .NET platform with a Microsoft(R) SQL Server 2000 database. Workflow processes are being implemented using Captaris Teamplate(TM), a flexible, integrated workflow solution. Extensive analytical reports are being developed using Crystal Reports for .Net. In addition, Nexant is executing a significant portion of the development work with the support of Congruent Solutions (www.congruentsolutions.com), a leading software services company providing software development, maintenance, integration, and migration services to companies worldwide.

ABOUT NEXANT

Nexant's products and services help clients solve critical strategic and operational challenges in several key areas: energy delivery and management; advanced energy technology; retail and wholesale power markets; energy trading; enterprise risk management and decision support; and petroleum and chemicals. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Nexant maintains offices in London, U.K.; Bangkok, Thailand; Tokyo, Japan; White Plains, NY; Washington, D.C.; Houston, TX; Boulder, CO; Phoenix, AZ; and Madison, WI. The company is owned by a select group of investors and Nexant management and employees.

ABOUT CONGRUENT SOLUTIONS

Congruent Solutions, Inc., a software development alliance partner to Nexant, is an ISO 9001 certified development organization and Microsoft Certified Partner. The company provides innovative IT services in the areas of web application development (J2EE, .NET, Web Services) as well as application integration and workflow solutions.

Nexant(R) is a proprietary trademark of Nexant, Inc. Microsoft(R) .Net and Microsoft(R) SQL Server are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft, Inc. Captaris Teamplate is a trademark of Captaris, Inc. and Crystal Reports is a trademark of Business Objects SA.