ATLANTA, Oct. 29, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative Inc. has selected CES International's Centricity software system, an operations resource management suite that will allow the utility to respond more rapidly to power outages and improve day-to-day network reliability and customer service.
"Centricity will help us monitor and improve operations internally, and what that means to our members is faster, more-efficient service, particularly during storms, tornadoes or other crises that can take out power in central South Carolina," said Jack Wolfe, Mid-Carolina CEO.
Centricity streamlines and automates the process of fielding customer calls, dispatching repair crews and managing crews while they are in the field restoring electrical power. In addition, Centricity analyzes operating data to help predict and correct potential failures in a distribution system.
Centricity integrates customer location data and incoming customer calls regarding power outages. This information gives operations-center personnel and utility executives a comprehensive, real-time view of the distribution network and where problems -- or potential problems -- lie.
Mid-Carolina has used automated outage analysis since 1989. Its decision to upgrade to the more robust Centricity system came in the wake of several damaging storms in early 2000 that challenged its original system.
The search that eventually led Mid-Carolina to CES International also coincided with the utility migrating its paper maps to a geographic information system, a process the utility began with an eye toward a new outage-management system.
"Centricity will enable Mid-Carolina to serve its members more effectively by giving the MCEC team the information they need to make faster, better decisions," said Dave Jones, CES International CEO and president. "For CES, having Mid-Carolina as a valued customer is yet another significant achievement in the cooperative market. We continue to expand in this market segment and plan to continue on that path."
About Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative Inc.
Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative Inc. (MCEC) is a not-for-profit electric distribution utility headquartered in Lexington, S.C. MCEC is owned by more than 45,000 customers -- member-owners -- who reside in Lexington, Richland, Newberry, Saluda and Aiken counties. MCEC is the fifth largest of the 20 electric cooperatives in South Carolina. Together these cooperatives serve more than 500,000 members in more than 70 percent of the state. For more information, visit www.mcecoop.com.
About CES International
CES International is a leading global supplier of real-time software solutions for distribution utilities. CES' flagship product, the Centricity operations resource management (ORM) system, optimizes distribution-network operations and reliability, dramatically increasing customer-service capabilities. The Centricity information infrastructure enables the safe and efficient integration of emerging power technologies with traditional distribution networks. Equipped with comprehensive energy-delivery management capabilities, Centricity helps customers achieve enhanced return on network assets and deliver the "high 9s" reliability and power-quality levels demanded by the information economy. For more information on CES International, visit www.ces.com or call 1-800-450-0266.
Trademarks: CES International, Centricity and the CES International "network sweep logo" design are registered trademarks on file with the US Patent and Trademark Office and the European Union. InterSys, CES.com and advanCES are trademarks of CES International. Other trademarks are used for reference only.