ROCHESTER, N.Y., March 20, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- eBidenergy.com, an application service provider (ASP) of online energy services, and Ameren Data & Metering Specialties (AmerenDMS), a certified Meter Service Provider (MSP), announced today that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, or NYSERDA, selected the companies to pilot its Peak-Load Reduction Program.
A number of electric markets across the United States have experienced dramatic increases in energy prices, and in cases such as California, energy shortages, as a result of high summer demand. As more customers take advantage of New York State's deregulated energy market, there is growing concern that limited options will make it difficult to respond to sudden market-based increases in energy prices. Part of the New York Energy $mart SM Program, NYSERDA's Peak-Load Reduction initiative aims to reduce energy costs and improve electric system reliability by providing incentives that will result in significant coincident system summer peak demand reduction in New York State. This will allow the New York State power system to better allocate and manage electric supplies during critical periods in the summer when demand is high and electricity resources may be low.
Under the agreement, eBidenergy.com will provide PowerTrak(tm), a diverse set of Web-based analytical tools for analyzing and reporting energy consumption. Specifically, eBidenergy.com will provide data hosting, load reduction verification, and real-time acquisition of electric market prices.
AmerenDMS will provide their Customer Energy Exchange load curtailment software, a program that allows suppliers to monitor the data and market prices provided by eBidenergy.com and quickly resell or redistribute curtailed energy. Peter Douglas, program manager, NYSERDA, commented, "These technologies will give electricity customers additional strategies for managing their energy costs by allowing them to choose the amount of electricity they wish to consume at a given price."
Advantage Energy, a certified New York State load-serving entity that allows customers to buy and sell power on the open market, will provide customers to participate in the pilot program, scheduled to run from June 1 through September 30, 2001.
"We're taking measures to help customers avoid the increased energy prices and shortages we've seen in other markets like California," said Terry Sick, president and CEO of eBidenergy.com. "Also, we intend to roll out this service on a national level. In fact, several energy suppliers from across the country are contacting us with interest in implementing a price responsive load curtailment program in the markets they serve."
Raymond Wiesehan, manager of AmerenDMS, added, "We expect the customers of Advantage to save energy in a time when energy demand is high and capacity is increasingly short in the Northeast. Clearly, this alliance offers a win-win situation for everyone -- the companies involved and the end users.
"We are pleased to join with eBidenergy.com in participating in this important pilot program and are honored to have been selected by NYSERDA to test the benefits of this curtailment software," he said.
About eBidenergy.com
Headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., eBidenergy.com -- formerly Logical Energy Solutions, Inc. -- was founded in 1996. eBidenergy.com is an online provider of energy procurement, data acquisition, and data analysis for U.S.-based commercial and industrial businesses, and a service provider to industry stakeholders. Customers and strategic alliances include Xerox Corporation, Siemens, Medeva Pharmaceuticals, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and Aquila Energy. For additional information, call (716) 427-2610 or visit www.eBidenergy.com.
About AmerenDMS -- a subsidiary of Ameren
Ameren Data & Metering Specialties provides a full suite of metering and information-based solutions to better manage energy usage and costs. As a non-regulated subsidiary, AmerenDMS provides services across North America in 18 states and Canada.
With assets of $10 billion, Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE) serves 1.5 million electric customers and 300,000 natural gas customers in a 44,500-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois. St. Louis-based Ameren is one of the top utilities in the United States. For additional information visit http://www.amerendms.com.
About Advantage Energy, Inc.
Advantage Energy Inc., a New York-based company, was the first energy service company (ESCO) to market electricity to end users in the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC), Orange and Rockland, and New York State Electric and Gas, or NYSEG, territories beginning in 1997. Advantage has been at the forefront of the transition to a competitive market in New York State and is considered a pioneer in the industry. Advantage is currently serving thousands of accounts from the industrial, commercial, residential and agricultural sectors. This large migration of consumers is the result of Advantage Energy's ability to achieve material savings for its customers.
Advantage has satisfied all the creditworthiness requirements of the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC). New York Independent Systems Operator, or NYISO, PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM), Niagara Mohawk (NiMo), New York State Electric and Gas, Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) and Orange and Rockland.
About NYSERDA
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, supports research to develop technologies that help New York save energy and reduce emissions. NYSERDA also helps New York State businesses develop energy and environmental products, commercializing the type of high-value-added products that give New York State businesses a real chance to compete in the expanding global marketplace. In addition, NYSERDA helps New York State businesses, residents, and municipalities identify and implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures that lower operating costs and reduce environmental emissions.
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CONTACT: eBidenergy.com
Terry Sick, President and CEO
(716) 427-2610
tsick@ebidenergy.com
Buck & Pulleyn
For eBidenergy.com
Carol Burke,
(716) 288-6900
carol.burke@pulleyn.com