Energy Industry Visionary Presents Integration of Billing Information with Energy Analysis At SEDC User Conference

ATLANTA, June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today in Atlanta, Apogee Interactive Chief Software Architect, Joel Gilbert, P.E., addressed industry professionals at SEDC'S Annual User Conference. Gilbert shared Apogee's cutting-edge and RESNET® accredited analysis software and described how it now works seamlessly within SEDC's new POWERnet Portal.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091210/CL23938LOGO )

Apogee's billing analysis software engine provides an automated explanation and thorough monthly disaggregation of a customer's bills by end-use, answering why bills may have changed from month-to-month, or year-to-year. This is accomplished through sophisticated analysis involving customer billing data, meter-read dates, bill coincident weather, and behavior changes within the home.  

In the opening plenary session, Gilbert showcased Apogee's BillingInsights™ application integrated into SEDC's POWERnet Portal. Attendees saw the array of bill analysis opportunities that leverage major utility information channels and shared what today's consumers are looking for from their energy providers. In addition, Gilbert explained how SEDC users are now reducing costs and driving program participation using these state-of-the art tools.

Currently, SEDC provides the utility industry with billing and accounting software, utilizing their flagship program utility, POWERnet (UPN), to deliver a vast variety of billing, accounting, engineering, and operations functions to utility cooperatives across the country. Both Apogee and SEDC are harnessing technology to integrate all aspects of the utility business, creating new ways to streamline workflow and improve efficiency for utilities and their customers.

"For most utilities, the big obstacle to getting bill analysis working is getting internal IT resources committed to creating the web service interface.  Fortunately, with SEDC the heavy lifting has been done for them, and it is simple for Apogee to enable this capability. With the new SEDC customer portal approach, the value proposition is compelling for both the consumers as well as the cooperative staff," explained Gilbert.

According to SEDC CEO, Ron Camp, "We strive to bring value to our users, and Apogee's energy analysis applications have been rated by credible third-parties as not just best-in-class but in a league apart from other providers in their ability to accurately estimate savings and explain utility bills combining factors of weather, rates, days of service, facility characteristics, and behavior in the home."  Looking to the future, Camp added, "Our users are steadily adopting these new technologies."

Apogee began working with SEDC over a decade ago with CSR-facing solutions that empowered CSRs with the information needed to quickly and effectively resolve billing inquiries. Higher value is attributed to instances when Apogee applications avoid the need for a site visit.  Today, in addition to the CSR tool, any SEDC user can activate a broad range of innovative modules including customer self-service billing explanations at the website or on mobile devices, web-based energy auditing software for field audits delivered via iPad or tablet computer, and analysis delivered automatically through the IVR as voice or text to mobile devices.

About APOGEE Interactive, Inc.

APOGEE Interactive Inc. (www.apogee.net) is a certified woman-owned business and the leading provider of accurate online energy engagement software to the utility industry. Founded in 1993, Apogee's energy analysis applications are currently in use by more than 650 utilities across the US, reaching millions of consumers daily. Apogee's clients span a wide range of leading investor-owned, public power and cooperative energy companies including American Electric Power (AEP), Entergy (ETR), the SMUD, TVA, Marietta Power & Water, Southern Company (SO), Jackson EMC, Cobb EMC, NOVEC, Con Edison (ED), BGE (CEG), NSTAR (NST), and Salt River Project.

SOURCE APOGEE Interactive, Inc.