TIO Networks Expands Payment Options for Washington Residents Through Partnership With Cowlitz Public Utility District

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- TIO Networks Corp., (TSX-V: TNC) ("TIO"), North America's leading bill pay technology provider announced today that it will be expanding its presence in Washington State through its growing partnership with Cayenta Utilities, a Harris Computer Company, by providing services to the Cowlitz Public Utility District. This partnership will offer Cowlitz PUD customers the option to make bill payments with cash, credit, debit, or check at self-service kiosks and TIO powered retail locations across the county. Customers on the go will also be able to pay their bill from their smartphone using a credit or debit card.

"TIO's partnership with Cowlitz PUD ensures that their customers have the option to make bill payments at any of our kiosks throughout Cowlitz County," said Hamed Shahbazi, CEO and Chairman of TIO Networks. "It's encouraging to see that with this expansion into Washington State, a growing number of customers now have access to quick and affordable payment solutions."

TIO's existing partnership with Cayenta allowed Cowlitz PUD to effectively launch self-serve kiosk, over-the-counter, and mobile payment methods in a matter of weeks. This project is the second in as many months for TIO in Washington State, and signals a desire for local utilities to bring new and affordable payment options to their customers.

"Working with TIO has enabled us to quickly launch a payment kiosk in our office, and also enable our customers to pay their utility bill at 10 additional TIO payment locations in the county," says Rick Syring, Director of Technology Initiatives of Cowlitz PUD. "Combined with TIO's mobile payment app, members of our community will have more options to make utility payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week with cash, credit, debit or check."  

TIO provides bill payment solutions to clients of all sizes including both large and small utility companies. TIO currently has more than 57,000 payment locations in all 50 states and continues to expand in Canada and the Caribbean. For more information, visit http://www.tionetworks.com/or contact [email protected].

About TIO Networks
TIO is a cloud-based bill payment processor serving the largest telecom, wireless, cable and utility bill issuers in North America. With more than 57,000 endpoints, TIO symbolizes fast, convenient and secure bill paying. Visit: www.TIOnetworks.com. Join the conversation on www.twitter/tionetworks or like us on http://www.facebook.com/tionetworks.

About Cowlitz Public Utility District
Public Utility District No. 1 of Cowlitz County, WA (better known as Cowlitz PUD) provides electric service to nearly 50,000 residential, commercial, industrial and street lighting customers county wide. Visit the Cowlitz PUD website at: www.cowlitzpud.org/ .

About Cayenta
Cayenta is a division of Harris Utilities.  With over 35 years of industry experience, Harris Utilities delivers software that enables utilities to improve business processes, enhance customer service and increase profitability. Thousands of customers depend on Harris Utilities' original and focused products that are developed directly for the utilities market. Harris Utilities' mission is to create whole new categories of products that will transform the industry and evolve the smart grid.  For more information, visit: www.harrisutilities.com

About Harris
Harris is a leading provider of financial management and Customer Information Systems (CIS) software solutions. Since 1976, Harris has focused on providing feature-rich and robust turnkey solutions to Public Sector, Schools, Utility, and Healthcare agencies throughout North America. Harris' focus is on creating long-term relationships with its customers and ensuring that it meets the changing needs of its customers over time. Further information about Harris may be obtained from its website at www.harriscomputer.com.

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This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.  Potentially, many factors could cause our actual results to vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated or expected.  TIO Networks Corp. does not intend and does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE TIO Networks Corp.