Sterling Commerce, Columbus, OH, a subsidiary of SBC Communications Inc., will provide a customized e-business solution to enable two of Allegheny Energy Inc.'s principal businesses to conduct business with service providers over the Internet.
Allegheny Energy Supply Co. LLC and Allegheny Power, Hagerstown, MD, will use Sterling's e-business integration and business-to-business transaction services to implement an Internet-based management system allowing the companies to share and coordinate customer enrollments, meter usage information and invoicing with independent service providers.
The Allegheny companies are implementing the Internet-based marketplace in accordance with Pennsylvania regulatory requirements for online information exchange in the newly deregulated energy market.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in October 1999 ruled that energy companies participating in the state's Electric Choice program must be capable of sending data over the Internet, using the Gas Industry Standards Board Electronic Delivery Mechanism. The Sterling solution was designed for compliance with this standard, helping the Allegheny companies to tightly integrate its value chain and reduce costs as it electronically exchanges information with business partners.
