Madison Water completes 7-month CIS implementation with Advanced Utility Systems

On-budget and on-schedule, 2nd-largest water utility in Wisconsin goes live with CIS Infinity

Madison, WI and Toronto, Canada. November 9, 2004

Madison Water Utility has completed an on-budget, on-schedule implementation of CIS Infinity®, the customer information and billing solution from Advanced Utility Systems.

Madison Water serves its customer base of 65,000 in unique ways, says Ken Key, Customer Service Supervisor. "Our business practices are different from a lot of utilities, and it shows in everything we do, from our billing processes to how we move customers."

"We knew our data conversion would be a challenge, and the go-live strategy had to be leak-proof. Advanced met these challenges and we were able to move forward with confidence."

Kathryn McKay, Vice President of Client Services for Advanced, credits the utility's project team for their dedication and focus. "All members of the Madison team brought significant knowledge of their business practices to the table, and our implementation strategy is well-suited to that kind of expert input."

Madison Water's decision to implement a new CIS solution was precipitated by a prohibitive upgrade cost from the previous vendor. Advanced takes a streamlined, affordable approach to upgrades, so utilities are not faced with budget-breaking costs for new functionality.

Madison Water Utility provides water, sewer and storm water services to its customers, and sells wholesale water to Maple Bluff, Shorewood Hills and Waunona Sanitary District #2. It is the second-largest water utility in Wisconsin and the fifth-largest ground water utility in the United States. Madison Water bills their customers bi-annually, with a monthly average of 10,000 to 12,000 bills.

For additional information contact:

Peter Fanous, General Manager
Advanced Utility Systems, a division of N. Harris Computer Corporation
(888) 355-7772 x231
pfanous@advancedutility.com

About Advanced and Harris:

Advanced is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris Computer Systems that provides Customer Information and Billing solutions exclusively to utilities and municipalities. 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 all levels of local government as well as public power and water markets throughout North America. Harris' focus is on creating long-term relationships with our customers and ensuring that we meet the changing needs of our customers over time. For further information on Harris Computer Systems, please visit our website at http://www.Harriscomputer.com, or call 888-847-7747.

For more information on Advanced and CIS Infinity ® please contact us at www.advancedutility.com/contact.asp

Success Stories

Northern Kentucky Water District:
"Our customers needed a seamless upgrade. We had more confidence in the Advanced strategy than any other vendor's -- their implementation and conversion process were designed to flex for a unique situation like ours."

City of Bellevue:
"Throughout the 10-month conversion and implementation project, Advanced brought excellent people to the table, and we've arrived at the end of the project with all our requirements met."