July 16, 2010

PowerStream receives Special Achievement in GIS Award
Electric utility recognized by ESRI for its exceptional application of geospatial technology

SAN DIEGO, CA ~ PowerStream received a Special Achievement in GIS Award, Wednesday at the 30th annual ESRI International User Conference held in San Diego, California.

The electricity distribution company, which serves customers in Simcoe County and York Region, earned the recognition for its vision, leadership, hard work and innovative use of ESRI’s geographic information system (GIS) technology. The utility was selected from more than 300,000 organizations worldwide.

In order to consolidate processes and improve efficiencies following several mergers and acquisitions, PowerStream utilized Telvent’s ArcFM suite of products built on ESRI’s ArcGIS platform to not just provide transition solutions to the company’s consolidation challenges, but to also enhance mapping, engineering design and outage management applications.

“By implementing an end-to-end integrated enterprise solution, we were able to improve our operational efficiencies, increase customer satisfaction and enhance network reliability,” Shelly Cunningham, PowerStream’s Senior Vice President, Engineering Services, said. “Earning a Special Achievement in GIS Award from ESRI is an honour. Our success demonstrates that we engaged the services of the right supplier with the right product at the right time.”

"We created the Special Achievement in GIS Award to recognize our users'extraordinary contributions to global society," ESRI’s President Jack Dangermond explained. "Each year, I look forward to being part of this ceremony; it's a tradition that has gained great meaning and importance for professionals in the GIS industry."

GIS combines computer hardware; software; data; and, most importantly, people to collect, manage, and analyze geographic information. Virtually any information can be linked to a geographic location, helping people see that information as part of a complete picture. Through GIS, users can view relationships, processes, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts. Whether they are responding to a natural disaster, growing a business, or sharing information with the public, GIS helps them solve problems and make smart decisions. More than one million people worldwide rely on GIS to learn and plan geographically.

Organizations being honoured at ESRI’s International User Conference, the world's largest GIS event, span countries and industries including agriculture, cartography, climate change, defense and intelligence, economic development, education, government, health and human services, telecommunications, and utilities. More information about the 2010 Special Achievement in GIS Award winners, including project information and photos, are available at www.esri.com/sag.

About PowerStream Inc.
PowerStream is the second largest municipally-owned electricity distribution company in Ontario, providing service to more than 320,000 customers residing or owning a business in communities located immediately north of Toronto and in Central Ontario. The communities served include Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Beeton, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Markham, Penetanguishene, Richmond Hill, Thornton, Tottenham and Vaughan. PowerStream is an incorporated entity, jointly owned by the City of Barrie, the City of Vaughan and the Town of Markham.

About ESRI Canada
Founded in 1984, ESRI Canada provides enterprise geographic information systems (GIS) solutions that empower businesses, governments and educational institutions to make timely, informed and mission-critical decisions by leveraging the power of geography. The company distributes the world's leading GIS software from ESRI, Telvent Miner and Miner, Azteca Systems and other technology partners. Headquartered in Toronto, the company serves over 10,000 customers from 16 regional offices across Canada and has been named as one of the top 250 Canadian IT companies and top 25 IT professional services providers in Canada by the Branham Group. Information about ESRI Canada can be found at www.esricanada.com.

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Media Contact
Eric Fagen
Director, Corporate Communications
PowerStream Inc.
Office Phone: 905-532-4522
Media Line (24/7): 905-532-4400
Email: eric.fagen@powerstream.ca