APOGEE Presents ACE Awards to Utilities for Excell

ATLANTA, Oct. 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today APOGEE Interactive recognized 10 utilities for best practices in online customer engagement, creative marketing and innovation at its 20 ^th annual users' conference in Atlanta this week.

Nearly 100 electric and gas utility professionals gathered at APOGEE's Innovations conference to learn the latest in online and mobile applications for improved customer engagement and energy education. Founded in 1993 and celebrating its 20 ^th anniversary this year, APOGEE was among the very first companies to introduce customer-facing online energy analysis and education applications to the utility industry.

This year's Innovations conference includes user sessions and special presentations by J.D. Power, Hewlett-Packard, PayGo, Georgia Power, Chartwell Inc. and APOGEE's cofounders and pioneers in online energy applications Joel and Susan Gilbert.

APOGEE established the ACE Awards program in 2006 to provide recognition for the most creative marketing, customer engagement and overall innovation among its 650 utility customers in creating positive customer experiences and achieving energy savings.

Taking honors for most creative marketing this year is ConEdison for its fully integrated marketing strategy to residential customers and special Web-based training for small business owners. Also receiving an award in this category is CPS Energy for a huge jump in usage of its Energy Savers microsite through strategic product placement and e-marketing.

APOGEE honored four utilities for outstanding customer engagement: Duquesne Light for using its online instant energy analysis tool to increase participation in its Watt Choice program; Lansing Board of Water and Light for its billing-integrated progress tracking and reporting application, Piedmont EMC for its new online energy education effort that's already reduced billing inquiries and meter re-reads; and NSTAR for its consistent delivery of positive customer experiences online.

Receiving ACE Awards for overall innovation are Baldwin EMC , Blue Grass Energy and Wiregrass Electric Cooperative for their new responsive-design websites that automatically expand or contract to suit any desktop or mobile device, and Lodi Electric Utility for its interactive lawn irrigation calculator.

Following the conclusion of Innovations, on Oct. 9 ^th , attendees and APOGEE staff will participate in the sponsor's reception of EMACS -The Customer Experience, another popular annual industry event hosted by the utility research firm Chartwell Inc . APOGEE's Joel Gilbert will lead a panel at EMACS on "Successful Strategies for a Challenging Future" featuring APOGEE clients AEP, Georgia Power and NSTAR. APOGEE is a platinum sponsor of the 2013 EMACs conference.

APOGEE Interactive Inc . ( www.apogee.net ) is a leading provider of online energy analysis software and web-based solutions for the utility industry. Founded in 1993 and now celebrating its 20 ^th anniversary, APOGEE's desktop and mobile applications are currently in use by more than 650 utilities across the US, reaching millions of consumers daily. APOGEE's clients include a wide range of leading utilities such as Marietta Power & Water, Southern Company (SO), Jackson EMC, Cobb EMC, NOVEC, Con Edison (ED), NSTAR (NST), American Electric Power (AEP), Entergy (ETR), the SMUD, TVA, and Salt River Project.

Karen Morris, , 678-684-6801