MELBOURNE Australia (January 4 2011) Hansen Technologies Limited (ASX: HSN) today announced a strategic alliance between its subsidiary NirvanaSoft Inc. and Milestone Software Solutions (MSS) Inc. for the purpose of delivering a joint market solution to address the Smart Grid pricing and billing market in North America.
With the deployment of smart meters and AMI infrastructure, utilities around the world are wrestling with the problem of dynamic pricing and billing using near-real time data. Many of the current CIS/Billing solutions are not capable of addressing these needs in terms of scalability (sometimes described as a "data tsunami") and complexity of the pricing the rates, which include time-of-the-day, event-driven critical peak prices and peak load curtailment incentives.
The Hansen-MSS strategic alliance will deliver a "plug-in" modular solution that will work with any Meter Data Management (MDM) system and any CIS system to perform complex near-real time rating, and provide bill-ready data to the CIS system - thus eliminating the need for complete CIS replacements.
Hansen Technologies' unique suite of best-fit solutions leverages the NirvanaSoft Complex Billing Solution, Meter Data Management Solution, Peace® CIS, and HUB CIS platforms to develop, deliver, and support high-value solutions for clients in 40 markets worldwide.
Milestone Software Solutions, established in 2002, has been providing custom-development solutions and support services to utilities which use traditional CIS systems in North America.
Under the agreement, Hansen will supply its complex billing software to selected joint-identified prospects undergoing Smart Grid pilots or implementation projects. MSS will provide Smart Grid strategy expertise, CIS solution delivery and application maintenance services to these customer projects.
"This alliance represents a powerful combination of Utilities expertise, a premium Smart Grid Solution propelled by defined process, methodologies and tools to ensure a successful project and results for our joint customers. Hansen has implemented several Smart Grid projects in UK and Australia for some time already." said Andrew Hansen, CEO of Hansen Technologies.
Ram Kasarla, CEO and founder of Milestone also commended the alliance, highlighting the benefits of the NirvanaSoft solution under Hansen management:
"We have been researching solutions with NirvanaSoft for some time and feel strongly that an alliance will benefit our mutual prospects. Now, we are delighted to have the backing of a global organisation like Hansen to lend further credibility and resources to our joint offering. This solution offers a cost-effective, low-risk solution for the Smart Grid programs using a proven product and a team of implementation experts with a proven track record with a number of utilities in electricity, natural gas and water. And, it allows the utilities to protect their investment - dollars as well as imbedded knowledge - in their IT environments. The alternative - that of complete CIS replacement - will be extremely expensive, involve long time frames, and, based on recent history, high-risk profile."