Mitsubishi Motors Manufacturing of America (MMMA) announced itentered into a multi-year agreement with Duke Energy’sDukeSolutions Inc. to manage energy service for Mitsubishi’stwo-million-square-foot manufacturing plant in Normal, IL. Over thecontract term, DukeSolutions will support up to $30 million ofenergy expenditures for MMMA. Duke is the third major integratedenergy company to enter into a multimillion dollar energymanagement deal this week, joining Sempra and FirstEnergy.

DukeSolutions will deliver savings through strategies such asrate negotiations, special contracts, supply management andcomprehensive plant improvements, the company said. In a companionagreement, DukeSolutions is supplying gas valued at almost $7million to the Normal site over a multi-year term.

The $10 billion electric utility industry in Illinois will beginderegulation in October. MMMA said this agreement will help it beprepared for that transition. MMMA is currently one of IllinoisPower’s top 20 customers and said it will switch suppliers if itfinds a better deal. Larry Greene, executive vice president ofprocurement and supply for MMMA, said, “Competitive, quality supplythat meets our requirements is the essence of our purchasingcharter, so we naturally welcome the opportunities thatderegulation affords.”

MMMA and DukeSolutions are also looking at major infrastructureprojects to improve productivity and efficiency within the plant.”Our real contribution is our ability to leverage all parts of theenergy value chain,” says Jack Menninger, vice president ofDukeSolutions Midwest region. “Customers see the greatest boost infinancial performance when we integrate supply, efficiency, riskmanagement and financial products in one unified package.”

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