Internet commerce system Enermetrix picked up its firstregulated customer this week, when ValuSource Energy, a subsidiaryof Pennsylvania’s Duquesne Light Co., said it would use the networkto serve its business, government and industrial customers. TheEnermetrix system will give DLC’s customers the option to purchasetheir energy online through the Web-based network.

Pennsylvania’s Electric Choice program allows energy users thefreedom to choose their electric supplier. ValuSource will beginbrokering electricity in the Commonwealth and also pursue newcustomers throughout southwestern Pennsylvania, including DLC’slarge customer base in Allegheny and Beaver counties.

For Enermetrix, a unique feature of the deal with ValuSource isthat it is the first sale of its licensed software to a regulatedside of the utility business. Enermetrix has 13 similar networkdeals, said co-chairman Jeff De Weese, but the other ones are withunregulated utilities. The company uses technology to automate thevalue chain from wholesale energy markets to retail meters, andalso operates a marketplace for commercial and industrial energycontracts.

Still a private company, De Weese said there are no plans totake the company public “just to make money.” He said there wouldhave to be a value to the shareholders. “We’re very focused onliquidity and scalability.” To date, he said, Enermetrix has 47suppliers signed up to its license its system, with 13 differentnetwork members.

In August, Spokane, WA-based Avista Corp. evaluated 30 retailenergy e-commerce sites, and found that Enermetrix was one of threethat could handle aggregated customer loads (see Daily GPI, Aug. 4). Avista said it would use theinformation to evaluate the benefits of buying power online forend-users. The evaluation has not been released yet.

Enermetrix’s investors include InSight Capital Partners, GECapital, DQE Enterprises Inc., Cinergy and Unitil Corp.

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