Energy consulting company Skipping Stone Inc. is adding acommunications systems notch to its bow with the acquisition ofTransCapacity Inc., an established provider of software and systemsto automate pipeline transportation.

“Going forward technology and its applications to the energyindustry is becoming increasingly more important because of smallermargins and credit risks. Having the information instantaneously ismore critical than ever,” said Peter Weigand, chairman and CEO ofSkipping Stone which has offices in Houston and Philadelphia.TransCapacity’s operations will be integrated into affiliateSkipping Stone Technology Properties Inc., and industry veteranGreg Lander, TransCapacity’s president, will head the unit.Skipping Stone has committed to support Boston-basedTransCapacity’s contracts, products and customer service agreementsand will retain all of its current employees.

Currently Skipping Stone assists clients in implementing andintegrating technological solutions, Weigand said. “We facilitatewhat is already offered. We’re not competing with existing softwaresystems. Don’t look for us to come out with a risk managementpackage tomorrow.” Stepping Stone does offer a customerrelationship management software package, “Saratoga Avenue” and arate calculator which retail electric marketers can use todetermine what they can charge customers.

Other divisions of the company advise clients, includingproducers and marketers, on marketing and regulatory strategies.The addition of TransCapacity will allow the company to alsoprovide the back office or scheduling function for theirdeliveries.

Lander said a key difference going forward will be thattransportation communications service will be delivered throughlicensing agreements which means “it will be available without theburden of transaction fees.”

TransCapacity’s software will help to expand the breadth ofofferings from Skipping Stone’s Technology Solutions Division byproviding proven integration and implementation services, customprogramming, project management, data conversion and businessprocess mapping expertise. Skipping Stone’s other integrateddivisions, Regulatory, Strategic Consulting, Communications, MarketResearch and Training will also benefit from TransCapacity’sexperience in these areas, as well as its extensive natural gasindustry knowledge base. Weigand, who had been with Statoil andKoch, said Stepping Stone was formed three years ago with otherprofessionals who had worked for energy companies.

TransCapacity has been a leading developer and provider of gascoordination and information systems and software for the gasindustry. Its products facilitate compliance with Gas IndustryStandards Board electronic data exchange requirements and enableusers to coordinate, via a single interface with their tradingpartners for the movement of gas across the North American grid.Information is available at https://www.skippingstone.com orhttps://www.transcapacity.com.

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