Press Release - Country Energy

CommSecure enters energy sector with direct debit solution for Country Energy

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - May 3, 2005 - Electronic commerce specialist CommSecure (ASX:CMS) has provided an end-to-end, automated direct debit management solution to one of Australia’s largest utilities, Country Energy. Under the arrangement, CommSecure is processing documentation for about 1,000 customers per week who are electing to pay their accounts by direct debit.

Country Energy owns and operates the world’s second-largest power supply network, with 195,000 kilometres of powerlines across 95 per cent of New South Wales’ land mass. The utility serves more than 780,000 customers in more than 1,500 country and coastal communities across New South Wales - from Bega to Tweed Heads, west to Broken Hill and south to the River Murray.

It also offers retail electricity in five states and territories, with a product range that includes electricity, natural and bottled gas, Internet services and energy efficiency advice.

Direct debit is the most cost-effective payment method for organisations that bill customers regularly. However, its efficiency is often reduced by the administrative requirement for the billing organisation to collect, manage and store direct debit request (DDR) forms in hard copy.

Through its DDRSecure service, CommSecure assumes responsibility for this entire administrative process - receiving the customers’ DDR applications, entering the information into Country Energy’s Customer Information System (CIS) and providing long-term, secure storage for the forms.

Country Energy’s general manager customer services, David Sherriff said CommSecure had helped simplify management of direct debiting and further improve customer service.

“CommSecure’s DDRSecure service has helped make our website (www.countryenergy.com.au) more interactive.

“Customers can sign up for direct debiting online and nominate when the direct debit should be made and from which bank account it can be deducted,” he said.