BELCO will now be able to restore power faster during outages and improve day to day network reliability and efficiency after installing new software.

This is according to the Atlanta software CES International and ESRI Inc.

In a press release the companies said the integrated package of software includes an operations resource management (ORM) suite from CES International and automated mapping/facilities management (AM/FM) and geographic information systems (GIS) software from ESRI.

"Our continuing focus is on improving our customer service and system availability, and the implementation of Centricity is a significant step toward that goal," BELCO President and CEO Garry A. Madeiros is quoted in a release on the Internet PR Newswire service issued by the American companies.

"There is no doubt that we expect Centricity to help us deploy resources faster in storm situations and therefore return to service sooner. We installed this product for use in our day-to-day operations as well, and plan to continue on the path of integrating Centricity with future Work Management, Crew Management and GPS applications to name a few," Mr. Madeiros added.

"We have begun the development of a good partnership with this project and look forward to CES International's help to take advantage of additional opportunities."

The American company said Centricity system streamlines and automates the process of fielding customer calls, dispatching repair crews and managing crews while BELCO are in the field restoring electrical power.

In addition, BELCO will use Centricity to analyse operating data to help improve routine network operations and predict and head off potential failures in its distribution systems, the release said.

The company also said Centricity integrates customer location data and incoming calls regarding power outages. This information provides operations-centre personnel and utility executives with a comprehensive view of the island's distribution network and where problems lie.

It said as a result, BELCO managers can dispatch and manage repair crews in the safest, fastest and most economical way.The first phase of the BELCO-Centricity project involved extensive data conversion and the rapid deployment of a base Centricity operating model.

In addition, CES delivered a new, pre-packaged and integrated AM/FM GIS system from ESRI.

This phase also involved the deployment of the CES International OpsCentricity Trouble Management module and integration with the utility's call-handling systems.

Now, when a customer calls to report an outage or other problem, the system uses computerised maps and the origin of the customer call to identify the location and cause of the problem.

"We're pleased to partner with BELCO on this project, and we're especially pleased that we could get them up and running on our standardised Centricity operating model and deployed with the ESRI AM/FM GIS in just seven months," said CES International President and CEO Dave Jones.

"We think this deployment, with its standardised Centricity network model and integrated and pre-packaged GIS from CES partner ESRI, along with the accompanying rapid deployment and time to benefit, has set a new standard for mid-sized utilities."

BELCO's shares rose 10 cents on the Bermuda Stock Exchange yesterday to $25.50 after the release went out.