United Utilities Regulatory News (UU.)

20 Apr 2005 09:00

VERTEX PROGRESS Vertex, the business process outsourcing arm of United Utilities PLC, todayissues an update on progress on a number of its operations.Thurrock CouncilDuring April Vertex successfully mobilised the first phase of its ‚£427 millioncontract to provide Thurrock Council with business process outsourcingservices, which aim to improve the way in which the council deals with itscitizens. The contract is being managed in conjunction with United UtilitiesContract Solutions, which is providing facilities management, highwaysengineering and transportation services to the Council.During the initial stages of the 15 year contract, around 600 Council employeesworking on ten key Council services are transferring to Vertex or UnitedUtilities Contract Solutions, ranging from business accounting and financialservices to revenue services, procurement and human resources.PowergenVertex has signed a new seven-year contract, with a review point after fouryears, with Powergen Retail Ltd, part of E.ON UK. This amends its currentagreement, which began in 2003.Previously Vertex had been providing customer service activities to aroundthree and a half million former TXU customers, who were acquired by Powergen inOctober 2002. At the same time Powergen was responsible for directly managingits own two and a half million customers. To enable both companies to maximiseeconomies of scale, the new longer-term contract will redistribute work on afunctional basis for Powergen's entire six million customer base.Vertex will expand its current printing activity to include the production ofbills and statements, nearly doubling the level of this activity, whilstPowergen will take responsibility for the direct management of the majority ofits customer base. Vertex will also continue to manage activities for 430,000Powergen Staywarm customers, who have between them 850,000 separate gas and/orelectricity accounts. Powergen Staywarm offers a fixed price gas andelectricity service to customers aged over 60.Second Indian contact centre commissionedTo support growth and new contract wins, Vertex has commissioned a secondcontact centre close to its established operations in New Delhi India, whichemploys over 1,500 people and is now operating at full capacity.The new site will have a capacity of around 900 seats, and is being developedto accommodate growth in Vertex's offshore business. It is envisaged that thecentre will handle work for a number of Vertex's private sector clients,including The Trainline. It will also provide services to Vertex's subsidiaryFirst Revenue Assurance (FRA), which is based in Denver, USA. Vertex has also recently signed a new three year contract with Orange, which will beserviced out of Vertex's operations in New Delhi.For further information on any of these items please contact:InvestorsSimon Bielecki, Investor Relations ManagerTel: +44 (0) 1925 237033Mobile: + 44 (0) 7810 157649MediaEvelyn Brodie, Head of Corporate and Financial CommunicationsTel: +44 (0) 20 7307 0309Mobile: + 44 (0) 7973 306773ENDUNITED UTILITIES PLC