BGE Awards Field Resource Management Systems Contract To USAT

• USAT Successfully Completes Rapid Deployment of First 275 Mobile Computing Stations
• Over 600 Fleet Vehicles to be Equipped with Wireless Computing Stations

Chapel Hill, NC — May 12, 2003 – USAT, a leading provider of field force automation equipment to utility industry clients, has successfully completed the first half of a contract awarded by Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE). BGE, a member company of the Constellation Energy Group, is a regulated energy delivery company which serves more than 1.1 million electric customers and more than 600,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. Under contract terms, USAT will be integrating and installing mobile data terminals and communication devices in over 600 BGE fleet vehicles as part of BGE’s Field Resource Management Project to increase productivity and improve customer service.
BGE’s decision to standardize its mobile field computing platform using an innovative product mix led to a competitive bid process that commenced in October, 2002. BGE’s scope of work required an experienced integrator that could design a solution that met all of the project team’s requirements and could deliver rapid deployment of this solution with an experienced installation services team. USAT was awarded the contract in early 2003.

USAT’s winning solution includes equipping each fleet vehicle with a Panasonic Toughbook™ 28 ruggedized mobile computing station with an external Wireless WAN solution and GPS connectivity. As an added service, USAT will be activating all wireless data modems at times pre-appointed by BGE. Additional technology of interest includes external high-gain antennas to optimize wireless data communications, extra surge suppression, and auto- power shutdown functionality. To round out the solution, USAT is to provide installation services for the entire project. According to USAT’s Beverly McRae, who helped to oversee the project rollout at BGE’s six fleet locations for phase one of the project, “USAT’s technicians specialize in fleet vehicle technology installations, a skill set that provides for a rapid and reliable roll-out for BGE. We completed the initial deployment into 275 vehicles on schedule, even though this schedule was tight.”

BGE’s impetus to move forward with their field force computing deployment is to improve customer service responsiveness and increase productivity by managing field resources more efficiently. BGE will utilize the system hardware installed by USAT to electronically dispatch work orders enabling field technicians to provide real time status of work orders and streamline processes. Additional benefits include increased availability of updated map information and the real-time location of vehicles. The Field Resource Management project will be completed by the end of 2003 after the second phase of the project is deployed.

About USAT

USAT, www.usatcorp.com, a privately held company based in Chapel Hill, NC, is a field computing systems integrator that specializes in ruggedized computers and reliable wireless data communication systems. As part of USAT’s wireless offering, USAT provides wireless WAN modems and activations and wireless LAN infrastructure site surveys and installations. Since USAT’s clients often contend with harsh environmental factors during day-to-day operations, USAT makes it a priority to provide technology solutions built on durable, industry-tested hardware. A full-service hardware partner, USAT provides and installs ruggedized laptops, handhelds, printers, and data modems into vehicles. USAT also offers client services focused on helping companies successfully manage a large deployment of computer technology in the field.

About BGE

BGE is a member of Constellation Energy Group (NYSE: CEG). A Fortune 500 company based in Baltimore, Constellation Energy Group owns energy-related businesses, including a merchant power business that serves electrical load for wholesale and commercial and industrial customers in North America, and the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), a regulated energy delivery company which serves more than 1.1 million electric customers and more than 600,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland.