( BW)(NH-HOUSTONSTREET) HoustonStreet Joins OASIS to Drive XML Standards for Wholesale Energy Trading Industry


    Business/Energy Editors

    PORTSMOUTH, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 1, 2000--

Internationally recognized structured information standards consortium to provide open standards development expertise

    In the industry's first move to bring open standards to wholesale energy trading, HoustonStreet Exchange today announced it has joined the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS). Through OASIS, HoustonStreet hopes to further boost energy industry trading efficiency with its use of XML (extensible markup language) to streamline online trading processes.
    OASIS is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating XML and other structured information standards to simplify how businesses exchange data. XML offers users an open format for business-to-business data exchange that sets the stage for developing interoperable systems over the Web. By joining OASIS, HoustonStreet will share expertise with association members and apply those strategies in its efforts to develop and support open standards for online trading in the wholesale energy industry. HoustonStreet's use of XML facilitates information sharing between frontline traders and their mid- and back-offices, as well as between trading organizations.
    "We welcome HoustonStreet to OASIS and look forward to their participation," said Laura Walker, executive director of OASIS. "By joining the consortium, HoustonStreet is demonstrating its commitment to product-independent standards for e-business applications. Their focus on Internet energy trading will be a valuable asset to our technical work on XML and other structured languages."
    HoustonStreet designed the platform from the outset to utilize XML technology. By offering paperless data transfer through the use of XML, HoustonStreet intends to save its wholesale energy industry customers time and money and augment their risk management capabilities.
    "OASIS is comprised of leading technology companies who understand the challenges that industry-wide standardization presents," said Brad Guth, vice president of energy services for HoustonStreet. "We will tap that knowledge, use it as a guideline for enhancing our XML protocol, and share the firsthand industry knowledge we've gained to bring efficiency to the wholesale energy trading process."

    About OASIS

    OASIS (http://www.oasis-open.org) is a non-profit, international consortium dedicated solely to product-independent data and content interchange. Focusing on product interoperability, OASIS embraces the complete spectrum of structured information standards including XML, SGML and CGM. OASIS sponsors include Adobe Systems, Aerospatiale, AND-USA, Arbortext, BEA Systems, Bentley Systems, Boeing, Bowstreet, Bridge, Chrystal Software, Cohesia, Commerce One, CommerceNet, CompTIA, Corel, DataChannel, DMSi, Documentum, Dun & Bradstreet, eCredit.com, Enigma, eXcelon, Extricity Software, GCA, Health Level Seven, IBM, InformIT, Informix, InterCAP, Interleaf, Interwoven, ISOGEN, ITEDO, JetForm, Keyfile, Logistics Management Institute, Mercator Software, Microsoft, NextPage, NII Enterprise Promotion Association, Nimble.com, NIST, Object Management Group (OMG), Open Applications Group, Pick Systems, POET Software, ProNet Technology Partners, Reed Technology, Reuters, Sabre, SAP, Sequoia Software, SoftQuad, Software AG, STEP, StreamServe, Sun Microsystems, Synthbank, Visa, Wavo, Webb Interactive Services, webMethods, Whitehill Technologies, Xerox, XMLSolutions and XyEnterprise.

    About HoustonStreet Exchange

    Designed by traders for traders, HoustonStreet Exchange represents the first Web portal for the trading of wholesale energy products. HoustonStreet.com provides an online trading engine that allows traders to buy and sell their energy products faster, more efficiently and more easily than through conventional methods. HoustonStreet Exchange is headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with offices in Houston, Texas. HoustonStreet Exchange is a majority-owned subsidiary of BayCorp Holdings, Ltd., (AMEX: MWH). For more information, visit HoustonStreet at www.houstonstreet.com.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause these forward-looking statements to be materially inaccurate. These factors include, without limitation, that (i) energy traders may be unwilling or unable to use Internet-based energy trading systems, including HoustonStreet.com, (ii) HoustonStreet.com may not be able to operate profitably, (iii) technological or systems outages could occur, (iv) competitors with greater financial, marketing or other resources could emerge, (v) performance is contingent upon successful completion of design, implementation and improvement to the electricity, crude, refined products and natural gas sites, and (vi) market acceptance of HoustonStreet.com cannot be predicted. HoustonStreet.com is a registered service mark of HoustonStreet Exchange.


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