APOGEE Interactive Clients Take Top Honors at National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Annual Competition

ATLANTA, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- APOGEE Interactive Inc., an industry-leading provider of online solutions to energy utilities, dominated the winners' circle in the Best Website category of this year's Spotlight on Excellence competition hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the Council of Rural Electric Communicators.

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The award winners were recognized today at NRECA's Annual Connect Conference in Denver, Colo., a three-day event attracting marketing and communications professionals from electric cooperatives across the country. Eight APOGEE clients earned honors for their websites -- the most award winners posted by a single vendor in the Best Website category.

Spotlight on Excellence recognizes electric cooperatives for exceptional communication and marketing efforts. The NRECA member websites were judged on criteria such as relevant and concise text, easy navigation, distinctive appearance, and engaging opportunities for visitor interaction.

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, a member-owned electric cooperative headquartered in Hartford, Ala., won two Awards of Excellence. In the Best Website category, Wiregrass received the accolade for its redesigned website featuring APOGEE's HomeEnergySuite™, a live customer service chat function, a digital version of the co-op's statewide magazine, Alabama Living, and more. Wiregrass also won in the Best Application of Electronic Communication category for its Residential Rate Calculator powered by APOGEE.

Pioneer Electric Cooperative, based in Piqua, Ohio, also earned an Award of Excellence in the Best Website category. Redesigned by APOGEE, this site features APOGEE's HomeEnergyCalculator™, an interactive outage map, news center, and numerous pages with information on energy efficiency and the environment.

Northwestern Rural Electric Co-Operative Association, Co-Mo Electric Cooperative and Union Power Cooperative were given Awards of Merit in the Best Website category. Whitewater Valley Rural Electric Membership Cooperative and South Central Indiana Rural Electric Membership Cooperative's specialized Go-Green website took home Awards of Mention.

"We are honored to have so many of our clients receive this well-deserved recognition," said APOGEE President and CEO Susan Gilbert. "While our talented and dedicated team of designers and developers plays an important role in the creation of the website, our clients play an equally vital role by expecting excellence for their consumers. As more people move to the Web for communication, the image members have of their cooperative is increasingly influenced by the impressions and experiences created on their website."

APOGEE has designed, built and hosts more than 200 utility websites nationwide, many earning a variety of industry accolades each year ranging from NRECA to the Public Relations Society of America and American Advertising Federation.

APOGEE Interactive Inc. (www.apogee.net) is a leading provider of online energy efficiency solutions to the utility industry. Founded in 1993, APOGEE's energy analysis applications are currently in use by more than 500 utilities across the US, reaching millions of consumers daily. APOGEE's clients span a wide range of leading investor-owned, public power and cooperative energy companies including Marietta Power & Water, Southern Company (SO), Jackson EMC, Cobb EMC, NOVEC, Con Edison (ED), BGE (CEG), NSTAR (NST), American Electric Power (AEP), Entergy (ETR), the SMUD, TVA, and Salt River Project.

SOURCE APOGEE Interactive Inc.