The joint venture, to be called New Horizon System Services, will initially perform infrastructure management, application development, application support and maintenance, network management, data centre operations and help desk support in areas such as commercial systems, work management, finance, human resources and supply chain. Ron Osborne, President and CEO of Ontario Power, said moving its IT function to a separate company, will provide the generator with a number of benefits. We will be facing competition in the marketplace and we must make sure we focus on our core business, which is the safe, efficient production of electricity. John Mather, who will serve as President and CEO of New Horizon, said the company's mission will be to provide cost-effective information technology services to energy companies operating in North America.
Information systems are key to competing in the newly deregulated North American energy market.
It is expected that New Horizon employees will experience significantly expanded career and development and learning opportunities as the new company grows. The Power Workers' Union and the Society of Energy Professionals, which represent the bulk of OPG employees to be affected by the joint venture, view New Horizons as a favourable move for their members. We're very happy with this initiative. We believe OPG and the Society have managed to find the right model for a new IT business. Not only are our members' futures better protected, but there will be many opportunities for new challenges and rewards.