LineSoft Corp., a Spokane-based maker of software for power-line planning and design, has inked a multimillion-dollar contract to provide software to WPS Resources Corp., of Green Bay, Wis.


Tom Smith, a LineSoft spokesman, estimates the value of the contract at $2 million to $3 million. Through it, LineSoft will provide its LD-Pro software, which automates the design of overhead and underground electrical transmission and distribution lines, and its LD-Track software, which tracks work orders produced with LD-Pro and compares the actual cost of the work order with the costs calculated during design.


The multimillion-dollar contract also includes training, integration, and implementation services.


WPS Resources is a publicly-traded holding company that had $1.9 billion in revenue last year. It owns several energy-related subsidiaries, including Wisconsin Public Service Corp., which delivers electricity and natural gas to more than 400,000 customers in part of Wisconsin and Michigan.


LineSoft, rather than just selling copies of the software to the Wisconsin company for every site where it will be used, also sold WPS a site license that allows it to use the software in its future locations, instead having to buy additional copies.


While LineSofts corporate headquarters are based in Spokane, it has regional offices in Atlanta; Columbus, Ohio; and Kansas City, Mo. Smith says LineSoft currently employs about 180 people, about 120 of whom work in its Spokane office.