ABB and Silver Spring Networks Announce Smart Grid Interoperability


Successful interoperability testing brings together Distribution Automation, SCADA,
AMI capabilities onto a single Smart Grid platform

San Diego, California, January 30, 2009 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology company, and Silver Spring Networks today announced successful completion of interoperability testing of ABB's COM600 substation computer and PCD recloser device with Silver Spring's Smart Energy Network.

This testing marks another milestone in the ongoing convergence of Distribution Automation, SCADA, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and other advanced applications onto a single ubiquitous, secure Smart Grid communications platform.

"Our collaboration with ABB is an exciting development for utility customers around the world," said John O'Farrell, Executive Vice President of Business Development at Silver Spring Networks. "We look forward to working with ABB to provide Smart Grid networking support for their entire range of distribution automation equipment and information systems. It is great to be teamed with such a respected world leader."

Silver Spring's Smart Energy Network meets the critical requirements of a network supporting SCADA: It's secure, fault-tolerant, high-availability, and compatible with industry-standard protocols. This high-density mesh network delivers ample bandwidth, low latency, and ubiquitous coverage for DA, AMI, and other Smart Grid applications. Leveraging a common network infrastructure significantly lowers both the capital and operational costs of implementing wide-scale DA. The Smart Energy Network also provides DA traffic prioritization, easy deployment and maintenance, and centralized network management.

ABB has integrated the Silver Springs Networks eBridge communication devices with its feeder automation products, including the ABB COM600 substation computer and the PCD recloser. The COM600 distribution automation platform, which includes control and monitoring functions, is a communications gateway and substation computer.

In the Silver Spring network, the eBridge is used to control feeder automation devices, such as reclosers, switches, and capacitor controllers. The feeder automation data is prioritized over the metering data, allowing for faster execution of feeder automation control commands.

"Our industry-leading range of products depends on a secure, reliable, and common communications infrastructure," said Doug Voda, General Manager, Distribution Automation for ABB. "By working with Silver Spring Networks, we can offer our customers a secure Smart Grid network that unlocks the true power of our solutions. Their solutions provide easy configuration and integration with ABB products. We are delighted to be working with Silver Spring Networks."

ABB and Silver Spring Networks will offer a feeder automation communications demo between the ABB (#1422) and Silver Spring Networks (#1035) booths during the DistribuTECH conference and exhibition in San Diego on February 3-5.

About ABB

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people. The company's North American operations, headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, employ about 15,000 people in 20 manufacturing and other major facilities.

About Silver Spring Networks

Silver Spring Networks creates the critical networking infrastructure for the Smart Grid, known as a Smart Energy Network. Based on the Internet Protocol (IP) suite, it addresses the challenges of running multiple applications and devices on a common networking infrastructure using multiple transport technologies, dramatically improving efficiency, lowering costs and ensuring the reliable delivery of services. This smarter, more efficient grid could cut the growth rate of worldwide energy consumption by more than half over the next 15 years and drastically reduce carbon emissions. Silver Spring Networks was named a Technology Pioneer at the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was named to the 2008 Red Herring 100, 2008 Global 250 and was a recipient of the GoingGreen and Brilliant Innovation Awards in 2007. For additional information, visit www.silverspringnetworks.com.

For more information, please contact:

Silver Springs Networks
Lisa Magnuson
Phone: 415-531-9199
Email: lisamag@silverspringnet.com

ABB Media Relations
Bill Rose
Phone: 919-807-5743
Email: bill.rose@us.abb.com

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