ABB and Elster Announce Innovative Smart Grid Loss Detection Application


Initiative highlights commitment to advancing AMI for grid modernization

Raleigh, North Carolina, January 29, 2009 -- Elster, a leader in smart metering and smart grid systems and solutions and ABB, a global leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance, today announce the development of a new loss detection application permitting utilities to operate their network more efficiently by pinpointing system losses or loads that are not metered.

The loss detection application will be available as part of ABB's FeederAll(TM), a distribution and planning analysis tool, and will incorporate time-synchronized metering data from Elster's EnergyAxis® System for AMI. The result is a powerful, easy-to-use graphical analysis tool that aggregates endpoint meter data along the distribution network, allowing utilities to identify and isolate suspected system loss locations.

Elster Senior Vice President David G. Hart said, "This is a very exciting time in the utility industry. Our Advanced Grid Infrastructure (AGI) Initiative pilots have been very successful, and we look forward to our first commercial product releases early this year. These products, coupled with our field-proven EnergyAxis System, will certainly help utilities realize their vision for a smart grid."

"ABB is committed to developing a modern smart grid and AMI plays an important role," said ABB network management marketing director Hormoz Kazemzadeh. "The opportunity to work with Elster on the integration of the loss detection application has resulted in new innovative solutions for utilities. This is one of the first applications to leverage AMI data for improving network reliability and efficiency. We are very excited to have developed this solution as part of the AGI Initiative."

About Elster

Elster, a global leader in smart metering and smart grid solutions, has delivered over 1.5 million smart metering devices worldwide with systems located in North America, Europe, Central America, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean. Elster smart metering system solutions provide utilities with energy conservation capabilities via demand response programs, smart grid applications, and operational efficiencies resulting in significant value creation across the utility enterprise. Elster has over 7,500 staff and operates globally in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia. www.elster.com.

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.

For more information, please contact:
Gabrielle Puccio,
Director, Corporate Communications
Elster, 208 S. Rogers Lane,
Raleigh, NC 27610,
919 250 5413
Email: gabrielle.puccio@us.elster.com
OR
Bill Rose
ABB Media Relations Manager
Telephone: 919 807 5743
Email: bill.rose@us.abb.com

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