Press release

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, May 4, 2009 Elster and Hometown Connections Announce Partnership to Promote Smart Grid Metering Solutions to Public Power

Elster, a leader in smart metering and smart grid systems and solutions, and Hometown Connections, a utility services subsidiary of the American Public Power Association (APPA), today announced an agreement to market smart meters and smart grid solutions to APPA members. The agreement includes favorable commercial terms for APPA members. The centerpiece of the program will be Elster’s EnergyAxis® System to enable APPA member utilities to offer their business and residential customers more accurate meter reading services, improved outage management and reliability, and demand side energy management savings.

The EnergyAxis System utilizes two-way wireless mesh network communications, allowing utilities to implement EnergyAxis on a small scale and expand their system over time, making smart metering a cost effective reality for virtually any utility. In addition to capturing usage information from water, gas and electric meters, the EnergyAxis System can also deliver outage notifications, monitor local voltage conditions and perform remote connect and disconnects.

These features reduce costly site visits and eliminate the need for other costly sensing and monitoring equipment on a utility distribution system. Public power utilities can also take advantage of EnergyAxis’s demand response capabilities by providing consumers with real time usage information, allowing consumers and utilities to proactively manage consumption during peak energy demand periods.

“In today’s climate of escalating energy demand and economic constraints, it is vital for public power utilities to automate their metering services in ways that promote energy efficiency and savings,” said Patrick Corrigan, vice president, system sales and operations, Elster Electricity.

“Elster is committed to helping APPA members deploy smart metering in a cost effective manner to provide reliable and efficient energy services to their communities,” he said. “Smart metering will revolutionize energy management, and Elster is delighted to be partnering with Hometown Connections to bring the advantages of smart metering to public power.”

Hometown Connections President and CEO Tim Blodgett said, “We believe Elster’s EnergyAxis System offers public power a major advance in network communications and automated meter reading for electric, water and gas services. We look forward to helping APPA members use EnergyAxis as a powerful, cost-effective tool for increasing productivity, reducing costs and improving a utility’s bottom line.”