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Echelon Moves to Standardize the Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) Globally

^{Published on 2010-09-22 01:00:31 - Market Wire}
 

VIENNA--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Echelon Corporation ([ NASDAQ ]:[ ELON ]) announced today that it has partnered with the [ Energy Services Network Association (ESNA) ], a non-profit corporation composed of utilities, manufacturers, and integrators, to publish and standardize the Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) as a European and International standard. OSGP is the protocol used by Echelona™s [ Networked Energy Services (NES) System ], a market leading smart grid infrastructure. By publishing OSGP as an open standard, it will enable independent implementation of interoperable meters and other smart grid devices from multiple vendors on the same network. This gives electric utilities the ability to buy abest of breeda products and to avoid vendor lock-in that increases costs and reduces innovation. More than just a protocol for smart meters, OSGP provides secure, scalable control networking services for any device connected to the low voltage power grid, as well as critical information about the health of the distribution line itself, which further improves reliability and lowers operating costs. The announcement was made today at the Metering Europe event in Vienna, Austria.

"We are very pleased to join with Echelon in promoting the Open Smart Grid Protocol as a European and International standard"

aThe Open Smart Grid Protocol has become a de facto standard for smart meters and smart grid infrastructure communications with more than three million meters already installed or with orders to be installed over the next few years,a said Gordon Pedersen, President of ESNA and head of smart grid projects at SEAS-NVE, the largest consumer-owned utility in Denmark. aWorking with Echelon, our members, and other industry partners, we look forward to formalizing and publishing OSGP as a European and international standard for smart grid communications to benefit utilities, their customers, and suppliers.a

aWe are very pleased to join with Echelon in promoting the Open Smart Grid Protocol as a European and International standard,a said Babu Babel, CEO Energy Secure Meters. aOSGP already has a very strong position in the market as a de facto standard delivering reliable systems at scale for utilities. We are excited about the opportunities that OSGP brings to us and our customers.a

Built on open ISO/IEC and IEEE standards, OSGP adds additional security and reliability services necessary to properly network and manage devices in the smart grid. With millions of devices deployed worldwide, OSGP brings field-proven reliability and scalability to the smart grid.

aAs the Internet has clearly demonstrated, open standards are the key to building large, vibrant markets, which benefit suppliers and end users alike,a said Bob Dolin, Echelona™s chief technical officer. aEchelon has long followed a path of adopting open standards where appropriate ones exist, and working to create open standards where there are gaps. The market is demanding openness at all layers and for all devices, not just meters. OSGP provides needed control networking services for smart grid devices and creates an open playing field for innovation that is absent in the market today.a

More information about ESNA and their support of the standardization of OSGP can be found in the organizationa™s press release of September 22, 2010 titled, aIndustry Leaders Bring Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) to Marketa.

About Echelon Corporation

Echelon Corporation ([ NASDAQ ]:[ ELON ]) is leading the worldwide transformation of the electricity grid into a smart, communicating energy network, connecting utilities to their customers, enabling networking of everyday devices, and providing customers with energy aware homes and businesses that react to conditions on the grid.

[ Echelon's NES System ]a" the control networking infrastructure for the smart grid a" enables intelligent distributed control applications and devices that deliver maximum reliability, survivability and responsiveness. Through the [ ECoS platform ], the NES system enables any device, speaking any protocol, connected over any network to be integrated into local decision making and connected securely to enterprise IT systems through virtually any IP network. The NES System helps utilities compete more effectively, reduce operating costs, provide expanded services and help energy users manage and reduce overall energy use.

Echelon's [ LonWorks^® Infrastructure products ] extend the smart grid in to smart buildings factories, homes and other systems, powering tens of millions of energy aware, everyday devices made by thousands of companies a" connecting them to each other, to the electricity grid and to the Internet. LonWorks based products work together to monitor and save energy; lower costs; improve productivity; and enhance service, quality, safety, and convenience in utility, municipal, building, industrial, transportation, and home area networks.

More information about Echelon can be found at [ http://www.echelon.com ].

Echelon, LonWorks, and the Echelon logo are registered trademarks of Echelon Corporation registered in the United States and other countries. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

This press release may contain statements relating to future plans, events or performance. Such statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties pertaining to the adoption and acceptance of OSGP as a standard and any resulting impact of sales of Echelona™s NES system, and the timing and level of customer orders; and other risks identified in Echelon's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Echelon undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.