ERDF Selects Elster for Proof-of-Concept Smart Meter

MAINZ, Germany, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Elster announced today that Electricite Reseau Distribution France (ERDF), a wholly owned subsidiary of the EDF Group and one of the largest electricity distribution networks in the European Union, has selected Elster to help it develop an interoperable and modular Smart Meter to support its future Smart Meter and Smart Grid initiatives.

The ERDF Linky Smart Meters are part of the utility's Linky automated meter management (AMM) system, which is designed to provide advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) services that enable the electricity Smart Grid. The Linky Smart Meters will help ERDF customers control electricity consumption, improve overall energy management and enable the utility to perform remote meter reads.

The Elster proof-of-concept modular Smart Meter will be designed with a dual architecture featuring both a socket and communications module. The Linky smart socket could remain at a customer site for significantly longer than existing technology. Connected to the smart socket, the Linky smart module can be quickly and easily replaced to keep pace with frequent advances in communications technologies. This flexibility extends the life of ERDF Smart Meters, while still delivering the energy efficiency benefits provided by new technologies.

"In an effort to keep pace with new technologies and to provide its customers with the most advanced services, ERDF has selected Elster to develop an innovative, modular Smart Meter," said Frank Hyldmar, executive vice president, electricity, rest of world, Elster. "We are excited to deliver the modular Smart Meters that can power the ERDF Linky AMM system, enabling the electricity Smart Grid in France."

"Elster remains on the cutting-edge of technology development and meter design, delivering new AMI and Smart Grid solutions that enable utilities across the globe to improve energy management and customer service," added Hyldmar.

Elster will develop the modular Smart Meter during the next 11 months, along with another supplier, and several samples will be produced and approved for field-testing by ERDF. By choosing two development partners, ERDF will assure the level of interoperability of the meters, as well as compatibility with the existing Linky AMM system, including integration with the utility's ATOS information system.

The meter concept would then be submitted to the Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) committee for approval. The MID (2004/22/EC) is a directive from the European Union which intends to create a common market for measuring instruments across the 27 countries of the EU. Under the MID, meters which receive MID approval may be used in all EU countries.

About Elster

Elster is one of the world's largest electricity, gas and water measurement and control providers. Our offerings include distribution monitoring and control, advanced smart metering, demand response, networking and software solutions, and numerous related communications and services – key components for enabling consumer choice, operational efficiency and conservation. Our products and solutions are widely used by utilities in the traditional and emerging Smart Grid markets.

Elster has one of the most extensive installed revenue measurement bases in the world, with more than 200 million metering devices deployed over the course of the last 10 years. It sells its products and services in more than 130 countries across electricity, gas, water and multi-utility applications for residential, commercial and industrial, and transmission and distribution applications.

Elster was acquired by funds advised by CVC Capital Partners in September 2005.

For more information about Elster, please visit www.elster.com.

SOURCE Elster