ESCO Announces AMI System Win at CFE in Mexico

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 21  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE) today announced that Mexico's electric utility Federal Commission of Electricity (CFE) has chosen Aclara PLS Inc.'s TWACS®power-line technology for its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project. CFE is Mexico's single electric utility provider, servicing nearly 34 million customers countrywide.

The initial, prime contract, awarded to Ambar Electroingenieria, Aclara's AMI distributor for Mexico, provides for the deployment of Aclara's pole-mounted and socket-type TWACS AMI solution in Acapulco, serviced by CFE's South-Center Division, to support the utility's plan to reduce non-technical losses. Another key feature of the AMI implementation is the installation of in-home displays that will allow CFE to enhance its customer service through improved communications.

The initial purchase order is for more than 90,000 meters, along with an option for an additional 90,000 meters available under the initial contract. This award is the largest individual contract placed by the South-Center Division of CFE, and makes Aclara the integral AMI technology supplier to this utility. CFE plans to deploy new metering end-points in several major cities in Mexico in the next several years to reduce non-technical losses and to utilize the full AMI feature-set that includes remote meter reading, interval read capabilities, outage management, tamper detection, aggregate demand, line balance, voltage quality and other miscellaneous cost-saving solutions.

During the competitive evaluation process, Aclara's technology was the only solution that met all of CFE's technical requirements. TWACS proved its ability to provide two-way communications with fast response over existing power lines, while demonstrating scalability to millions of end points. The TWACS solution also offered integrated, remote connect / disconnect capabilities as well as load-balancing, which were two essential capabilities required for selection. CFE will use TWACS to read residential and commercial meters.

"It has been a great pleasure to work with such a progressive utility as CFE on its plan to implement the TWACS technology," said Roberto Barto, Senior Vice President International for Aclara. "We look forward to a productive, long-term relationship with the utility as it moves forward with its efforts to reduce non-technical losses throughout Mexico."

With this initial deployment, CFE will have the largest AMI implementation in Mexico providing significant operating cost savings through the reduction of non-technical losses, while employing full AMI capabilities.

The TWACS system is a proven, fixed-network solution that uses patented technology to transmit data over power lines. TWACS offers two-way communication to electric meters and provides timely and accurate billing information, load control, demand response, and outage detection and assessment. With this system, utilities can effectively manage customer data and reduce costs while enabling innovation and providing superior customer service.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding the size and timing of CFE's anticipated deployment, and any other written or oral statements which are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities laws. Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update. The Company's actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the Company's operations and business environment including, but not limited to: the timing and content of future purchases of the Company's products by CFE; the Company's successful performance of requirements for CFE; changes in CFE demand or financial constraints impacting CFE; technical difficulties; delivery delays or defaults impacting the Company's contracts; and termination for convenience of Company contracts.

About ESCO

ESCO, headquartered in St. Louis, is a proven supplier of special purpose utility solutions for electric, gas and water utilities, including hardware and software to support advanced metering applications and fully automated intelligent instrumentation. In addition, the Company provides engineered filtration products to the aviation, space and process markets worldwide and is the industry leader in RF shielding and EMC test products. Further information regarding ESCO and its subsidiaries is available on the Company's web site at http://www.escotechnologies.com/.

About Aclara

The Aclara brand represents one of the industry's leading Intelligent Infrastructure(TM) technologies for providing device networking, data-value management and customer communications to water, gas and electric utilities globally. Over 500 utilities in nine countries rely on proven Aclara solutions to connect with their customers. Aclara is part of the Utility Solutions Group of ESCO. Further information is available on Aclara's web site at http://www.aclara.com/ . 

DATASOURCE: ESCO Technologies Inc.



CONTACT:  Patricia K. Moore, Director, Investor Relations of ESCO

Technologies Inc., [phone]; or Media, David P. Garino,

[phone], for ESCO Technologies Inc.



Web Site:  http://www.escotechnologies.com/

http://www.aclara.com/ 

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