ABB Announces Enhanced Web Communications and Security Functions for Advanced ION Revenue Meters.

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2001

Business/Technology Editors & High-Tech Writers

V215 Firmware Upgrade Significantly Increases Internet Capability and

Multi-User, Multi-Level Security

ABB, a leading provider of electricity meters and system solutions throughout the world, announced today a firmware (V215) upgrade for the ION(R) 8300, 8400 and 8500 advanced revenue meters.

This firmware upgrade allows the ION meters to use Internet technologies such as Web Server, XML and e-mail applications and has improved security, event log reporting and time-of-use (TOU) configurations. ION meters are manufactured by Power Measurement Ltd., of Victoria, BC (Canada) and marketed exclusively by ABB.

For real time access to the billing meter, the ION 8400/8500 meters now support WebMeter(TM) applications. WebMeter is a Web server running on the meter that allows users to view real-time data on a built-in Web page. By installing an ION 8400/8500 meter at the customer service entrance with an Ethernet link, the utility provides customers real-time access to their billing meters through a standard Web browser from their corporate LAN or WAN. The utility has no software to manage while providing a powerful value-added service to their customer. (WebMeter is not available for the ION 8300 meter.)

For instant e-mail alarm notifications, the ION 8400/8500 meters will use MeterM@il(R) e-mail messaging. MeterM@il allows the meter to send alarm notifications or scheduled system status updates as e-mail messages. MeterM@il is received like any e-mail message over a workstation, cell phone, pager personal digital assistant. MeterM@il can also be set up to e-mail historical logs such as billing information on a scheduled basis.

The deregulation in the power industry has created an environment for multiple levels of direct access to meter data, including real-time billing data, and a critical need for protecting and monitoring meter data. The California ISO and the Ontario IMO regulatory bodies specify that meters must have multiple passwords or multiple levels of accessibility to meter data. As other regions move toward deregulation, those utilities are likely to require similar functionality. To meet this critical need, the security features of the ION 8400/8500 meters give a utility the ability to define and control the degree of access to meter data by each designated user.

Also included in this firmware upgrade is Modbus(R) Master, a messaging structure commonly used to establish master-slave communication between intelligent devices. With Modbus Master, the ION 8400/8500 meters can now import and export data with other intelligent devices within a Modbus network. When importing (or reading) data, the ION meter collects information from one or more devices, processes it, and then communicates it to the user. When exporting or writing data, the ION meter can send information as a control command directly to other devices on the network. Through Modbus Master, a customer can identify where inefficiencies are and be able to develop strategic load shedding applications. Customers can install low-cost Modbus slaves downstream while recording, trending or set pointing and the Modbus Master will display parameters such as energy, reactive energy, power factor, frequency and voltage unbalance. Together these features dramatically extend the capabilities of each meter. A single unit can now process meter data from an entire network, detect undesirable conditions and respond to them directly or alert staff to problems.

Each of the ION 8000 series meters now feature a power harmonics module that offers the ability to determine power flow due to an individual harmonic or the fundamental 60Hz component.

The ION 8300, 8400 and 8500 revenue meters are now available from ABB. For more information, contact ABB Electricity Metering 919/212-4800 or e-mail [e-mail]. Product specifications cited are those in effect at time of publication.

ABB Electricity Metering (http://www.abb.com/metering), a unit of ABB's Automation Technology Products Division, designs and develops advanced electricity meters and creates information technology solutions and infrastructure for meters and meter data management systems throughout the world.

ABB serves customers in manufacturing, process and consumer industries, utilities, oil and gas sectors and infrastructure markets. ABB's U.S. operations (http://www.abb.com/us), employ over 16,000 people at manufacturing and other facilities in 40 states. Worldwide, ABB employs about 160,000 people in more than 100 countries and reported revenues of $23 billion in 2000.