ABB Bundles Consulting Expertise, Offers Systems Solutions to T&D Customers.

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 1999--

Raleigh-based ABB Power Transmission & Distribution Company has augmented its operations to include a new business unit dedicated to growing ABB's worldwide consulting business.

ABB Power T&D Electrical Systems Consulting (ESC) was established to provide electric systems consulting services to ABB's global transmission and distribution customers. Systems Consulting is a key element in ABB's strategic initiative to dramatically expand its services and solution offerings to utilities, industrials and energy companies operating in today's deregulated power markets.

ABB has named Rana Mukerji as vice president responsible for the global Electric Systems Consulting business unit located in Raleigh. ABB Electric Systems Consulting currently has offices in the U.S., Germany and Spain and has plans to expand its operations aggressively around the globe. Mukerji was formerly general manager of General Electric's Power System Energy Consulting. He expects ESC to quickly assume a leadership role in the growing electrical power consulting business. "As a world-renowned manufacturer of electrical power transmission and distribution products with a solid reputation for quality and service, ABB has the expertise, the client base and the muscle to aggressively grow the consulting side of our business," he said.

Formed in July of this year, ESC is already consulting for over a dozen major utilities in the United States, including Chicago's Commonwealth Edison, which recently awarded ABB a nearly $100-million contract to rebuild power substations. In addition, ESC is working with several leading independent power producers, power marketers, and energy companies as well as a number of large industrial companies. With support from its divisions in Spain and Germany, ESC also consults with a wide range of customers in Europe, Asia and Central America.

ESC's primary areas of expertise include transmission and distribution planning, industrial systems, merchant plant integration and education and training. "As the U.S. market braces for deregulation, large power producers, distributors and consumers are all beginning to realize their potential for substantial cost savings," said Mukerji. "We have the level of consulting experience necessary to help businesses capitalize on these new opportunities."

ABB Power T&D Company Inc. is a leading supplier of power transmission and distribution equipment, systems and solutions. Serving utility, industrial and commercial consumers. With U.S. headquarters in Norwalk, Conn., ABB serves customers in power transmission and distribution; automation; oil, gas, and petrochemicals; industrial products and contracting; and financial services. Power generation customers are served by ABB's nuclear power businesses and by ABB ALSTOM POWER. ABB had U.S. orders of approximately $6.1 billion in 1998 and employed about 20,000 at manufacturing and other facilities in 41 states http://www.abb.com/usa . Worldwide, ABB Group reported orders of $31 billion in 1998. The Group employs about 175,000 people in more than 100 countries http://www.abb.com/ .