ABB Introduces Power Quality and Outage Event Manager; New AMR Server Application Module to Expand Meter Data Management Capabilities.

Business Editors

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2000

ABB Electricity Metering today announced its new Power Quality and Outage Event Manager application for ABB's EnergyAxis(R) AMR Server.

As part of the ABB EnergyAxis AMR Server, the Power Quality and Outage Event Manager reads power outage, outage restoration and power quality information from the meter on request, on a scheduled basis or during an alarm call-in. All alarm call-ins from the meter trigger the notification mechanism within the EnergyAxis AMR Server that forwards the event to external utility systems registered to receive asynchronous notifications from the meter. Power quality events, outage events and other meter events can be communicated over the telephone or on a public communications network, including ABB's ALPHA STARS(R) wireless communication platform.

"Our customers have asked ABB to deliver meter data management systems that allow them to monitor outage and power quality events for commercial, industrial and other key customers," said Dr. John Reckleff, executive vice president and general manager of ABB Electricity Metering. "As the energy industry continues to deregulate, customers are not only focusing on energy usage and pricing, but also on power quality and reliability."

The Power Quality and Outage Event Manager is part of ABB Electricity Metering's comprehensive large-scale meter data collection and management system. This system provides the platform for meter data operations and addresses advanced energy information management demands including the collection, communications, storage, management and publishing of meter data. This application module allows energy providers to offer additional information services to key retail customers using power quality, outage and outage restoration meter information.

The EnergyAxis AMR Server represents a new model for utility business transactions in regulated and deregulated energy markets. The AMR Server is scalable and allows functions and business processes to be distributed over systems and geographical areas. Timely energy information is collected, processed, stored and published, as each business process requires -- such as scheduling coordination, load forecasting, billing and customer service. The EnergyAxis AMR Server supports the quick and accurate distribution of data to other business entities as new businesses or applications are developed.

ABB Electricity Metering of Raleigh, N.C. (http://www.abb.com/metering), a division of ABB Automation Inc. creates information technology solutions and infrastructure for electricity meters and meter data management systems.

ABB, with U.S. headquarters in Norwalk, Conn., serves customers in automation; power transmission and distribution; oil, gas and petrochemicals; building technologies; and financial services. U.S. operations employ over 16,000 people at manufacturing and other facilities in 40 states (http://www.abb.com/us). Worldwide, ABB reported revenues of $25 billion in 1999. With novel IT applications, tailored software solutions, growing eBusiness and a fast-expanding knowledge and service base, ABB is building links to the new economy. ABB employs about 160,000 people in more than 100 countries.