2008-10-21 19:04:03 -

- For Tendril Steve Propper, 415-856-5114 spropper@blancandotus.com Marie Bahl, 303-468-4445 mbahl@tendrilinc.com or For Itron Kim Papich, 509-891-3590 kim.papich@itron.com Tendril, a leading provider of Residential Energy Management Systems (REMS) for the utilities industry and their customers, today announced the successful integration of a metering solution leveraging the Tendril Residential Energy Ecosystem (TREE) and the OpenWay by Itron advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). Through its collaboration with Itron, Tendril is utilizing the Itron AMI network to provide real-time, two-way communications beyond the smart meter and into the home through a home-area network (HAN).

Energy providers looking to invest in AMI can now take advantage of the TREE to achieve reliable two-way communications over an advanced metering network. With OpenWay, Tendril integrates with

the utility infrastructure at the head-end, providing unprecedented ability to communicate directly into the home through the electricity meter. This allows utilities to extend interactive and consumer-centric energy efficiency, demand response and variable pricing programs to their customers.

"This collaboration is a big step on the nationwide path to energy efficiency," said Adrian Tuck, CEO, Tendril. "It's one thing to turn down a thermostat but quite another to enable a true two-way conversation between utility and consumer. That's where the benefits of AMI accrue and energy efficiency becomes a reality."

The HAN enabled by the Tendril/Itron integration takes advantage of the ZigBee Smart Energy public application profile to link the home network components - such as displays, smart thermostats and load control switches - to the smart meter. As a result, consumers within the home can interact with their utility and HAN in real time without needing a broadband connection.

"With this announcement we continue to realize the promise of OpenWay," said Ed May, Itron director of AMI business development. "By combining OpenWay with the two-way communications provided by Tendril, we are helping usher in a new generation of truly interactive, consumer-centric solutions that enhance the utility investment in AMI by providing value-added services such as demand response, time-of-use billing and the ability for the consumer to opt in or out of utility-sponsored programs."

About Tendril

Tendril enables true 21st century energy efficiency by establishing a dialog between consumers and their energy providers. The Tendril Residential Energy Ecosystem(TM) is an open, extensible and standards-based Residential Energy Management System (REMS) that seamlessly connects "smart" consumer devices (like thermostats and outlets) to existing utility back office applications and rich consumer portals, allowing consumers and energy companies to communicate, collaborate and create -- Smart Energy for Life(TM).

About Itron

Itron Inc. is a leading technology provider to the global energy and water industries. Itron Inc. consists of Itron in North America and Actaris outside of North America. Our company is the world's leading provider of metering, data collection and utility software solutions, with nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on our technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Our products include electricity, gas and water meters, data collection and communication systems, including automated meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI); meter data management and related software applications; as well as project management, installation, and consulting services. To know more, start here: www.itron.com.

Next-Generation Open Platform Establishes Interactive Two-Way
Communication Between Utilities and Their Consumers