Aclara Signs Nonexclusive Nationwide Distribution Agreement With Global Water

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Aclara® is pleased to announce a nationwide, nonexclusive distribution agreement with Global Water Resources Corp. (TSX: GWR), a leading water resource management company based in Phoenix, Arizona. The agreement covers water utilities with up to 30,000 meters, which represent over 50 percent of the meters deployed in the U.S. Aclara is the market share leader in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for water utilities, and a member of the Utility Solutions Group of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE).

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The agreement reinforces Aclara's commitment to utilities of all sizes, and adds a valuable channel partnership through which to distribute its STAR® Network AMI system. "As a water utility with its own customers, Global Water understands the challenges facing utilities in terms of customer service, billing accuracy, and conservation. Its deep commitment to customer service will ensure that small water utilities have full access to the best AMI technology available today and the highest level of service in the industry," said Brad Kitterman, CEO of Aclara.

Aclara's STAR Network is a key component of Global Water's FATHOM™ Utility-to-Utility (U2U™) program, an integrated suite of advanced technology products designed to bring heightened efficiencies to utility operations. The U2U deployment methodology decreases traditional implementation timelines, and provides a low barrier-to-entry for utilities to access sophisticated software applications for their operations.

"Our new channel partnership with Aclara opens up an opportunity to serve our existing municipal customers more effectively and to expand our services nationally more quickly," said Trevor Hill, president and CEO for Global Water.

About Aclara

Aclara represents the industry's leading Intelligent Infrastructure™ 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 Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE), St. Louis. Create Your Intelligent Infrastructure™ www.Aclara.com.

About Global Water

Global Water is a leading water resource management and technology company that owns and operates water, wastewater and recycled water utilities, and provides technology-enabled services through its unique platform, FATHOM Utility-to-Utility ("U2U™") Solutions.  Initially developed by Global Water to support and optimize its own utilities, FATHOM is an integrated suite of advanced technologies proven to increase revenue, decrease costs and bring efficiencies to water utilities. www.gwfathom.com

SOURCE Aclara