Aclara Software Client Advisory Board Formed to Strengthen Relationships With Utilities

WELLESLEY, Mass., Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ --The Aclara Software(R) Client Advisory Board, a strategic partnership between senior-level utility industry executives and the management team of Aclara Software Inc., one of the Aclara-brand companies of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE), this month met for the first time in San Diego to discuss the changing landscape of the utility industry and how best to address the challenges utilities face today. The board consists of executives from leading gas, water, and electric utilities including Arizona Public Service Co. (APS), the City of Tallahassee Utilities, FirstEnergy Corp., PPL Electric Utilities, The United Illuminating Company, Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI) and others.

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At the first meeting, board members discussed current and future business challenges and possible solutions that implement Aclara Operational Efficiency and Customer Care applications. Participants helped Aclara understand their business requirements and provided guidance on how to enhance Aclara solutions to meet these long-term needs and objectives. This information will help Aclara prioritize its product-development efforts and fine-tune its product roadmap to accommodate the requirements defined by the board members.

"Aclara and the City of Tallahassee Utilities are working together to provide customers more information, innovative tools, and greater choices to manage their consumption," said Reese Goad, Director of Utility Business and Customer Services. "By participating in the client advisory board, we expect to strengthen our partnership and learn from the experiences of other forerunners in the industry."

"We place a high value on the partnerships we have with the utilities who have agreed to serve on the advisory board and we expect these utilities will help us improve our services and strengthen the direction of our products," said Michelle Fay, Vice President of Professional Services and Strategic Account Management for Aclara Software Inc. "We appreciate each board member's willingness to openly share business strategies as well as their ideas and look forward to using future meetings as an opportunity to continue these valuable discussions."

The board plans to hold meetings about every six months.

About Aclara

The Aclara(R) brand represents the industry's leading Intelligent Infrastructure(TM) 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.(TM) www.Aclara.com.

SOURCE Aclara