Improving electricity supply and reducing energy theft are key goals.

Echelon Corporation announced that HCL Infosystems has
become a value added reseller (VAR) of Echelon's Networked Energy Services
(NES) advanced metering system in India. HCL Infosystems is India's leading
information and communication technologies system integrator, specialising in
infrastructure projects including power and utility systems.



With an estimated 56 percent of rural households and 12
percent of urban households still without adequate access to electricity and
peak power shortage of around 15 percent, availability of power is viewed as
critically linked to the ability of India's economy to maintain its current
nine percent annual growth rate.



India's power ministry plans to provide electricity to every
household by 2012, at an investment of over $100 billion in new generation,
transmission, distribution and rural electric infrastructure. To achieve this
goal, electricity generation and distribution capacity will need to be
increased by an amount greater than what has been available in India for the
last fifty years. India's top analysts are predicting that power deficits could
cap the country's growth in coming years.  




Advanced metering infrastructures like Echelon's NES System
can make the energy grid more efficient by enabling utilities to implement
direct load control and demand/response programmes, limit maximum energy
consumption during times of peak demand and detect and reduce meter tampering
and energy theft. HCL plans to market the solution to utilities looking to
improve power delivery while reducing operation costs, and to provide revenue
recovery and protection.



“Concerns over India's infrastructure are a threat to its
economic growth, and India is spending billions to bring its infrastructure to
levels of other developed Asian nations. Modernising the electricity grid is an
essential component of this plan, since daily electricity shortfalls during
peak hours are projected to grow unless steps are taken,” said George Paul,
Executive Vice President, HCL Infosystems Limited. “We chose to partner with
Echelon because its NES system is the most advanced smart metering solution
available and it provides a platform for growth into the future. The system can
bring many benefits to both grid operators and end users, making it an ideal
solution for the fast changing needs of India.”



“We
are excited about the opportunities in India and are pleased to partner with
HCL, an experienced and knowledgeable information and communication
technologies company,” said Frits Bruggink, Echelon's senior vice president,
utility solutions. “With over 100 million meters and significant energy
challenges, India represents an exciting opportunity for advanced metering
systems. India is in position to make substantial changes to its infrastructure
in the coming years and by partnering with HCL we look to play an important
role in the market.”