Elster to Call for Smart Grid 'Security by Design' at Metering Europe 2011 and Showcasing Interoperable Smart Metering Solutions

ESSEN, Germany, September 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Smart Grid security is crucial for Smart Grid success -

Elster (NYSE: ELT) will call for Smart Grid developers to build security into their products as plans for an intelligent grid take form across Europe. Elster will also showcase seven interoperable Smart Metering solutions at the event.

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Addressing delegates at Metering and Billing CRM Europe in the Netherlands next week, Frank Hyldmar, Executive Vice President, Elster Electricity International, will explore the crucial challenge of security in the Smart Grid.

Ahead of the conference, Hyldmar, who is chairing the 'Ensuring security and privacy' session stated: "We encourage all utilities and industry players to put security at the top of the Smart Grid agenda. Security and privacy are key factors in ensuring consumer buy-in for Smart Metering and the Smart Grid. Ultimately, robust security technology and privacy protocols will help win customer trust and make Smart Metering rollouts a success."

Hyldmar's talk is at 14.00 CET on Tuesday 4th October and will cover security from a standardisation point of view, the impact of security on Smart Grid architecture and regulation expected from the European Commission. Hyldmar will also discuss the necessity to make Smart Grid technology 'interoperable by design' to ensure that key security features are integrated into technology solutions.

In addition, Stefan Grosjean, Senior Advisor to Elster's CEO Simon Beresford-Wylie and former CEO of EnergyICT, an Elster Group company, will address delegates about the requirements for effective central meter data management at the 'Data collection and coordination' seminar taking place at 16.00 CET, also on 4th October.

Furthermore, at the 'Innovation and Technology Platform' on October 5th, 12.10 CET, Kim Arlund Norgaard, Vice President Sales & Marketing of Elster Integrated Solutions, will present a practical implementation of Smart Metering data encryption for data privacy and security.

Making its first public appearance, Elster is also rolling out its new branding "Vital connections" and will showcase seven interoperable solutions in experience areas proving that Elster helps its customers bridge the gap between what is possible today and tomorrow. Visitors can gather detailed information on different solutions and solution components. These experience areas are: Elster Multi Utility Solution, Elster Solution Meters, Elster Dual Fuel Solution (prepayment), Elster Rapid Deployment Solution (RDS), Elster Emeris AMI Water Solution, Elster Data Security and Privacy, and EnergyICT Energy Management Solution.  

Metering Europe takes place on 4th - 6th October 2011 at the RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam. Elster will exhibit at the event and can be found at stand D10. The company recently announced a significant deal with British Gas to provide Dual Fuel Smart Meters for the UK market, and will be available to discuss this partnership at the show.

About Elster

Elster (NYSE: ELT) is one of the world's largest electricity, gas and water measurement and control providers. Its offerings include distribution monitoring and control, advanced Smart Metering, demand response, networking and software solutions, and numerous related communications and services - key components for enabling consumer choice, operational efficiency and conservation. Its products and solutions are widely used by utilities in the traditional and emerging Smart Grid markets.

Elster has one of the most extensive installed revenue measurement bases in the world, with more than 200 million metering devices deployed over the course of the last 10 years. It sells its products and services in more than 130 countries across electricity, gas, water and multi-utility applications for residential, commercial and industrial, and transmission and distribution applications.

For more information about Elster, please visit http://www.elster.com.