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Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Selects Silver Spring Networks for Smart Grid Rollout

Building the energy network infrastructure needed to bring Guelph’s Community Energy Initiative to life

Guelph, ON, Canada and Redwood City, CA, April 15, 2010 - Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc. today announced that, in support of Ontario’s landmark Green Energy and Economy Act, it has selected Silver Spring Networks, a leading Smart Grid solutions company, to provide its Smart Energy Platform for 48,000 customers in the Guelph community.

Implementation of Silver Spring’s Smart Energy Platform in 2010 will provide the foundation for enabling two-way communication between customer electricity meters and Guelph Hydro’s back-office systems. This will enable the provision of detailed energy information to customers, enhance network reliability, and improve power outage management. By connecting utilities and homes, the Smart Grid is transforming the way people think about and consume energy.

“It is all about smarter, greener, more environmentally sustainable energy management using sophisticated technology and devices,” said Barry Chuddy, CEO of Guelph Hydro Inc. “By investing today in implementing Silver Spring’s Smart Energy Platform technology, Guelph Hydro is preparing for the energy future of tomorrow that will be cleaner, more efficient, reliable, resilient and responsive – a smarter grid.”

“Ontario’s energy landscape is changing rapidly,” said Chuddy. “As Guelph’s local electricity distributor, we have a responsibility to ensure the infrastructure is in place so our community can take full advantage of widespread deployment of renewable energy sources, incorporate smart home appliances and other devices as they come on the market, and adjust to an influx of plug-in hybrid electric cars. I predict all these advancements will sweep across society at a pace that will surprise us all.”

“Smart Grid technology is an investment in the future sustainability of our community and is an important step along the path towards the realization of the goals set out in Guelph’s Community Energy Plan,” said Mayor Karen Farbridge. “The City of Guelph applauds Guelph Hydro’s initiative to serve as a model in the province of Ontario of a ‘next generation’ utility that is already transforming the energy sector, providing our community with the tools we need to reduce energy consumption and produce less greenhouse gases.”

“By deploying Silver Spring’s Smart Energy Platform, Guelph will cost effectively improve grid reliability while empowering consumers to better manage their energy use,” said Scott Lang, Chairman, President and CEO of Silver Spring Networks. “We are delighted to continue our long relationship with Guelph Hydro, one of Ontario’s most progressive utilities and a leader in this smart energy revolution.”

Silver Spring’s Smart Energy Platform is an open, IP standards-based technology platform that connects smart meters, high-efficiency transformers, renewable and traditional power generation sources, and other yet-to-be-invented consumer appliances and devices through a sophisticated energy information monitoring and control system. This system will continuously monitor the status of the Smart Grid, identify outages and automatically fix them or dispatch crews to restore power faster, and provide useful information to both the utility and the consumer.

“The first step in creating a Smart Grid is the deployment of smart meters,” said Matt Weninger, Director of Metering and Communications for Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc. “To date, we have installed more than 5,500 smart meters in support of the province’s mandate that all Ontario residents and small businesses be equipped with a smart meter by the end of 2010.”

The rest of Guelph Hydro’s customers are slated to receive their smart meters sometime between now and the end of the year. Customers will be notified before being migrated to time-of-use pricing for electricity in 2011. Smart meters and time-of-use rates will provide customers with the ability to better manage their energy costs and take action that can help improve the environment.

About Guelph Hydro

Guelph Hydro Electric Systems Inc (GHESI) delivers a safe and reliable supply of electricity to over 48,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Guelph and Rockwood. The company is owned by Guelph Hydro Inc. which is actively developing sustainable energy projects as a key implementer of the City of Guelph’s Community Energy Plan.

For more information, visit: www.guelphhydro.com or www.guelphhydroinc.com.

About Silver Spring Networks

Silver Spring Networks is a leading Smart Grid solution provider that enables utilities to achieve operational efficiencies, reduce carbon emissions and empower their customers with new ways to monitor and manage their energy consumption. Silver Spring provides the hardware, software and services that allow utilities to deploy and run multiple advanced applications, including Smart Metering, Demand Response, Distribution Automation and Distributed Generation, over a unified network. Silver Spring’s Smart Energy Platform is based on open, Internet Protocol (IP) standards, allowing continuous, two-way communication between the utility and every device on the grid. Silver Spring has numerous deployments with leading utilities in the US and abroad, including Florida Power & Light, Pacific Gas & Electric, Pepco Holdings, Inc., Jemena Electricity Networks Limited and United Energy Distribution, among others.

For additional information, please visit www.silverspringnetworks.com .

Media Contact:
Sandy Manners, Guelph Hydro Inc.
519-837-4703
smanners@guelphhydro.com

Lisa Magnuson, Silver Spring Networks
415-531-9199
pr@silverspringnet.com

Nova Halliwell, Ruder Finn
212-583-2726
halliwelln@ruderfinn.com