Aclara Technologies, a leading supplier of smart infrastructure technologies to water, gas and electric utilities globally, has acquired the Smart Grid business of Tollgrade Communications, Inc., a global market share leader in the smart grid sensor market. The transaction includes the award-winning LightHouse distribution monitoring platform comprising Sensors and Sensor Management System (SMS) software with Predictive Grid Analytics, as well as a broad intellectual property portfolio. Financial terms are not being disclosed.
The acquisition represents another key growth initiative for Aclara following the December 2015 purchase of GE’s electricity meters business operating within GE Energy Management’s Grid Solutions subdivision. The addition of the LightHouse platform expands Aclara’s capabilities in distribution grid monitoring and the transaction strengthens Tollgrade’s focus on its traditional Broadband business.
Deployed at some of the world’s leading utilities, the Smart Grid LightHouse platform provides fault detection and location, power quality monitoring and classification of grid events. With the LightHouse platform, utilities can monitor the health of the distribution grid, make informed decisions and reliably deliver power to their customers. Furthermore, the platform enables grid operators to reach their modernization goals and incorporate renewable energy sources.
“This acquisition represents an important step forward for Aclara as a leader in smart infrastructure, and the addition of LightHouse’s game-changing platform allows Aclara to provide utilities with an economical alternative to other systems,” said Allan Connolly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aclara. “It also expands the market potential for the Smart Grid products in the electric utility industry by combining Tollgrade’s strong, established relationships in the investor owned utility (IOU) market with Aclara’s leadership in the cooperative and municipal electric markets,” he added.
“The LightHouse vision is to provide electric power companies a multi-application distribution monitoring platform, enabling them to run their network in a proactive and ultimately predictive way,” said Erik Christian, VP of Smart Grid. “Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our Smart Grid business and LightHouse solution. Aclara is an industry leader, and joining Allan and the fantastic organization he’s built will strengthen our technology platform and ability to service our customers, and will enhance our capabilities to reach new markets.”
The LightHouse platform is the recipient of multiple industry awards, and its overhead line sensor technology was ranked #1 globally by IHS research. Notable industry awards include European Utility Week and Fierce Energy for Product Innovation, and Frost & Sullivan North American Power Quality Analytics Award.
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