Aclara Technologies Buys GE Energy Management’s Meters Business

Aclara Technologies, St. Louis, has agreed to buy General Electric’s electric meters business under undisclosed terms. The business, part of GE Energy Management’s Grid Solutions division, joins a company focused on infrastructure technologies for electric, water and gas utilities worldwide.

Doug Chandler

Nov. 20, 2015

2 min read

The deal includes GE Meters’ 300-person workforce and its headquarters in Somersworth, N.H.; a technology center in Bilbao, Spain; satellite manufacturing facilities in Chicago; and a portfolio of patents, patent applications and other intellectual property.“This acquisition significantly enhances Aclara’s offering for electric utilities across North America and around the globe, creating a comprehensive portfolio of leading-edge products,” said Allan Connolly, CEO and president of Aclara, in an Aclara release. “The combination of Aclara’s industry leadership in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology with GE Meters’ 130 years of operating experience, technology development and commercial expertise will enable us to accelerate development and delivery of advanced smart infrastructure solutions.”Aclara primarily provides smart metering and services for small to mid-size rural electric and municipal utilities in the United States. GE has supplied meters for large U.S. smart grid projects including work for Florida Power and Light, Commonwealth Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric, Consumer’s Energy, Hydro One, AEP Ohio, and Indiana Michigan Power Co.The release highlighted the GE division’s “seasoned engineering group” and technological expertise as advantages in Aclara’s focus on technology advances such as AMI systems, cybersecurity standards and field-upgradable systems.“Aclara will greatly benefit from GE Meters’ deep technology foundation and its seasoned engineering group,” said Brian Urbanek, managing director of Sun Capital and member of the Aclara Board of Managers, in the Aclara release. “This expertise will support Aclara’s focus on addressing key technology trends including AMI integration, cyber security and standards, design for cost and field upgradability, all of which are important aspects of a smart infrastructure environment.”