Landis+Gyr, Zug, Switzerland, which last spring became part of Toshiba, made a move to further strengthen its position in smart-grid data management last month by purchasing the remaining share of Ecologic Analytics (EA), Bloomington, Minn., a company specializing in software for managing the data generated by smart meters. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Landis+Gyr bought 40 percent of the 12-year-old company in 2007, but decided that bringing the whole thing in-house and combining it with L+G's Gridstream software portfolio would give it a stronger offering in the smart-grid market.
“EA and Landis+Gyr have developed a close working relationship since we first took a stake in the company,” said Stan March, senior vice president of corporate communications for Landis+Gyr. “Now as a fully consolidated part of Landis+Gyr we look to more closely integrate their capabilities, in the U.S. as well as on a global basis. The acquisition underscores the importance we place on helping our clients extract data-driven value from their investment in smart metering and smart grid.”
Landis+Gyr will continue to use the Ecologic Analytics brand, said March, and EA's management team will continue to develop its products in Bloomington. Craig Norman, EA's president, will report to Richard Mora, president and CEO of the Americas for Landis+Gyr.
EA is “the most experienced MDM (meter data management) provider in North America, with more endpoints in service and more meter reads handled annually than anyone in the industry,” according to a company press release. The company's website has a client list of utilities that includes Oncor, Pacific Gas & Electric and Austin Energy, and it has partnered with integrators such as Accenture and IBM.
The move places L+G in position to help utilities make the most of their smart-grid investments. “As smart metering matures and needs for software, data and information management continue to grow, utilities will need software solution providers that can help them get the maximum value out of their full smart-grid investment,” March said. “Solutions like EA's Meter Data Management System (MDMS) are foundational to extracting this value and complements and extends the Landis+Gyr Gridstream portfolio offering in total.”
March said Landis+Gyr will continue to pursue acquisitions that make sense, “complementing our product portfolio for the long-term when appropriate opportunities arise.”
This deal may be part of a larger wave of consolidation in the smart-grid arena. Ecologic's biggest competitor, eMeter, was acquired by Siemens in December.