ST. LOUIS, Sept. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aclara^®, a leader in Intelligent Infrastructure technologies for utilities and part of the Utility Solutions Group of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE:ESE), today announces a contract with Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) to deploy its best-in-class consumer engagement software platform. This comprehensive solution will increase energy literacy, engagement, and related behavioral changes that help customers understand and manage energy usage and costs. 

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"Aclara's consumer engagement platform will help us centralize and standardize all of the energy information and tools made available to our residential and commercial customers," said Frankie McDermott, director SMUD customer services. "In addition, the Aclara platform will provide information that can be utilized across web, mobile devices, and paper engagement channels, thus providing our customers with technology that allows them to monitor and manage their energy usage if they choose."

When completed, the Aclara solution will consolidate a variety of other tools that provide energy information and education to SMUD customers who opt to utilize them. This new approach by SMUD encourages a more interactive dialogue between customers and the utility, with tailored content and personalized feedback delivered through multiple engagement channels.

"Aclara's tightly integrated and consistent approach to consumer engagement continues to gain traction in the industry," said Brad Kitterman, president, Aclara. "Aclara makes it easy for utilities to increase customers' engagement in the active management of their energy consumption. The breadth, depth and quality of Aclara's solutions have proven again to be second to none."

Aclara's customer engagement solutions power 15 of the top 25 web sites benchmarked in the E-Source Review of North American Electric and Gas Company Websites:  2011, including Wisconsin Public Service and Avista Utilities, which were ranked first and second in the study.

About Aclara
Aclara® represents the industry's leading Intelligent Infrastructure technologies for providing device networking, data-value management, and customer communications to water, gas, and electric utilities globally. Over 500 utilities in nine countries rely on proven Aclara solutions to connect with their customers. Aclara Technologies LLC is part of the Utility Solutions Group of ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE), St. Louis. Create Your Intelligent Infrastructure™ www.Aclara.com.

About Sacramento Municipal Utility District
As the nation's sixth largest community-owned electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity for more than 65 years to Sacramento County (and a small portion of Placer County). SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies, and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. SMUD is the first large California utility to receive more than 20 percent of its energy from renewable resources. For the last eight years, SMUD has received the highest customer satisfaction ratings of any utility in California in the J.D. Power and Associates survey.  SMUD received the second-highest score in the United States for commercial customer satisfaction in 2010. For more information, visit smud.org.

SOURCE Aclara