Xcel Energy Selects SmartSynch as Technology Partner for SmartGridCity™

SmartSynch to Provide Smart Metering, Energy Management, Demand Response and Carbon Monitoring Solutions to SmartGridCity™ Commercial and Industrial Customers

Jackson, MS — November 18, 2008

SmartSynch, Inc., a global leader in public wireless smart metering technology, has been selected by Xcel Energy to provide smart metering, energy management, demand response and carbon monitoring solutions to commercial and industrial (C&I) customers in the utility’s SmartGridCity™ initiative. SmartGridCity™ enables two-way communication between customers and Xcel Energy, and features a portfolio of smart grid technologies designed to provide a host of environmental, financial and operational benefits.

The SmartSynch solution will be deployed on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, and on municipal buildings and select commercial and industrial buildings throughout the city. The C&I solutions, provided by SmartSynch via the AT&T Wireless network, will enable Xcel Energy to partner with its commercial and industrial customers in new ways by:

• Mapping their energy usage trends to optimize consumption 
• Providing demand response programs offering incentives for business owners who curtail their facility’s energy use during times of peak demand
• Helping them capture tax incentives by reducing their carbon footprint
• Supporting large-scale intermittent renewable generation initiatives (e.g., solar panels)
• Facilitating real-time notifications of power outages to Xcel Energy dispatch teams to ensure on-site power quality

“SmartSynch is a leading provider of commercial and industrial smart meters, and we are pleased to have them working with us on this ambitious effort,” said Michael Carlson, CIO of Xcel Energy. “Through their participation, we can now extend the full benefits of SmartGridCity™ beyond residential parameters, and give our larger customers the opportunity to manage their energy consumption, reduce CO2 emissions and take advantage of pricing benefits.”

“Xcel Energy has displayed visionary leadership through the development of this landmark initiative,” said Stephen Johnston, chief executive officer of SmartSynch. “We are pleased to join the SmartGridCity™ team, and are eager to begin leveraging our expertise on behalf of this major step forward toward a fully interconnected power distribution network.”

SmartSynch will join Xcel Energy’s Smart Grid Consortium, which brings together leading technologists, engineering firms, business leaders and IT experts to provide guidance as well as the products and services needed to bring Xcel Energy’s smart grid vision to life. Existing consortium members include Accenture, Current Group, GridPoint, OSISoft, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and Ventyx.

To learn more about Xcel Energy’s SmartGridCity™, visit www.xcelenergy.com/smartgrid, which provides educational materials and graphics illustrating Xcel Energy’s Smart Grid vision.

About SmartSynch
Headquartered in Jackson, Miss., SmartSynch has been developing successful Smart Grid Intelligence solutions for the utility industry since 2000. The company’s clean-tech innovations in the two-way delivery of real-time energy usage data over public wireless networks, in lieu of private network build-outs, have to date simplified SmartMeter deployments for 75+ major North American utilities, while enabling green-energy initiatives and delivering significantly higher Returns on Resources. Unlike proprietary, closed-architecture solutions, SmartSynch’s SmartMeters represent future-proof investments in technology. The standards-based IP connectivity enabled in every SmartMeter deployed makes them adaptable and remotely upgradable to support today’s sensor and communications needs, as well as tomorrow’s opportunities. For more information, contact SmartSynch Media Relations at 601-209-1315, or visit www.smartsynch.com.

About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com.

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