GE Energy and New Zealand Utility Kick Off Smart Grid Project to Help Improve Power Reliability for Customers

ATLANTA--(Business Wire)--
GE Energy and central Canterbury electricity network, Orion New Zealand Limited,
announced today the implementation of the first phase of a sophisticated GE
network management system to help improve power reliability for customers. This
implementation is the first of its kind to go live in New Zealand.

The system of smart grid technologies will significantly improve the network
company`s ability to manage big network emergencies and help it to restore power
faster when outages occur.

"Finding proven ways to improve reliability for our customers was a driving
force behind our decision to kick off this system deployment," said Orion CEO
Roger Sutton. "When severe storms hit, we`ll have the information and
capabilities to prevent outages and focus crews to quickly restore power to more
people. This is a huge investment for Orion, for the ultimate benefit of all
central Canterbury residents who rely on us around the clock to provide a
reliable, secure and efficient electricity network."

GE`s ENMAC Distribution Management System is the foundation of Orion`s
initiative. The ENMAC system, to be fully implemented by mid-2010, will help
Orion monitor the distribution grid and will give operators an accurate,
real-time picture of power flow, trouble spots and potential workarounds for
outages.

"Orion is leveraging the true potential of GE technologies with its ENMAC smart
grid foundation," said Bob Gilligan, vice president, transmission and
distribution at GE Energy. "The system will help Orion improve operational
efficiency by streamlining the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the
network and by providing valuable and timely information to effectively manage
outages."

Orion has completed the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) phase
of the project, enabling real-time monitoring and control of the network. This
is the first ENMAC SCADA system up and running in New Zealand.

The project is now in its second phase with the installation of a distribution
network management system, which will enable Orion to maintain and control its
network from a single viewpoint. This system incorporates an electronic network
diagram for the Orion control room and will help to reduce the number of power
outages, increase the speed of recovery from disruptions, and keep consumers
better informed when the lights do go out.

The third phase of the Orion project is an outage management system, which will
work with ENMAC to help automatically re-route power when an outage occurs,
dispatch crews and help operators make better decisions for faster power
restoration.

ENMAC`s mobile functionality will add further flexibility to Orion`s system.
Instructions to field crews will be automated from the ENMAC platform via
wireless mobile networks, for more timely and efficient responses to customers.

Orion New Zealand Ltd. owns and operates the electricity network in central
Canterbury between the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers and from the Canterbury
coast to Arthur`s Pass. The network covers 8,000 square kilometers of diverse
geography, including Christchurch City, Banks Peninsula, farming communities and
high country.

Through industry collaborations, GE will deliver one of the broadest portfolio
offerings in the industry to modernize the electrical systems from the power
plant to the consumer. From smarter appliances to technologies for plug-in
hybrid vehicles, to providing renewable technologies and smart meters, GE has
the breadth and knowledge needed to increase energy productivity all the way up
and down the lines.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world`s leading suppliers of power
generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2008 revenue of $29.3 billion.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry
including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as
water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy
products are certified under ecomagination, GE`s corporate-wide initiative to
aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet
pressing environmental challenges.

About GE

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is
built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and
health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100
countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information,
visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.

Media:
GE Energy
Allison Eckelkamp, +1-678-844-6849
allison.eckelkamp@ge.com
or
Masto Public Relations
Gina DeRossi or Howard Masto, +1-518-786-6488
gina.derossi@mastopr.com
howard.masto@ge.com

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