Echelon`s Power Line Communications Technology Adopted As ANSI Standard

SUNNYVALE, Calif. July 11, 2000--Echelon Corp. (Nasdaq:ELON) today announced that the signaling used by its PLT-22 power line networking technology has been adopted as an open American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard as the ANSI/EIA 709.2-A-2000 Control Network Powerline (PL) Channel Specification.

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Designed to send information between everyday devices like appliances, electric meters, water heaters, security systems, and lighting systems through a home or building's AC power wiring, this technology employs advanced digital signal processing and error correction techniques to ensure reliable signaling. Echelon's PLT-22 power line transceiver is the only commercially available power line communications device that complies with Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (Japan), FCC (US), Industry Canada (Canada), CEN (Europe), and now ANSI regulations for applications worldwide.

Today's announcement follows Echelon's October 1999 announcement that the protocol underlying its LonWorks(R) control networks had been approved as an open industry standard by ANSI as the ANSI/EIA 709.1-1999 Control Network Protocol Specification.

"We are pleased to have our power line technology adopted as an open standard under the rigorous ANSI standardization process," said Michael Tennefoss, vice president of product marketing and customer services for Echelon Corp. "Our PLT-22 power line transceiver has been field proven in appliance, meter reading, home automation, lighting, and energy control applications worldwide. Since the PLT-22 meets applicable international power line regulations, consumer and appliance manufacturers can ship the same product worldwide without changing the power line interface. With the ANSI announcement, these same products can also comply with ANSI/EIA 709.2-2000," he added.

In Japan, Echelon's power line transceivers are currently installed in more than 7,300 locations of 7-11 convenience stores, where they control refrigeration, lighting, and heating. Merloni Elettrodomestici is also using Echelon's power line transceivers in its margherita2000.com household appliances.

Copies of ANSI/EIA 709.2 can be purchased on-line from Global Engineering Documents (search for document EIA-709.2) at http://global.ihs.com/.

About Echelon
Echelon Corp. (Nasdaq:ELON) is the world leader in networking everyday devices. The company offers a comprehensive line of hardware and software products for automating building, home, industrial, transportation, and utility applications using LonWorks networks, an international, cross-industry, open standard for interoperable device networks. Echelon is Bringing the Internet to Life(TM) by linking the millions of everyday devices connected with LonWorks networks to the Internet.

Echelon is based in Sunnyvale with international offices in China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Further information can be found at http://www.echelon.com.