Stonewater Awarded Patent for Energy Monitoring and Control System

EVANSTON, IL — Jan 20, 2004 — Gerd Nierlich, president of Stonewater Control Systems, announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued United States Patent No. 6,681,154 (the '154 patent) to Stonewater Control Systems, Inc. on January 20, 2004. The '154 patent, which covers systems that monitor and control energy distribution, is a continuation of United States Patent No. 6,519,509 issued to Stonewater Control Systems on February 11, 2003.

Stonewater provides energy information, control and management using Internet-based software and a hardware device located on customer premises that can serve as a gateway for telemetry and energy management functions. Both energy consumers and producers benefit from the ability to access real-time and historical data and to monitor and control equipment. Customers can view any of their remote sites from any location worldwide.

Stonewater's technologies can overcome many barriers to a successful demand side bidding program by integrating open market energy price exchanges with advanced communication, database and curtailment technologies. The technologies can provide complete access to real-time load profiles and load control data and provide end-users and energy providers with manual, automatic, and/or hybrid control of load reduction processes that optimize energy distribution and energy use.

Users of Stonewater's technology include The Art Institute of Chicago, Praxair, Jorgensen and Associates, Prudential Towers in Chicago and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

Additional patent applications are pending in the United States, Japan, Thailand and Europe. Stonewater technology is also patented in Taiwan. For further information about Stonewater's technology and licensing opportunities, please visit http://www.stonewatercontrols.com.

About Stonewater Control Systems

Stonewater Control Systems, Inc., a privately held technology company located in Evanston, Illinois, is a leader in developing and operating flexible, cost-efficient near real-time two-way communication technology using the Internet.

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