National Technical Systems Selected as Exclusive Test Lab for Tendril Connect Certification Program

Two-Year Agreement Allows NTS to Verify Smart Energy Devices Function Properly With Tendril Connect Platform

CALABASAS, CA--May 8, 2013: National Technical Systems, Inc. (NTS), a leading provider of testing and engineering services, announced today that it has signed a two-year agreement with Boulder--based Tendril that makes NTS the exclusive certification test lab for the Tendril Connect Certified program. In this role, NTS will execute testing of smart energy devices from various third-party manufacturers to verify they function correctly with the Tendril Connect platform.

Tendril, a leading energy platform company, is focused on driving the large-scale deployment of the Smart Grid. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) estimates that implementing Smart Grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than 4 percent annually by 2030.

"Tendril Connect provides manufacturers with an open, scalable, standards-based program to give their customers options, while insuring their products will work seamlessly with the utilities' infrastructure," said Adrian Tuck, CEO at Tendril. "Tendril has worked with NTS for many years, and selected NTS due to its leadership in ZigBee certification testing, as well as its strong focus on customer service. NTS is an ideal fit to execute this certification program on our behalf."

Tendril Connect provides an open, secure platform enabling energy service providers, consumers, and product and service providers to communicate and share control of smart energy devices in the home. Through this platform, everyone benefits -- energy service providers can encourage consumer engagement and direct load management through energy efficiency and demand response programs. Consumers benefit from the ability to see and control their energy usage in real time, while third-party vendors of software and products have an open platform to develop products while insuring interoperability and usability. Based on the ZigBee standard, Tendril Connect testing and certification will be performed by NTS verifying whether the hardware devices built on this standard meet compliance requirements.

"The selection of NTS to perform Tendril Connect Certified testing further strengthens our leadership position in the testing of Smart Energy and Smart Grid devices focused on the consumer market," said NTS President and CEO William C. McGinnis. "Tendril's certification program helps to further standardize the industry, offering consumers choices of smart energy devices to use while insuring interoperability and ease of acceptance by consumers. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Tendril as it enhances the Tendril Connect Certified program and introduces new features and functions in the future."

The Tendril Connect testing covers robust network behavior and ZigBee Smart Energy profile compatibility with the Tendril platform. Areas, such as, joining, service discovery, and network connectivity, will be covered during certification testing. All Tendril Connect Certified products will require prior certification to the ZigBee Smart Energy standard.