Dulles, VA. March 5, 2003 – Encore Networks, a leading developer of integrated network security and access products, today announced that the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), the nation's second-largest electric generation and transmission cooperative, has selected Encore Networks to provide Frame Relay-based solutions for its Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) networks. NCEMC will connect a new SCADA network using Encore's EtherFRAD™ Integrated Access Device (IAD) to transmit and monitor critical automated meter reading, usage and real-time billing information.

NCEMC provides electric energy and related services to cooperatives in North Carolina, serving 830,000 meters that reach more that 2.4 million people. With more than $750 million in annual revenues, NCEMC is one of the nation's largest purchasers of wholesale electric power.

As is the case with most utility companies, NCEMC has traditionally monitored and gathered critical information from Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) that send information over leased analog lines using the SCADA protocol. With the move towards digital methods of transport, the costs to maintain analog lines in networks using SCADA have increased. As a result, utility companies are seeking more cost-effective networking solutions that can accommodate SCADA while keeping pace with the increasing flow of traffic and additional energy management applications.

"It's all about cost containment. Interruptions in communications tend to drive up our costs," stated Jim Zelnosky, Manager of WAN Services. "With Encore's EtherFRAD™ installed at our Power Delivery Points, we can operate in a more reliable and economical way."

"The large number of remote points served by the NCEMC network presents an exciting opportunity for Encore Networks to showcase the EtherFRAD's ability to provide a cost-effective means of transmitting over Frame Relay the critical monitoring information unique to utility companies," said Abir Hnidi, Encore's Chief Technology Officer. "Additionally, the EtherFRAD's ability to function as an access device or as an IP router offers utility companies the option of consolidating different overlay networks, as well as the opportunity to choose the packet transport technology that best meets their requirements."