TESCO Metering

What TESCO Metering does

TESCO Metering (legal name: The Eastern Specialty Company) is a privately held US-based manufacturer and solutions provider serving electric utilities across North America, founded in 1904 and owned by Advent Design Corporation since 2003. The company designs, manufactures, and sells meter testing equipment, test switches (a category it pioneered with a 1920 patent), test boards and stations, transformer testing equipment (via the Knopp brand), EVSE testing products aligned to NIST Handbook 44, sockets/transockets/enclosures, safety products, and accessories used by utilities to verify meter accuracy, deploy AMI networks, and protect field technicians. Its differentiated offering is the TESCO AMI Adaptiv platform — an infrastructure-free AMI architecture combining Universal SIM multi-carrier cellular connectivity, under-the-glass DirectConnect LTE modems for Gen 5 Aclara kV2c meters, RF-mesh Fiber Hub gateways, and a cloud-based SaaS headend with billing integration to Itron MV-90, Aclara MeterMate, and Trilliant systems. Supporting software includes Meter Manager (asset lifecycle), PPE Manager (safety equipment tracking), TESCO Device Manager (meter data analytics), and Field Client (mobile field operations).

TESCO operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct enterprise field and inside sales targeting utilities with an e-commerce online shop listing prices on standard SKUs, an RFQ system for configured-to-order enclosures and custom equipment, and on-site or in-facility training/certification programs (3-, 4-, and 5-day meter training courses). Revenue is generated across nine streams: meter testing equipment sales, AMI/communication solutions (hardware + SaaS subscriptions), EVSE testing hardware, safety products/accessories, new and reclaimed meter resale (Itron, Aclara, Landis+Gyr, Ekstrom), contract manufacturing services for eight non-utility verticals, training/certification programs, software subscriptions, and configured-to-order enclosures. Manufacturing is vertically integrated across Bristol PA (USA, ISO 9001/17025/27001 certified), Montreal (Mesurina, Canada), and the Philippines, supporting both proprietary products and external contract manufacturing customers. The company has expanded through six acquisitions since 2007 (Mesurina, Knopp, Power Measurements Inc., Dial Machine, Nighthawk, Brackin Metalworks) and reports 3,000+ utility customers and 121 years of continuous operation.

Name

TESCO Metering

Legal name

TESCO Metering

Website

https://tescometering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

TESCO Metering, founded 1904 and owned by Advent Design Corporation, manufactures meter testing equipment, test switches, AMI communication platforms (TESCO AMI Adaptiv), EVSE testers, and metering software for North American electric utilities, supported by vertically integrated manufacturing in the US, Canada, and the Philippines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Utility Metering Equipment

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Metering, Calibration & Flow Measurement Verification (EUAEAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meter Installation, Exchange & Field Services (EUADAFAF), Electrical Testing & Certification (Protection Relays, Switchgear, Transformers) (EUAEAHAG), Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics) (IMAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Electric meter testing
• AMI communication systems
• Utility metering equipment
• Contract manufacturing services
• Transformer testing equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Meter Testing Equipment Sales: Sale of meter testing instruments, field testing equipment, test boards and stations, transformer testing equipment, and related accessories. Products include single and multi-position test boards, portable field testing kits, and precision standards.
2. AMI and Communication Solutions: Sale of AMI Adaptiv platform components including Universal SIM cards, DirectConnect cellular modems, Fiber Hub gateways, and cloud-based headend software subscriptions.
3. Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment: Sale of EVSE testing products including programmable load banks, AC/DC test systems, man-in-the-middle cables, and portable charger test systems.
4. Safety Products and Accessories: Sale of hot socket safety equipment, disconnect shields, test tools, protective covers, and field accessories for utility technicians.
5. Meter Sales: Sale of new meters from manufacturers (Itron, Aclara, Landis+Gyr) and reclaimed/surplus meters for utilities.
6. Contract Manufacturing Services: Precision manufacturing services for external customers across industries including electrical utilities, OEM manufacturing, transportation, construction, medical devices, and industrial automation. Services include CNC machining, metal fabrication, epoxy casting, welding, and assembly.
7. Training and Certification Programs: Meter training and certification programs delivered at TESCO facilities or on-site at customer locations. Programs include residential meter training (3-day), residential meter with MSA training (4-day), and residential meter with MSA and neutral training (5-day).
8. Software Subscriptions: SaaS-based software offerings including TESCO Adaptiv cloud-based AMI headend platform, Meter Manager for electric and gas meter lifecycle management, PPE Manager for safety equipment tracking, and TESCO Device Manager for meter data analysis.
9. Configured-to-Order Enclosures: Custom-configured metering enclosures including CT cabinets, primary metering cabinets, transformer-rated meter sockets, transockets, and VT pack sockets, built to customer specifications with 4-week turnaround.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TESCO Metering manufactures and sells precision meter testing equipment, AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) communication systems, transformer testing solutions, electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) testers, safety products, and supporting software platforms for electric utilities. The company also operates a vertically integrated U.S.-based contract manufacturing business offering CNC machining, metal fabrication, and precision assembly, along with meter training and certification programs for utility technicians.

Product overview

TESCO Metering is a utility equipment manufacturer and solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of AMI communication infrastructure, metering testing equipment, safety products, and software platforms for electric utilities across North America. The product ecosystem centers on the TESCO AMI Adaptiv™ platform—a multi-component AMI infrastructure solution comprising the Adaptiv™ Cloud-Based Headend Platform (cloud-based SaaS for centralized AMI visibility and remote meter management), DirectConnect™ (under-the-glass LTE cellular modem for Aclara meters), Fiber Hub™ (fiber-based RF mesh communication gateway), and Universal SIM Cards for multi-carrier connectivity. Supporting software includes TESCO Meter Manager (electric and gas asset lifecycle management), PPE Manager (safety equipment tracking), Device Manager/TDM (meter data analysis), and Field Client (mobile field operations). The hardware portfolio encompasses field testing equipment, test boards and stations (single and multi-position), transformer testing equipment (via Knopp brand), EVSE testers, test switches, sockets and enclosures, safety products, meter shop equipment, jumpers and seals, electric meters (new and reclaimed), custom equipment, and meter warm-up boards. Services include contract manufacturing and meter training certification programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TESCO AMI Adaptiv™: Infrastructure-free AMI with intelligent multi-carrier connectivity platform, including cloud-based headend, DirectConnect, and Fiber Hub solutions.
• TESCO DirectConnect™
• TESCO Fiber Hub™

Products and services

• TESCO AMI Adaptiv Infrastructure-free AMI communication platform leveraging Universal SIM technology, cellular networks, and RF mesh communication between endpoints to provide scalable, resilient AMI connectivity without requiring utilities to build dedicated communication infrastructure.
• TESCO Adaptiv Cloud-Based Headend Platform Cloud-based AMI headend software (SaaS) providing centralized operational visibility, real-time monitoring, remote meter management, proactive alerts, billing integration, and consumption analytics without requiring local server infrastructure.
• TESCO DirectConnect Under-the-glass LTE cellular modem for Gen 5 Aclara kV2c meters providing always-on IP connectivity, ANSI C12.22 128-bit AES/EAX encryption, and integration with MV-90, MeterMate, and Trilliant platforms to address AMI coverage gaps and replace legacy 2G/3G devices.
• TESCO Fiber Hub RF mesh-enabled communication gateway with fiber-based backhaul for utilities with existing fiber infrastructure, supporting 20+ LEAF devices per hub with up to three communication hops, battery backup for outage reporting, and over-the-air firmware updates.
• TESCO Meter Manager Asset management software providing complete control of meters from purchase to retirement, available in Electric and Gas variants, supporting meter lifecycle tracking, testing schedules, and inventory management.
• Field Testing Equipment
• Test Boards and Stations Precision test platforms including single-position desktop stations (2100, 2199, DTS-2990, 2210, MTS-3200, MTS-3050) and multi-position boards (MQB, MQB1, MQB3) for accurate, efficient, and repeatable meter testing in shop environments.
• Transformer Testing Equipment
• Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Testers EV charging test equipment including 150kW Programmable Load Bank (PL4150), ACT100 and DCT350 AC/DC Test Systems, Man-in-the-Middle Cables, Portable EV Charger Test System (T4350), and Programmable AC Load Box (PL4000), developed to NIST Handbook 44 requirements.
• Test Switches Utility-grade test switches built for every metering environment, including test switch accessories, originally patented by TESCO in 1920 and still an industry standard.
• Sockets, Transockets and Enclosures Transformer-rated meter sockets, transockets (integrated socket with CTs and test switch), CT cabinets, primary metering cabinets, and VT pack sockets, configured to order with 4-week turnaround.
• Safety Products and Accessories Field-tested safety tools including hot socket safety equipment, disconnects and shields, field accessories, covers and adapters, testing tools, and handbooks to protect technicians and prevent equipment damage.
• Electric Meters Utility-grade electric meters available as new meters (from Itron, Aclara, Landis+Gyr) and reclaimed meters (from GE, Itron), tested and reviewed by TESCO experts for compatibility with the TESCO AMI platform.
• Meter Training and Certification Programs Utility-focused training programs including 3-day Residential Meter Training, 4-day Residential Meter + MSA Training, and 5-day Residential Meter + MSA with Neutral Training, covering installation, safety, certification, and hands-on exercises for utility technicians.
• Contract Manufacturing Services U.S.-based contract manufacturing including epoxy casting, metal fabrication, stamping, welding, powder coating, CNC machining, CNC turning, Swiss screw machining, centerless grinding, and electrical winding for precision components and assemblies across OEM, transportation, construction, medical, and industrial automation sectors.
• Universal SIM Card for AMI Networks Universal SIM card technology enabling intelligent multi-carrier connectivity, dynamically connecting to the strongest available cellular network and automatically transitioning between carriers for improved AMI network resiliency.
• Electric Meter Warm-Up Boards Test platforms for energizing meters under load, verifying operational performance, and validating demand calculations, TOU performance, communications, and firmware prior to field deployment, available in single-position (2199) and multi-position (MQB, MQB1, MQB3) configurations.
• Custom Equipment Purpose-built utility-specific custom equipment including AMI Meter Farms, Hot Socket Simulators (3100-L), Training Boards (1500), and custom Training Systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120+ years of continuous operation serving electric utilities
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NighthawkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Company acquired in 2022 expanding TESCO into Zero Infrastructure AMI technology.
• Brackin MetalworksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Company acquired in 2022 adding precision manufacturing of epoxy castings, metal fabrication, and stamped components.
• Dial MachinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Precision machining company founded in 1965, specializing in precision machining for manufacturing industries. Acquired by TESCO in 2020 to enhance product quality and advance vertical manufacturing capabilities.
• KnoppcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Precision transformer testing equipment company acquired by TESCO in 2018, adding world-class precision transformer testing to TESCO's portfolio. Knopp was founded in 1928 by Otto Knopp and pioneered voltage testing equipment.
• Power Measurements Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018International metering expertise company acquired alongside Knopp in 2018, expanding TESCO's global metering capabilities.
• Mesurina Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Canada's only manufacturer of utility-grade test switches, founded in 1976 in Montreal. Acquired by TESCO in 2007, expanding TESCO's footprint into Canada.
• Advent Design CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Parent company that acquired TESCO Metering in 2003, uniting cutting-edge engineering with a legendary metering brand to accelerate innovation and growth. Advent Design Corporation was founded by MIT alumni, offering custom automation and engineering solutions.
• Itron MV-90coreTechnology or IntegrationTESCO DirectConnect supports integration with Itron MV-90 meter data management system for utility billing and operational workflows.
• Aclara MeterMatecoreTechnology or IntegrationTESCO DirectConnect integrates with Aclara MeterMate for meter data collection and management. TESCO also sells Aclara meters through its meter sales program.
• ItroncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTESCO sells new Itron meters through its meter sales program, providing utilities with access to Itron's advanced electric metering technology.
• Landis+GyrcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTESCO sells new Landis+Gyr meters through its meter sales program, offering utilities revenue-grade electric utility meters from this manufacturer.
• EkstromminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTESCO offers Ekstrom meters through its meter inventory program for utilities seeking specialized metering solutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tescometering
• Facebookfacebook.com/tescometering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tescometering
• Instagraminstagram.com/tescometering

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TESCO Metering