NEWS RELEASE
JAN 19 2005

Tantalus Appoints Gary Swofford to Board of Directors
Senior Utilities Sector Veteran Adds Solid Industry Experience to Tantalus Leadership Team

Vancouver , BC, Canada – January 19, 2005 – Tantalus Systems Corp., a designer and manufacturer of data communications networks for utilities, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Swofford to the company’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Swofford brings deep understanding of the issues driving power utilities to adopt networking technologies. He provides insight into what motivates consumers and the regulatory world to embrace advanced metering programs that encourage consumers to use energy more efficiently and cost effectively.

As the former Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Puget Sound Energy – which serves 1.5 million electric and gas customers in Western Washington – Mr. Swofford was instrumental in implementing one of the USA’s first large-scale, fixed wireless networks for a utility. He also directed the operational aspects of several innovative customer service programs including a voluntary time-of-use pilot pricing program that resulted in more efficient operations and a dramatic improvement in the energy consumption habits of consumers.

Tantalus Chair and CEO Glen Brownlee said: “I am delighted that Gary has agreed to join the Board. His very deep experience and perspectives as a utility operating executive, combined with the insights gained through his work with regulators and consumers, will be invaluable in assisting Tantalus focus its technology to address the challenges and opportunities facing utilities today.”

“I am delighted to be involved with a company that offers such a compelling solution,” said Mr. Swofford. “The utilities industry is undergoing a fundamental change in the way it uses technology and the way it conducts business. I am looking forward to making a contribution to Tantalus through my perspective as a veteran of the industry.”

Mr. Swofford continues to be active in the utility industry since his retirement in late 2003. In addition to serving on the Tantalus board, he provides guidance to companies in the emerging technology sector, and is involved in a number of prominent national power organizations including the EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute.

About Tantalus
Founded in 1989, Tantalus is a privately owned wireless communications company that designs, develops, and markets two-way, real-time data communications networks to monitor and control electric, gas, and water utilities. The Tantalus Utility Network helps utilities extend the capacity of their energy delivery infrastructure by giving them a snapshot of their entire distribution system at any point in time. This real-time network is designed specifically for utilities and supports outage management, power quality monitoring, advanced meter reading, load management, and distribution automation.