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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Je+QBSpZhY6ufrAORULh4/YC3lCNWXBtxg/QA+Ws1UpSsARUy+MKigmUW8nB/cVF
 OpQPD2b3ZJ3hw7bO4CW+jg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-014974.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-014974.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030722193632
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-014974
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030723

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOLEY RICHARD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227365

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29748
		FILM NUMBER:		03797246

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ECHELON CORP
		STREET 2:		550 MERIDIAN AVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95126
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4089385200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ECHELON CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000031347
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3576]
		IRS NUMBER:				770203595
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4015 MIRANDA AVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6508557400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4015 MIRANDA AVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd13669.xml
<DESCRIPTION>BOARD OF DIRECTORS OPTIONS EXERCISE
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-07-21</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000031347</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ECHELON CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>elon</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227365</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOLEY RICHARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-21</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>10000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>7.00</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>145589</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<derivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>7.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-07-21</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>10000</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>0</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate>
<value>1999-07-27</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2003-07-27</value></expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">The reporting person exercised in full the 10,000  share option granted on July 27, 1998 under the Echelon Corporation 1998 Director Option Plan.  The option became exercisable at the rate of 1/4th of the shares on July 27, 1999 and each one-year anniversary thereafter.</footnote></footnotes>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Gibson Anderson, attorney in fact for Richard Moley</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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