City of Bismarck, North Dakota selects Itron for collaborative
deployment using Montana-Dakota Utilities Company's Itron network
LIBERTY LAKE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ:ITRI) announced today that the City of Bismarck,
North Dakota's water department has selected Itron to help modernize its
water distribution system and will manage the system using the Itron
network deployed by Montana-Dakota Utilities Company (MDU), provider of
electric and natural gas service to parts of Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota and Wyoming. This public-private partnership is the first
instance in which two utilities are cooperating to share a
communications network where a city's entire meter population is being
managed. Bismarck will use Itron's advanced metering infrastructure
(AMI) solution along with Itron Analytics as a service and Itron
Services to improve operational efficiencies and streamline meter
reading.
With the Itron solution, Bismarck can reliably collect water consumption
and transform it into valuable and actionable intelligence across the
utility. The solution will provide Bismarck with detailed usage
information to improve customer service, protect revenue and better
manage water resources. With Itron Analytics, the utility will be able
to gain more value from its advanced metering investment to improve
utility operations and asset management.
The Itron solution being installed in Bismarck includes 21,000 water
communication modules and associated collection technologies. In
addition, Bismarck entered into an agreement with MDU in which MDU will
provide water meter readings to Bismarck using its existing Itron fixed
network. The project will not impact MDU customer billing, but rather
will provide a cost-effective solution for both utilities through a
shared network. Installation of the solution will begin in late summer
and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
"Itron's long history, knowledge and experience delivering automation
solutions made it the right choice for the City of Bismarck. We look
forward to benefiting from Itron's AMI solution and taking advantage of
MDU's Itron communications network," said Keith Demke, director of
utility operations for the City of Bismarck's Public Works Department.
"Working with Itron, we'll be able to meet our goal of increasing
efficiencies and improving customer service through access to more
detailed metering data and advanced metering infrastructure."
"In a time where cities and utilities have begun focusing on creating
smarter cities of the future that share networks and information, it is
exciting to see two progressive utilities collaborate to share
infrastructure to better manage water and energy resources," said Paula
Billingham, vice president of sales, marketing and delivery for Water
North America at Itron. "This deployment is a great example for other
water, electric and gas utilities with overlapping territories.
Cooperation is possible and can benefit both utilities and the
communities they serve."
About Itron
Itron is a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to
the resourceful use of energy and water. We provide comprehensive
solutions that measure, manage and analyze energy and water. Our broad
product portfolio includes electricity, gas, water and thermal energy
measurement devices and control technology; communications systems;
software; as well as managed and consulting services. With thousands of
employees supporting nearly 8,000 customers in more than 100 countries,
Itron applies knowledge and technology to better manage energy and water
resources. Together, we can create a more resourceful world. Join us: www.itron.com.
Itron, Inc.
Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Public
Affairs
Sharelynn Moore, 509-891-3524
sharelynn.moore@itron.com
Source: Itron, Inc.
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