Release Details

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash., Apr 30, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today, Itron Inc. (NASDAQ:ITRI) president and CEO Malcolm Unsworth, and two workers representing Itron's U.S.-based manufacturing, joined President Obama at the White House for a press event highlighting successful American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) investments.

Itron manufactures its industry-leading smart grid and smart metering technology in two of its four U.S.-based facilities--in Oconee, S.C., and Waseca, Minn. Both locations are benefiting from the administration's economic recovery efforts, including expanded production capacity and more domestic jobs.

Itron employees James Morris and Carla Reysack were asked to join Obama and Unsworth in the Rose Garden for the press briefing. Morris is a repair operator on the OpenWay(R) assembly production line in Oconee; Reysack is a production assembler for Itron smart end points in Waseca.

Said Unsworth, "Itron is a global company with manufacturing all over the world, but we are one of the few companies in the smart grid space that can say, 'what we sell in America, we make in America.' The only way we compete with our foreign competitors is by continual innovation, supported by the hard work of people like James and Carla."

Itron smart grid solutions were recognized in January by the U.S. Department of Energy for their contribution to a robust clean energy economy. The acknowledgement came as part of Obama's announcement to award $2.3 billion in Recovery Act Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy manufacturing projects across the United States.

Itron's advanced smart metering/smart grid solution, OpenWay(R), supports a clean energy economy by aiding in carbon reduction, while enabling renewable power infrastructure, system efficiency and consumer involvement. The OpenWay CENTRON(R) meter is one of the first smart meters to provide built-in, high-speed two-way communications, giving consumers more choice regarding their energy usage and allowing utilities to provide higher reliability at lower cost.

In October 2009, Itron commended the administration for its vision in awarding $3.4 billion in funding to support the upgrade and development of the electricity grid in the U.S. The announcement included several customers who contract for OpenWay smart grid systems such as CenterPoint Energy, San Diego Gas and Electric, DTE Energy and City of Glendale Water and Power. With more than 14 million smart metering end points under contract, Itron holds a commanding spot in the marketplace for offering this technology.

Concluded Unsworth, "Itron has been manufacturing products in the U.S. for over 100 years. We continue to invest in manufacturing technology to compete on a global basis. This has allowed Itron to employ 1,500 manufacturing employees in all four facilities in the U.S. It is gratifying to see this momentum and acceptance of OpenWay from the administration."

About Itron:

Itron Inc. is a leading technology provider to the global energy and water industries. Our company is the world's leading provider of intelligent metering, data collection and utility software solutions, with nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on our technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Our products include electricity, gas, water and heat meters, data collection and communication systems, including automated meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI); meter data management and related software applications; as well as project management, installation, and consulting services. To know more, start here: www.itron.com.

SOURCE: Itron Inc.

Itron Communications and Marketing
Kim Papich, 509-891-3590
kim.papich@itron.com

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