Itron and SmartSynch Partner to Deliver AMI Communications

Partnership Delivers Two-Way Communication of Energy Usage Data Over Public Wireless Networks.

Liberty Lake, WA — August 12, 2008

Itron Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) and SmartSynch announced today that they have extended their existing partnership to include delivery of cellular communications for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) solutions integrated into the OpenWay® CENTRON® meter by Itron.

OpenWay is an AMI solution that utilizes smart electricity meters and two-way communication networks between the utility and each meter. OpenWay delivers operational efficiency, empowers all customers to participate in energy management and conservation, and supports smart energy transmission and distribution grids.

Inclusion of SmartSynch's IP-enabled public wireless technology into Itron OpenWay CENTRON meters allows Itron to propose an AMI solution to utilities that provides communication to 100% of the targeted meters, as was recently the case with DTE Energy and its decision to automate 3.3 million electric and natural gas meters using OpenWay technology.

“SmartSynch complements OpenWay by making its functionality available anywhere a public wireless network exists,” said Stephen Johnston, CEO of SmartSynch. “We’re thrilled to expand our opportunities to work with Itron and our joint customers.”

SmartSynch is the largest commercial and industrial smart metering provider in North America with meters deployed at more than 75 utilities. Itron and SmartSynch have worked together since 2001 to provide utility customers with enhanced communication options. Currently more than 30,000 Itron SENTINEL® electricity meters for commercial and industrial applications include SmartSynch wireless communications.

“The ability to include communications solutions like SmartSynch in our meters demonstrates the open standards that OpenWay is built on,” said Philip Mezey, senior vice president and COO of Itron North America. “For years, SmartSynch has helped Itron meet the communication needs of our customers. We look forward to continuing our relationship into the era of AMI.”

About Itron
Itron Inc. is a leading technology provider to the global energy and water industries. Itron Inc. consists of Itron in North America and Actaris outside of North America. The company is the world’s leading provider of metering, data collection and utility software solutions, with nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on Itron technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Itron products include electricity, gas and water 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.

About SmartSynch

Headquartered in Jackson, Miss., SmartSynch has been developing successful Smart Grid Intelligence solutions for the utility industry since 2000. The company’s clean-tech innovations in the two-way delivery of real-time energy usage data over public wireless networks, in lieu of private network build-outs, have simplified SmartMeter deployments for 75+ major North American utilities, while enabling green-energy initiatives and delivering significantly higher Returns on Resources.

Unlike proprietary, closed-architecture solutions, SmartSynch’s SmartMeters represent future-proof investments in technology. The standards-based IP connectivity enabled in every SmartMeter deployed makes them adaptable and remotely upgradable to support today’s sensor and communications needs, as well as tomorrow’s opportunities, better than any alternative. For more information, contact SmartSynch Media Relations at 601-209-1315, or visit www.smartsynch.com.

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