Consumers Energy Modernizes Gas Distribution System with Itron Solutions and Services

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. — Jan. 26, 2016 — Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water, announced today that Consumers Energy, provider of natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million Michigan residents, has expanded its contract to include modernization of the company's gas distribution system by using communicating digital meter technology. The contract builds upon Itron's existing work with Consumers Energy to help modernize the utility's electric system with Itron's OpenWay® smart grid solution using cellular communications. Itron's smart grid and smart gas solutions are key components of Consumers Energy's Smart Energy program, which aims to improve customer service and energy service reliability.

With Itron’s technology, Consumers Energy is able to enhance system efficiency with more insights into system performance, increase billing accuracy through the elimination of estimated bills and improve power outage detection enabling power to be restored faster. The company is providing customers with more energy-saving tools by means of a web portal for tracking their electric usage. Online customer access to gas usage information is also in future plans.

Consumers Energy will install more than 630,000 smart gas communication modules where customers also receive electric service from the company. Gas meters will communicate energy usage information to customer electric meters, which will convey overall energy usage information to Consumers Energy, eliminating the need for estimated reads for either type of meter. The system enhances efficiency and billing accuracy.

Consumers Energy has already installed more than 800,000 communicating digital meters as part of the Smart Energy program, with 1.1 million Itron 4G LTE smart meters in the plans for the remainder of its electricity territory. In addition, the contract includes a 20-year maintenance agreement.

"Itron looks forward to expanding our work with Consumers Energy and bringing the benefits of smarter technologies to the utility's electric customers who also receive natural gas service. With Itron's smart gas solution, Consumers Energy will be able to collect, deliver and manage more granular and timely gas data, giving the utility and its customers more insights than ever before," said Carl Porter, president of Itron's Gas business line. "At Itron, we help our customers gain more value from their systems to more efficiently and responsibly manage energy resources. We are glad to have that opportunity at Consumers Energy, helping create a more resourceful world."