Itron and Mercury Instruments Combine Forces to Make Natural Gas Delivery More Cost Efficient

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash. — September 30, 2009 — Itron Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced today that it is working with Mercury Instruments, a Honeywell company (NYSE: HON), to integrate Itron’s high-powered gas advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technology into Mercury Instruments’ natural gas pressure recorders and electronic volume correctors.

The integrated system will enable utilities to gather Mercury’s gas recorder and corrector serial data through Itron’s advanced data collection suite, ChoiceConnect™, specifically utilizing its gas AMI network technology. Currently, utilities read the instruments manually or rely on expensive cellular technology. Access to the instruments’ readings through the gas AMI network will result in reduced operational costs for utilities as they avoid sending personnel out into the field.

“Interfacing the technologies of our two companies allows us to better serve the natural gas industry as we are able to offer our customers a more cost-effective way to run their business,” said Mike Dillon, vice president for Mercury Business Development.

ChoiceConnect is the industry’s most affordable and flexible advanced metering platform, including the new gas AMI solution, which allows gas providers to collect and manage frequent consumption and meter data reliably and affordably. The network offers a progressive blend of solutions that lets utilities cost-effectively deploy the solution they need, where and when they need it. System components inherent to ChoiceConnect include radio-equipped gas modules, network communication devices, mobile collectors, and software, offering the flexibility to upgrade as business needs change.

Mercury’s electronic gas pressure recorders measure and monitor gas pipeline pressure throughout the distribution system to ensure safe, reliable and efficient system operation. Mercury’s electronic volume correctors are the standard for gas volume measurement and correction.

“This relationship made sense to us from day one,” said Carl Porter, Itron director of gas product marketing. “As leaders in our respective industries, our companies share the common goal of making our customers delivery of natural gas more efficient and cost-effective. Combining our technologies is the next step in the evolution of this technology.”