Itron Expands Partnership with SAP, Offering New Business Analytic Solutions to Utilities

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash.—February 2, 2011—Itron Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced today that it has expanded its partnership with SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), giving utilities the ability to better analyze their smart grid ecosystem and make more effective, data-driven decisions. As an SAP® BusinessObjects™ OEM partner, Itron will help utilities streamline operations, improve energy efficiency, reduce costs and enhance customer service. The integrated solutions will ultimately help consumers use energy in a more proactive, intentional and cost-effective manner.

With this extended partnership, Itron will now embed and sell SAP BusinessObjects business intelligence (BI) solutions in its Active Smart Grid Analytics (ASA) architecture. The SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions will provide Itron an industry-leading foundation on which to build a new class of analytics that will help utilities realize the true value of the wealth of data coming from their new infrastructures. As an innovator in smart grid technology, Itron leverages its industry partnerships and expertise to offer solutions that make significant advances toward a smarter, more efficient and more reliable electric grid.

"Through this partnership with SAP, we continue to bring world-class solutions to help our customers address their evolving needs," said Julie Hance, vice president, software solutions, Itron North America. "Utilities have only begun to realize the value of their smart grid investments. In combining SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions with our ASA architecture, we're providing utilities with an incredibly powerful architecture and flexible set of analytics to support new business initiatives and maximize their smart grid investments."

"Utilities are going through a difficult transition as they assimilate their massive investments in new smart grid devices," said Jill Feblowitz, practice director, IDC Energy Insights. "To meet the demands of regulators, shareholders and customers, utilities must develop new tools to improve operations and enable new programs. Business analytics married with grid data will be key to successful delivery of business benefits."

SAP BusinessObjects solutions provide comprehensive business intelligence and advanced analytics functionality that empower users to make effective, informed decisions based on real-time data and analysis. All users, from the high-end analyst to the front-line business user, have access to the information they need, when they need it, in a format they can understand. The solutions enable enterprise reporting; query, reporting and analysis; dashboards and visualization; advanced analytics; search and navigation; and information infrastructure management.

"As an SAP BusinessObjects OEM partner offering embedded BI capabilities in its ASA architecture, Itron is poised to deliver smart grid analytics to utilities worldwide," said Carolee Gearhart, vice president, Global OEM Business, SAP. "The combined solutions will empower utilities to make better decisions about managing commercial and consumer power requirements, and protecting their revenues, while addressing their customers' energy needs."