Itron Launches Innovative GPS Reading System to Enhance Mobile Meter Reading

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash.—Feb. 18, 2013—Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced today the release of the GPS Reading System, its newest software that is integrated with Itron's AnyQuest mobile solution for water providers. Itron is the first technology company to offer this type of functionality within a handheld computer.

The GPS Reading System significantly cuts down on the time it takes to read meters and ensures meter reading access in all types of environments. With global positioning capabilities, the system is particularly adapted to emerging markets and rapidly changing cities that might not have precise addressing information. In addition, the innovative user interface offers the unique ability to automatically detect and read all radio-equipped meters around the meter reader, eliminating the need for route sequencing or specialized field knowledge.

Itron's system displays meter location and alarm status within Google Earth or other mapping software on mobile computers. This new application has been implemented at a number of utilities, including Mumbai, India as a part of one of Itron's biggest automated meter reading deployments in Asia.

"This GPS add-on to our AnyQuest mobile reading system is a huge time-saver for our customers with meters installed in areas that are crowded, difficult to access or don't have accurate addresses," said Thomas Kressin, director product marketing systems for Itron Water. "The system allows utilities to read meters more than three times faster than with the previous mobile system and makes route sequence optimization obsolete, thus saving the utility time and money."