Itron (NASDAQ:ITRI) has signed a contract with Southwest Gas Corporation (NYSE:SWX) to automate more than 1 million natural gas meters with Itron automated meter reading (AMR) technology, in the three metropolitan areas of Phoenix, Las Vegas and Tucson over the next three years.
Under the terms of the contract, Itron will provide the AMR modules for gas meters, mobile data collection technology, application software and related implementation and project management services. Itron will also serve as the prime contractor for installation of meter modules in the three metropolitan areas.
By the time the project is complete in 2009, Southwest Gas, whose customer base grew by more than 80,000 customers in 2005, will have automated more than 1.7 million gas meters in three states (Arizona, Nevada and California) using Itron AMR technology.
Itron’s AMR technology enables utilities to collect data from electric, natural gas and water meters automatically via radio signal. As a result, utilities are able to read meters efficiently and accurately, while eliminating the need for meter readers to access the customers’ properties every month. To date, Itron has shipped more than 46 million automated meters and modules to utilities worldwide.
“Up to this point we’ve been deploying Itron’s AMR technology selectively in the difficult-to-read and high-growth areas of our service territory, where AMR technology has proven its value in helping us control costs as a result of our growth,” said Dudley Sondeno, senior vice president and chief knowledge and technology officer at Southwest Gas Corporation. “Based on the proven track record of Itron technology and the impressive results we’ve had thus far, the time has come to expand deployment of AMR technology throughout our three largest metro areas in order to maximize the value Itron technology delivers.”
Southwest Gas first began deploying Itron AMR technology in 1996 in its Lake Tahoe service area, where heavy snowfall typically buries outdoor natural gas meters under many feet of snow, rendering them inaccessible to utility meter reading crews. In recent years, Southwest Gas also began installing Itron technology on all new meters in new developments to take advantage of AMR technology.
“Southwest Gas continues to show vision and strong leadership in the industry through the smart application of automated technology to meet key business objectives,” said LeRoy Nosbaum, Itron chairman and CEO. “Like so many leading utilities that have partnered with Itron for automation solutions, Southwest Gas has found that the financial, operational and customer service benefits of AMR technology are indeed compelling. We’re delighted to be working with Southwest Gas on this important project.”
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