Itron
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAmerican technology company providing metering, communications, software, and services for energy and water resource management.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Itron is a United States technology company focused on measuring, communicating, and analyzing the use of electricity, natural gas, water, and thermal energy. Its offerings combine utility meters, communications networks, control equipment, software, analytics, and managed and consulting services. The company serves utilities and municipalities seeking to improve billing accuracy, operational visibility, infrastructure efficiency, conservation, demand response, and the integration of distributed energy resources. Itron began in 1977 in Hauser Lake, Idaho, when a group of engineers worked on a more efficient method for reading utility meters. The business emerged from the broader Spokane, Washington, utility environment associated with Avista Corp., formerly Washington Water Power. Its early focus on automated meter reading developed into a wider portfolio of electronic measurement and utility communications technologies. The company expanded internationally during the 1980s, establishing manufacturing operations and commercial activity in Europe and entering Asian markets. Over time, Itron broadened from meter-reading equipment into an end-to-end resource-management platform. Its portfolio has included electricity, gas, water, and thermal meters; endpoint devices; network infrastructure; smart-grid and advanced-metering communications; street-lighting controls; distribution and workforce software; forecasting and analytics; and professional services. Consulting capabilities were expanded in the mid-2000s to support energy-efficiency programs, renewable-energy deployment, conservation, and demand-response initiatives. Acquisitions have been central to the company's development. Itron added metering businesses and software capabilities in Europe and North America, acquired Schlumberger Electricity Metering in 2004 and Actaris Metering Systems in 2007, and expanded cellular communications through SmartSynch in 2012. It also acquired Comverge and, in 2018, completed the acquisition of Silver Spring Networks. Silver Spring brought a major smart-grid networking and software platform, including its Gen5 technology, which was subsequently integrated with Itron's broader communications and utility-management architecture. More recent acquisitions have extended Itron's reach into street-lighting controls and other specialized utility technologies, including SELC in 2021 and Elpis Squared in 2024. Itron has also positioned itself within the development of connected infrastructure and smart cities. Its OpenWay Riva adaptive communications technology was designed to support distributed Internet of Things applications, and the company created a developer community around that platform. Partnerships and alliances have included work with Cisco on Internet Protocol communications for smart grids and participation in the Smart Cities Council and Microsoft's CityNext ecosystem. The company's deployments span electricity, gas, water, lighting, and municipal infrastructure. Utility and city applications have included smart-meter rollouts, distribution monitoring, water-network management, connected street lighting, traffic and environmental sensing, and energy-efficiency programs. Examples cited in public materials include smart-lighting work in Chicago, a streetlight pilot in San Antonio, acoustic monitoring associated with highway construction in Christchurch, traffic-management capabilities in Copenhagen, and proposed moisture sensing through connected streetlights in Paris. Itron remains an active provider of infrastructure technology and services to utilities and cities worldwide.
History
Itron was founded in 1977 at Hauser Lake, Idaho, by engineers seeking a more efficient way to read utility meters. The company developed within the Spokane, Washington, utility environment associated with Avista Corp., previously known as Washington Water Power. Its original meter-reading mission provided the foundation for a business that would eventually address the measurement, communications, and management of multiple utility resources. During the 1980s, Itron expanded beyond the United States. It entered Asian markets in 1984 and developed manufacturing facilities in France and the United Kingdom. Subsequent international expansion and acquisitions gave the company a broader presence in electricity, gas, and water metering. In 1989, it acquired several metering businesses, including Thorn Emi Gas Metering in the United Kingdom and Bosco in Italy. It later acquired Heliowatt and Danyl in Germany in 1993, AEG Meters in 1995, and UTS in 1996. The UTS transaction added the MV-90 metering software application to Itron's portfolio. Itron continued to build a software and systems business in the early 2000s. In 2002, it acquired software related to distributed-system design, field-workforce management, and energy forecasting. The acquisition of Schlumberger Electricity Metering in 2004 strengthened its electricity-metering activities, while the 2007 acquisition of Actaris Metering Systems significantly broadened its international metering operations and product range. By the middle of the 2000s, Itron was increasingly involved in utility programs rather than only supplying physical meters. In 2006, it established consulting teams supporting energy efficiency, renewable energy, conservation, and demand response. These services complemented its measurement equipment and helped utilities use consumption data in planning and customer programs. The company expanded its communications and smart-grid capabilities during the following decade. In 2010, Itron worked with Cisco on an alliance to bring Internet Protocol networking to smart-grid applications. Itron also received recognition associated with the U.S. Recovery Act Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit program during that year. In 2012, the company acquired SmartSynch, adding cellular communications capabilities, and acquired C&N GasGate Technology to enhance smart-gas distribution solutions. Itron's strategy increasingly incorporated connected infrastructure and the Internet of Things. It joined the Smart Cities Council as a founding member in 2013 and became a partner in Microsoft's CityNext initiative. Its OpenWay Riva adaptive communications technology was developed to support utility and IoT communications, and Itron launched a developer community to encourage software applications using the platform. A major strategic step came through the acquisition of Comverge in 2017, which added demand-response and energy-management capabilities. In the same year, Itron agreed to acquire Silver Spring Networks. The transaction was completed in January 2018. Silver Spring supplied smart meters, grid networks, and software and services, including the Gen5 communications platform. Itron subsequently worked to integrate Gen5 capabilities with its OpenWay Riva and broader utility technology framework. In the municipal infrastructure market, Itron has supported connected street lighting and sensing projects. Publicly described examples include a smart streetlight pilot in San Antonio, a major smart LED streetlight project in Chicago, acoustical sensing associated with a highway project in Christchurch, traffic-management applications in Copenhagen, and proposed soil-moisture monitoring in Paris. These examples illustrate the company's move from traditional metering toward broader urban infrastructure management. Itron acquired SELC in 2021, strengthening its street-lighting-controls business, and acquired Elpis Squared in 2024. Today, Itron's activities encompass electricity, gas, water, and thermal measurement; communications networks; utility software; analytics; lighting controls; and managed and consulting services. Its customers include utilities and municipalities across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Australia, and South America.
- 2024
Elpis Squared acquisition
[1]Itron acquires Elpis Squared to extend its utility and infrastructure technology capabilities.
- 2021
SELC acquisition
[1]Itron acquires street-lighting-controls company SELC.
- 2018
Silver Spring Networks acquisition completed
[1]Itron completes its acquisition of Silver Spring Networks and begins integrating the Gen5 platform with its utility technology portfolio.
- 2017
Comverge acquisition
[1]Itron acquires Comverge, adding demand-response and energy-management capabilities.
- 2013
Smart Cities Council participation
[1]Itron joins the Smart Cities Council as a founding member.
- 2012
SmartSynch and C&N GasGate acquisitions
[1]Itron acquires SmartSynch for cellular communications and C&N GasGate Technology for smart-gas distribution capabilities.
- 2010
Smart-grid networking alliance
[1]Itron forms an alliance with Cisco to support IP communications for smart-grid applications.
- 2007
Actaris Metering Systems acquisition
[1]Itron acquires Actaris Metering Systems, broadening its international metering portfolio.
- 2004
Schlumberger Electricity Metering acquisition
[1]Itron acquires Schlumberger Electricity Metering, expanding its electricity-metering operations.
- 1984
International expansion begins
[1]Itron expands into Asian markets and develops manufacturing operations in France and the United Kingdom.
Products and positioning
Itron positions itself as a technology and services partner for utilities and cities. Its proposition combines field measurement hardware with secure communications, software, analytics, and implementation services, helping customers manage energy and water resources more efficiently and operate increasingly connected infrastructure.
Electricity measurement
Electricity metering systems
Itron supplies electricity meters and related measurement equipment for utility billing, network monitoring, and advanced metering programs. These products can be connected to communications networks so utilities can collect consumption data remotely and obtain more detailed operational information than traditional manual meter-reading systems.
Gas measurement
Gas metering systems
Itron's gas portfolio includes gas meters, communication equipment, and technologies intended to support distribution monitoring and smart-gas programs. The company expanded this area through acquisitions including C&N GasGate Technology and Actaris Metering Systems.
Water measurement
Water metering systems
Itron provides water meters and connected water-management technologies for utilities and municipalities. Applications include remote consumption collection, billing support, leak and loss analysis, and improved visibility into water-network performance.
Smart-grid platform
Itron OpenWay
OpenWay is Itron's family of advanced metering and utility communications solutions. It links field devices with utility systems to support remote meter reading, two-way communications, operational monitoring, and data-driven energy-management programs.
Adaptive communications
Itron OpenWay Riva
OpenWay Riva is an adaptive communications technology designed for utility networks and connected infrastructure. Its use cases include smart metering and Internet of Things applications, with a developer community created to support software built around the platform.
Smart-grid communications
Silver Spring Networks Gen5
Gen5 was Silver Spring Networks' smart-grid communications platform, acquired by Itron in the Silver Spring transaction. It supported connected meters, grid devices, networking, and utility software, and has been integrated into Itron's wider technology framework.
Metering software · 1996
MV-90
MV-90 is metering software associated with Itron's acquisition of UTS. It forms part of the company's software portfolio for collecting, processing, and managing utility meter data.
Connected municipal infrastructure
Street-lighting controls
Itron provides connected street-lighting controls and related management capabilities for municipalities and utilities. These solutions can support LED-lighting upgrades, remote control, energy monitoring, maintenance coordination, and broader smart-city sensing applications.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquire Elpis SquaredM&ABackground
Itron continued to add specialized capabilities related to utility and infrastructure technology.
Action taken
Itron acquired Elpis Squared.
2021
Acquire SELCM&ABackground
Connected street lighting was becoming an important component of municipal energy management and smart-city infrastructure.
Action taken
Itron acquired SELC, a street-lighting-controls company.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Itron's capabilities in connected lighting and municipal infrastructure management.
2018
Complete the acquisition of Silver Spring NetworksM&ABackground
Itron sought to combine its metering and utility-management business with Silver Spring Networks' smart-grid communications, networking, and software capabilities.
Action taken
Itron completed the acquisition in January 2018 and pursued integration of Silver Spring's Gen5 platform with Itron's OpenWay and other utility technologies.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Itron's smart-grid platform and strengthened its position in connected utility infrastructure.
2010
Expand into IP-enabled smart-grid communicationsStrategyBackground
Utilities were adopting networked infrastructure that required communications technologies capable of linking meters, grid equipment, and enterprise systems.
Action taken
Itron formed an alliance with Cisco to deliver Internet Protocol communications for the smart-grid market.
Aftermath
The alliance reflected Itron's shift from standalone metering equipment toward connected utility networks and interoperable communications.
Recent events
Sources3 sources
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