September 15, 2011

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash., and RALEIGH, NC, – September 15, 2011 – Itron Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) and Tantalus Systems Corp. announced today a strategic partnership dedicated to delivering a wide range of smart metering and smart grid benefits to electric and multi-service public utilities. The commitment ensures that public utilities across North and Central America will be able to provide increased levels of customer service, greater service reliability, improved efficiency and access to usage information that smart metering delivers.

The collaboration will combine Itron's industry-leading Sentinel® and CENTRON™ electricity meters as well as its gas and water ERT modules together with Tantalus' comprehensive communications network, TUNet®, for a solution that is tailored specifically to the cooperative and public utility markets. Uniting TUNet with Itron's electricity meters will allow the companies to offer a solution that accommodates smart metering, demand response and distribution automation for these markets, which includes nearly 40 million electricity meters. Coupling the capabilities of Itron's advanced gas and water modules into this flexible communications platform will address the unique needs of combination utilities, which includes up to 20 million gas and water meters in this space, and it provides customers a cost-effective path to smart metering while utilizing previously deployed Itron ERT modules. Itron is a market leader in installed advanced data collection systems with over 90 million endpoints deployed by utilities.

"Our combined solution delivers on the promise that all utility companies should be able to leverage their current installed base of equipment to deliver the benefits of smart grid to all customers," stated Philip Mezey, Itron president and COO, Energy. "We are excited about joining our technology with the infrastructure Tantalus has developed for a complete, integrated solution for our cooperative and public utility customers. Tantalus' growing success in this market space is a real advantage for Itron."

"Combining Itron's industry leadership and experience with our technology will unlock new possibilities for utilities. Together, we will leverage existing and future electric, gas and water metering endpoints to help public utilities make their grids smarter," said Eric Murray, Tantalus president and CEO. "This partnership also allows us to share the benefits of Itron's sales experience and distributor network, both of which are truly world-class."

About Tantalus

Tantalus provides two-way, real-time data communications networks to monitor and control electric, gas and water utilities. TUNet® (the Tantalus Utility Network) is an end-to-end WAN/LAN/HAN communications system that operates with 220 MHz RF, 900 MHz, and IP­based networks including Fiber, WiMAX and GPRS/cellular, either individually or in combination. TUNet's patented and patents pending technologies are purpose built for the Smart Grid. The Tantalus network unites a utility's applications, making advanced metering, outage management, power quality monitoring, load control, and distribution automation cost-effective and practical throughout both urban and rural service areas. For more information, please visit www.tantalus.com

About Itron

Itron is the leading provider of energy and water resource management solutions for nearly 8,000 utilities around the world. We offer end-to-end solutions that include electricity, gas, water and heat measurement and control technology; communications systems; software; and professional services. With nearly 10,000 employees doing business in more than 130 countries, Itron empowers utilities to responsibly and efficiently manage energy and water resources. To realize a sustainable future, start here: www.itron.com

For additional information, contact:

Itron, Inc.

Sharelynn Moore
Senior Director, Itron Marketing & Communications
sharelynn.moore@itron.com
509.891.3524

Angela Lockwood
Public Relations
angela.lockwood@itron.com
(509) 891-3816

Tantalus

Josh Seidenfeld
Antenna Group for Tantalus
415.977.1953 | tantalus@antennagroup.com

Wendy Harris
Manager, Marketing & Customer Development
919.900.8970
wharris@tantalus.com