Spokane, WA, and Montreal, PQ, Dec. 3, 2002 -- Itron Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement with Olameter to provide the Canada-based utility services company with web-based, wireless workforce management technology, enabling Olameter to provide utilities with outsourced workforce management services.
Under the terms of the agreement, Olameter will provide Itron's Service-Link(tm) technology to its utility clients in Ontario under the banner URB, Olameter's Ontario division, on an Application Services Provider (ASP) basis. Oshawa PUC Networks, a Local Distribution Company (LDC) in Ontario, will be the first utility rolling out the system.
Service-Link extends data communications to field service technicians (FSTs) by supporting the leading private and public wireless data networks. It enables all field service tasks - such as service connects/disconnects, leak detection, credit and collections, meter services and emergency calls -- to be carried out with unprecedented speed and efficiency.
"Since most of our clients are small utilities and municipalities, we need to offer a mobile workforce management solution that provides tremendous functionality, while being easy and cost-effective to implement and maintain," said Mr. James Douglas, Vice President and General Manager of URB-Olameter. "With its wireless, web-based architecture, Itron's Service-Link fits those criteria well. In addition, having an industry leader like Itron in our corner is a major benefit."
"Utilities and service providers across North America are identifying field workforce operations as an area of opportunity to reduce costs, increase efficiency, optimize resource utilization, and provide better customer service throughout the operation," said John Hengesh, vice president and general manager of Itron's Water and Public Power Business Unit. "We look forward to helping URB accomplish these strategic and operational objectives for its many utility and municipality clients through the use of Itron technology."
About Itron
Itron is a technology provider and critical source of knowledge to the global energy and water industries. More than 2,000 utilities worldwide rely on Itron technology to deliver the knowledge they require to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water.
Itron delivers value to its clients by providing industry-leading solutions for meter data collection, energy information management, demand side management and response, load forecasting, analysis and consulting services, transmission and distribution system design and optimization, web-based workforce automation, C&I customer care and residential energy management.
About Olameter
Olameter is an independent meter service company in North America, currently servicing 2.5 million meters of all types and complexity at residential, commercial and industrial sites located across 130 communities. Olameter offers a full range of telemetry and back-office systems to utilities (electric, gas, water), including billing, AMR, data collection, aggregation and automated site management services.
