First phase of deployment will automate 30,000 water meters in Charlotte, North Carolina
SPOKANE, Wash., September 5, 2002 -- Itron Inc. has reached an agreement with Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities (CMU) to provide the Utility with technology to automate data collection from 30,000 of its water meters in Charlotte, North Carolina.
This first phase of implementation is expected to take eight months to complete; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities plans to automate the remainder of its territory over the next five years.
The largest public water utility in the Carolinas, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities currently has more than 200,000 metered accounts that provide drinking water to 750,000 people throughout Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Once the Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system is deployed, the Utility's meter readers will use vehicles equipped with Itron computers and radio frequency (RF) transceivers to collect meter data simply by driving past the metered property, eliminating the need for meter readers to access customer properties in automated areas.
John Hengesh, vice president and general manager of Itron's Water and Public Power Business Unit, believes Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities is doing its customers and employees a service, while ensuring future operational success.
"Happier customers, safer employees and more cost effective and efficient operations are the results more and more water utilities and municipalities are realizing by adopting Itron advanced automation technology," says Hengesh. "In fact, we've seen a strong increase in our water business this year, clearly demonstrating that this market is stronger than ever. We're very pleased to expand our relationship with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities, and we look forward to getting started on a successful project."
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, C&I customer care, load management and demand response, transmission and distribution system design software and services, and web-based workforce automation. Itron's website can be found at www.itron.com
