Itron Offshoot Strikes Deal For Joint Venture

A newly formed subsidiary of Spokane-based Itron Inc. Thursday announced the formation of a joint venture with Portland General Corp.

SI3 - for service, information, imagination and integration - will market automatic meterreading and related services to utilities around the country, according to a joint statement from the companies.

The first project will be enhancement of meter services in the Portland area, where some of Itron’s more advanced equipment is already in place.

SI3 services will be based on technology from Genesis by Itron, a subsidiary formed in December to expand the services and products available to potential customers. Among the possible developments are security monitoring and home automation.

The president of the new company, Bruce Carpenter, said SI3 will install systems engineered by Genesis and manufactured by Itron and other vendors.

“We believe Itron is going to be very successful in the marketplace,” he said. “We can help the conversion process around the country.”

SI3 will be based in Portland.

Dominic Geraghty, president of Genesis Services, said new services will help utilities remain competitive.

“This partnership with PGC is an important example of how Itron is teaming with utilities to enable them to use technology to find new ways to grow their business,” he said.

“Timely development of utilitywide, two-way information systems and networks is a critical success factor in the re-regulated utility environment,” agreed Portland General Vice President Dave Carboneau.

, DataTimes