Itron Forms Alliance With Duquesne Light

Itron Inc. and a Pittsburgh utility have formed a joint venture to explore ways of exploiting a meter-reading system the Spokane Valley company is installing.

Spokeswoman Mima Scarpelli said EnSite Communications could provide home security or read meters for companies other than Duquesne Light Co., which supplies electricity to Pittsburgh.

The venture initially will focus on the Pennsylvania city, but could expand its efforts later, she said.

Purchase of the utility’s parent, DQE Inc., as proposed earlier this week by neighboring Allegheny Power System Inc., could be beneficial in that regard, she said.

Allegheny, Scarpelli noted, does not have any automatic meterreading system in place.

Itron owns and operates the electricity meter-reading system under a 15-year contract with Duquesne Light Co.

The joint-venture partner is Duquesne Enterprises, another DQE subsidiary.

, DataTimes