LIBERTY LAKE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), which is innovating the way utilities and cities manage energy and water, announced that its flagship event, Itron Utility Week (IUW), concluded with record attendance of more than 1,300 attendees from across the globe. Held Oct. 11-18 in Marco Island, Florida, under the theme of The Power of Community, Itron Utility Week brought together customers, partners, investors and influencers to advance industry dialogue and address energy and water resource management through technology innovation.
IUW provided attendees with more than 80 hours of thought-provoking content and education on topics such as grid modernization and resiliency, natural disasters, regulations, diversity, data management, advanced Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications and measurement solutions. Itron’s Knowledge Center offered attendees demonstrations on grid management, encoder receiver transmitters (ERT), Intelis Gas meters and Itron’s cloud-based mobile meter data collection and management solution Temetra, among other solutions. Augmented reality, machine learning and digital twin technologies were explored in a virtual Los Angeles neighborhood, enabling attendees to experience various consumer and provider perspectives on energy consumption and delivery.
“IUW 2019 provided the ideal environment to explore how technology and innovation are having a tremendous, positive impact on how our industry manages energy and water,” said Marina Donovan, vice president of global marketing and public affairs at Itron. “The sessions inspired and challenged every attendee to do more, whether it was figuring out how to unlock the full potential of the IIoT for more efficient and safer communities or enabling greater investments in disaster preparation. A key takeaway from IUW further validated one of Itron’s core beliefs—that our ability to transform the industry lies in community to create smarter, more vibrant and better-connected cities.”
Numerous industry thought leaders took the stage at IUW, including Nick Wagner, president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and Dan Pfeiffer, Itron’s vice president of government affairs. The duo led an engaging session on the ins and outs of securing commission approval, citing that negative cost-benefit analysis, a lack of evidence or data and not having enough customer-facing benefits as the three dominant reasons for some of 2018’s regulatory denials. In terms of resilience, regulators share consensus, as it is becoming a top consideration of what they review and guides how they perform their jobs.
IUW focused on celebrating the achievements of the industry and driving excellence in innovation. Consolidated Edison received Itron’s first annual Itron Innovator Award for its deployment of natural gas detectors developed in collaboration with New Cosmos USA Inc. using Itron’s Milli™ 5 battery-optimized wireless communications module. U.S. utilities Pepco Holdings and Carlsbad Municipal Water District were acknowledged by Frost & Sullivan for their commitments to enhance consumer water and energy efficiency.
“IUW continues to drive the industry forward year after year. It’s always invigorating to see attendees apply their learnings in their own utility’s operations and share learnings with industry peers. Planning is already underway to deliver another stellar conference in 2020, brimming with new research, visionary keynotes and customer success stories, along with the technology solutions required to create a more resourceful world,” concluded Donovan.
To watch keynotes from IUW 2019 along with other video content, check out our YouTube playlist.
Save the date for Itron Utility Week 2020, which will be held at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country from Oct. 24-31, 2020.
About Itron
Itron enables utilities and cities to safely, securely and reliably deliver critical infrastructure services to communities in more than 100 countries. Our portfolio of smart networks, software, services, meters and sensors helps our customers better manage electricity, gas and water resources for the people they serve. By working with our customers to ensure their success, we help improve the quality of life, ensure the safety and promote the well-being of millions of people around the globe. Itron is dedicated to creating a more resourceful world. Join us: www.itron.com.
Itron® is a registered trademark of Itron, Inc. All third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated.
Contacts
Itron, Inc.
Alison Mallahan
Senior PR Manager
509-891-3802
alison.mallahan@itron.com