Itron, Badger Meter Join Forces to Bring AMR Systems to Long Island

Itron Inc. has announced it will team up with Badger Meter, Inc. to provide Long Island Water Corporation (LIWC), a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water Works Company Inc. with a territory-wide automatic meter reading (AMR) system. This will automate data collection for all of the utility's 73,000 accounts.

By deploying Itron AMR technology, LIWC will eliminate the need for its meter readers to access customer properties. Once the system is installed, LIWC vehicles equipped with on-board Itron computers and RF transceivers will automatically collect accurate meter readings simply by driving down the street.

The AMR system will integrate new Badger water meters with Itron AMR meter modules, mobile data collection technology and software that will interface with LIWC's customer information and billing systems. The total value of the contract to Itron is approximately $7.4 million.

Installation of the system is scheduled to begin the second quarter of this year. Increased meter reading efficiency, operational cost reductions and improved customer service and satisfaction were the principal drivers in LIWC's decision to implement AMR technology.

``AMR technology from Itron and Badger Meter will enable Long Island Water Corporation to achieve significant improvements in our operational efficiency and help us strengthen our relationship with our customers,'' said John Mirando, vice president and manager for LIWC.

Itron Inc. is a leading technology provider ad source of knowledge to the energy and water industry for collecting, analyzing and applying critical data about electric, gas and water usage.

Badger Meter is a leading marketer and manufacturer of products using flow measurement and control technology serving utility and industrial markets worldwide.

Long Island Water Corporation, founded in 1884, is the largest investor-owned water utility in New York State, supplying drinking water to more than 230,000 residents of southwestern Nassau County on Long Island.