Black Hills Utility Holdings, Inc. Begins Full-Scale Deployment of Itron Advanced Gas Modules

Published on Tuesday, 17 August 2010 08:42 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash.-( Business Wire )-

Itron Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced today that the natural gas distribution companies of Black Hills Utility Holdings Inc. (Black Hills Energy), located in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado, have begun deploying 100G Datalogging gas ERT^® modules from Itron. The deployment schedule will provide Black Hills Energy the opportunity to fully use the latest Itron technologies and system capabilities.

The 100G Datalogging gas ERT module, part of the Itron ChoiceConnect™ suite of data collection systems, will allow Black Hills Energy to collect daily or hourly customer meter data, offering increased operational efficiency and enhanced levels of customer service through additional accuracy and timeliness of information. Access to frequent meter data will facilitate improvements in bill reconciliations and reduce truck rolls for off-cycle reads.

“We are excited about the new technologies and capabilities offered by Itron,” said Terry Perkins, director of customer account services and process improvements at Black Hills Energy. “The ability to collect advanced meter data will offer us a wide range of operational improvements to better serve our customers today and into the future. We also anticipate additional benefits such as greater accuracy in natural gas load forecasting.”

With ChoiceConnect, Black Hills Energy will be able to use Itron’s drive-by system to collect 40 days of daily reads. The ability to collect data logging with a mobile or fixed network system enables Black Hills Energy to deploy a hybrid collection system or migrate between systems, depending on evolving business needs. “ChoiceConnect offers different ways to collect interval meter data. Its flexibility provides us with effective options going forward and will increase the value of our field assets,” said Perkins.

ChoiceConnect’s flexibility in collecting advanced meter data and Itron’s proven technical support were the main reason Black Hills Energy chose Itron.

“Spread out over a geographically diverse service territory, Black Hills Energy demands a system that can adapt to different requirements. ChoiceConnect offers them the advanced capabilities to best serve their customers,” said Carl Porter, marketing director of gas solutions for Itron. “Itron has a long history with Black Hills Energy, and we are pleased to help them with their next generation communication technology.”

About Itron:

Itron Inc. is a leading technology provider to the global energy and water industries. Our company is the world’s leading provider of intelligent metering, data collection and utility software solutions, with nearly 8,000 utilities worldwide relying on our technology to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Our products include electricity, gas, water and heat meters, data collection and communication systems, including automated meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI); meter data management and related software applications; as well as project management, installation, and consulting services. To know more, start here: www.itron.com.

Black Hills Utility Holdings, Inc.

Black Hills Utility Holdings, Inc., through its local distribution companies, provides natural gas service to more than 520,000 customers in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. Black Hills Utility Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) — a diversified energy company with a tradition of exemplary service and a vision to be the energy partner of choice — based in Rapid City, S.D., with corporate offices in Denver and Omaha, Neb. The company serves 763,300 natural gas and electric utility customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The company’s non-regulated businesses generate wholesale electricity, produce natural gas, oil and coal, and market energy. Black Hills employees partner to produce results that improve life with energy. More information is available at www.blackhillscorp.com.

Itron Inc.Ranny DwigginsVice President, Investor Relations509-891-3443ranny.dwiggins@itron.comorMarni PilcherDirector, Investor Relations509-891-3847marni.pilcher@itron.comorSharelynn MooreDirector, Itron Marketing & Communications509-891-3524sharelynn.moore@itron.comorFor Black Hills Utility Holdings, Inc:Bob This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.