Electricity Distribution Origin GeoSystems' Consolidation with Futura Systems Curious if this merger will affect your utility? Utilities utilizing Itron's integration between DDS™ Asset View Module and OriginGIS 3.2 will not see any changes in current business processes. click here for more information Process Management: Streamlined Design through Automation Part of Distribution Design Studio, the Process Management Module automates the utility design process and provides visibility throughout the entire workflow. click here for more information The Smart Grid: A System of Systems As noted earlier, the North American power transmission and distribution system—"The Grid"—is considered the largest machine in the history of mankind. As you might expect, that machine has many, many different parts. Likewise, the coming Smart Grid will also be a system of systems. click here for more information Distribution Design Solutions Take Their Show on the Road Itron is a key participant in many upcoming trade shows where energy providers are invited to ask questions about our distribution design products and services, and participate in relevant demonstrations. click here for more information

Origin GeoSystems' Consolidation with Futura Systems
		As you may have already heard, Origin GeoSystems has announced that it's merging with Futura Systems, a developer and reseller of ESRI-based mapping, staking, and work-order management applications. Although the new organization will operate beneath the Futura Systems banner, Origin's team will remain at the present offices of Origin GeoSystems in Smyrna, GA. Due to an existing integration with OriginGIS 3.2, customers that currently utilize Itron's Mobile Asset View Module to enhance distribution design productivity with direct access to utility GIS
and mapping system information, may have questions about how this merger will affect their day-to-day activities. The answer is that utilities using Itron's integration between Distribution Design Studio's Asset View Module and OriginGIS 3.2 will not see any changes in current business processes. Itron plans to maintain open lines of communication and effective working relationships with Futura's team, and, as always, Itron will continue to be the main point of contact and support for your integration Itron is still uniquely positioned to help our customers successfully meet future marketplace challenges. If you have any questions about this merger, please e-mail Darby McKee, product line manager for distribution design solutions, at darby.mckee@itron.com.

Process Management: Streamlined Design through Automation
		Part of Distribution Design Studio™ (DDS), the Process Management Module* automates the utility design process through a single workflow or a series of workflows. The module provides visibility throughout the entire workflow from initial service request and project assignment to project sign-off and construction. Typically, the design workflow process has been a slow, cumbersome affair with a paper trail a mile long. But with the
Process Management Module, the normal step-by-step manual procedure becomes a part of a much more efficient overall design process. A workflow is created and routed electronically to defined users and responsibilities in the organization through a customizable, user-friendly Web interface. Automated e-mail notification reminders can be added to keep important tasks and project milestones top-of-mind for users, who access everything from a custom homepage that contains all of their currently assigned project information. And for key stakeholders in the organization—such as project managers and executive sponsors—Web-based tracking and reporting tools are tailor-made to provide project status details at a glance. The Process Management Module is flexible and powerful enough to help automate other functional areas across the utility with customized workflows. Other departments can leverage the technology and develop their own workflows for tracking miscellaneous accounting information, joint use activities, or any other manual processes. Features The Process Management Module incorporates the following key features into Distribution Design Studio: Fully-integrated electronic workflow and process automation Configurable roles, responsibilities and user-base Easy-to-use, customizable Web interface Web-based reporting and tracking tools for project stakeholders Interneer Intellect's instant application platform technology Automated notifications to drive the entire work order process Benefits Designers, project managers and key utility stakeholders can benefit from the Process Management Module in the following ways: Reduce the overall duration of the end-to-end design process Increase design efficiency and consistency by automating the manual design and engineering processes Eliminate manual handoffs and the potential for process breakdowns or delays Provide visibility into the status of design projects for stakeholders throughout the utility—from executives to construction managers Improve planning by providing accurate and timely status updates to other utility departments Reduce bottlenecks due to unavailable status information Improve ability to respond proactively to delays Increase customer satisfaction by optimizing design timelines For more information about Itron's distribution design solutions, click here. *Powered by Interneer Intellect technology.

The Smart Grid: A System of Systems
		As noted earlier, the North American power transmission and distribution system—"The Grid"—is considered the largest machine in the history of mankind. As you might expect, that machine has many, many different parts. Likewise, the coming Smart Grid will also be a system of systems. AMI solutions like OpenWay® by Itron are a key system of the Smart Grid. Advanced metering is the fingertips used in
grid-sensing, manipulating and responding to signals. Many Smart Grid systems will be communication and control networks, including: Home area networks—devices inside homes that communicate and interoperate to manage energy. Local area networks—these networks connect homes and businesses at the neighborhood level to carry network communications. Wide area networks—these networks connect neighborhoods to the utility central offices. Supervisory control and data acquisition networks—these networks send general collection information and perform operations in near-real time. SCADA networks are commonly used to monitor and control high-voltage transmission networks. Distribution automation—communication and control networks that report on and operate the switches and routers in the distribution network. The Smart Grid is also expected to work with various types of new power sources. Those sources include distributed generation, such as residential solar panels; renewable energy sources, such as wind power farms; and energy storage devices, such as flywheels, large scale batteries, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The Smart Grid, like the current grid, will take decades to build. This fact has several implications for the various technologies involved. One, each technology installation will have to meet its own cost justification. The Smart Grid is simply too big to pay for all at once at the end of the project. Two, each technology must supply enough defined points of interoperability to fit into the current and the projected infrastructure. The vision of the Smart Grid is that, over time, these various systems will become increasingly smart, interoperable and responsive, allowing us to make the most of the energy that we generate and transmit.

Distribution Design Solutions Take Their Show on the Road
		For more than 20 years, Itron has been crafting the most advanced software tools available for distribution system design, analysis and optimization. Itron is a key participant in many upcoming trade shows and conferences where utilities are invited to ask questions about our distribution products and services, and participate in relevant demonstrations. Come see how our extensive experience and advanced design applications have made utility engineering teams across North America more productive. SEE Conference June 25 - 27, 2008 Sheraton New Orleans, New Orleans, LA Our group will feature DDS and LD-Pro at this conference.
Interested in demonstrations of these products a little closer to home or can't make it to the above mentioned conference? Itron will be happy to host a roadshow in your area, where these solutions are on display and available for demonstration, eliminating the need for you to travel long distances. To express interest in being part of the Itron road show, or if an online demo fits into your schedule better, contact Jarod Tait (509) 891-3543 or jarod.tait@itron.com.