ITRON Spokane, Washington; A World Where Meter Readers No Longer Trudge Across Your Grass.(THE NEW AMERICA)

Byline: MARILYN ALVA

After several years of financial woes, utility companies have cleaned up their balance sheets, filed for rate increases and opened their wallets for new technologies.

The spending trend puts companies such as Itron in better shape, too. Itron sells products designed to make utilities run more efficiently.

In addition to its meter business, Itron is a leading supplier of automated meter-reading technology, or AMRs.

AMRs replace human meter readers. They automatically transmit data from a home's meter to the utility company.

"Productivity improves and consumers don't need to be bothered by folks coming into their home to read their meter," said John Quealy, analyst with Adams Harkness.

AMRs are either added on to existing meters or incorporated into new ones. Many of the new models are state-of-the art digital products.