Itron Utility Week (IUW) kicks off at the end of this month with three simple words—connect, innovate, transform. A simple message that translates into an incredible opportunity for Itron customers looking to discover new technologies, services and operations to transform how they deliver and manage critical resources. As the utility industry’s premier customer-focused event, IUW welcomes 1,000 attendees from a range of industries to connect with peers and learn about the comprehensive solutions offered by Itron and our trusted partners. This year’s event is hosted at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona, Sept. 28 – Oct. 5, and is sure to be one for the books.

The 2018 schedule is jam-packed with more than 100 enlightening breakout sessions and thought-provoking keynotes from industry leaders. This year’s big picture session, New Business Models to Fund and Activate Smart Cities, will focus on how technology is essential to modernizing cities, improving services for citizens, creating new economic opportunities and building resourceful communities, but how are smart city programs funded and actually implemented under budget constraints? What is the value and return on investment for cities as they deploy solutions at scale? The session will bring together industry leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges of new smart city business models, including public-private partnerships, utility provided services to cities and economic opportunities for all stakeholders.

In addition, attendees will be able to dig in on a range of topics—in this blog, we’ll highlight two of our conference tracks. One track will focus on data management, and help attendees discover how Itron solutions enable utilities to better manage their data. Utilities will share insights and experiences to help those seeking a meter data management solution as well as those in search of strategies for storing and using data at their utility.

Breakout sessions will also focus on mobile and measurement solutions, where attendees can learn more about how Itron is meeting the ever-changing demands of the world's energy and water distribution systems with advanced measurement and sensor products, regulators, systems and services. This track also brings an understanding of how Itron Mobile-based solutions offer flexibility for seamless migration to a next-generation network or hybrid deployment to meet business and operational requirements.

Visit www.itron.com/na/events/itron-utility-week to learn more about this one-of-a-kind event.

Stay tuned for additional blogs—and more information on our additional conference tracks—throughout the next few weeks as we prepare to kick off IUW 2018!