The reality is that no one company, no matter how big or how innovative, will build the smart grid. We need a new model of collaboration to be successful.

Software and hardware that work in concert will act as the central nervous system of the grid. As a community, we need to talk not just about our successes, but also the lessons we've learned. This is a time to share knowledge, not sequester it. The stakes are just too high.

Itron has a 30-year legacy of strong partnerships. We continue to expand our robust ecosystem of partners to help deliver benefits to utilities. Our most complicated smart grid and AMI installations are becoming reality; collaboration has afforded us with a tremendous amount of knowledge. It's knowledge that will pay off for the entire industry.