EXHIBIT 5.1


                          [Perkins Coie LLP Letterhead]



                                  June 28, 2000



Itron, Inc.
2818 N. Sullivan Road
Spokane, Washington  99216-1897

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Shares of Common Stock,
                  par value $0.01 per share, of Itron, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to you in connection with the preparation of a
Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 (the  "Registration  Statement")  under the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the "Act"),  which you are filing with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  with respect to up to 1,800,000  shares of
Common  Stock,  par value $0.01 per share,  which may be issued  pursuant to the
Itron, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

         We have  examined the  Registration  Statement  and such  documents and
records of the  Company  and other  documents  as we have  deemed  relevant  and
necessary  for the  purpose of this  opinion.  In giving  this  opinion,  we are
assuming the authenticity of all instruments  presented to us as originals,  the
conformity with originals of all  instruments  presented to us as copies and the
genuineness of all signatures.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that any
shares  that may be issued  pursuant to the Plan have been duly  authorized  and
that,  upon  the  due  execution  by the  Company  and the  registration  by its
registrar of such shares, the sale thereof by the Company in accordance with the
terms of the Plan and the receipt of  consideration  therefor in accordance with
the terms of the Plan,  such  shares  will be  validly  issued,  fully  paid and
nonassessable.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration  Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are in
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              /s/ PERKINS COIE LLP