-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A8OJsb6qjv2hSjIsu9bMNipG/q7kwhOEYralHMar7/WRznf9ufmNovEffe9nl9UA
 DHfJ9/NROP00BC9r6GL1XQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000780571-04-000014.txt : 20040120
<SEC-HEADER>0000780571-04-000014.hdr.sgml : 20040119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040120150810
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000780571-04-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MEZEY PHILIP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275552

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22418
		FILM NUMBER:		04532425

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2818 N SULLIVAN RD
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99216
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5098913272

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ITRON INC /WA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000780571
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				911011792
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2818 N SULLIVAN RD
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99216
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5099249900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2818 NORTH SULLIVAN ROAD
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99216

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ITRON INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920724
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-12</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000780571</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ITRON INC /WA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ITRI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275552</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MEZEY PHILIP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2818 N. SULLIVAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPOKANE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>99216</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.17</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">33-1/3% of options become exercisable on 3/10/04 and an additional 33-1/3% on each of 3/10/05 and 3/10/06.       </footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: MariLyn R. Blair, as attorney-in-fact  For: Philip C. Mezey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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