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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 3d9SoehcIjCHbHgKUnZFzQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000780571-04-000134.txt : 20041207
<SEC-HEADER>0000780571-04-000134.hdr.sgml : 20041207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041207174004
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000780571-04-000134
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041206
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041207

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22418
		FILM NUMBER:		041189214

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2818 N SULLIVAN RD
		CITY:			SPOKANE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			99216
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5098913272
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <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>Group VP, Software Solutions</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-12-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">33-1/3% of options become exercisable on 12/6/05 and an additional 33-1/3% on each of 12/6/06 and 12/6/07.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: MariLyn R. Blair, as attorney in fact  For: Philip C. Mezey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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