Liberty Lake-based manufacturer Itron Inc., which makes energy-management equipment and systems, has won a new contract with CPFL Energia, a large private group in the Brazilian energy sector that provides electricity distribution, generation, and retail services.

Through the contract, Itron will provide 20,000 of its smart meters to CPFL Energia, as well as a meter data collection system and support services. The contract is for a new smart metering system in Brazil that will focus at first on commercial and industrial clients, an Itron press release says.

Itron declines to disclose the value of the work.

Itron says CPFL Energia is installing the meters and expects to complete the project in 2013. After installation, the Itron meters will be integrated with CPFL's meter data management and billing system.

Angela Lockwood, Itron's global public relations manager, says CPFL's aim for the project is to reduce operational expenses and optimize services for its largest customers. The metering platform will serve as the foundation for future smart grid initiatives in Brazil, Itron says.

The contract with CPFL includes flexible data-collection and communication systems, as well as the latest-generation Itron meter, the press release says.

Lockwood says Itron has worked with a number of South American customers in recent years, including utilities in Brazil, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Also in August, the company announced a new contract with a state-owned electric utility in Guayaquil, Ecuador, to add 7,700 smart meters to an Itron smart grid network that was installed in 2011.

Itron recently posted the company's second-quarter earnings, reporting net income of $31.6 million, or 79 cents a diluted share, down from $34.4 million, or 84 cents a share, in the 2011 second quarter. The company says it had revenues of $579 million for the quarter and $1.2 billion for the first six months of this year. That compares with revenues of $612 million and $1.2 billion in the same periods in 2011.

In other recent contracts, Itron began work on a three-year-long installation of its high-efficiency meters for Sydney Water, in Sydney, Australia. Sydney Water serves more than 4.6 million people.

Earlier this month, Itron also garnered a three-year contract with AKSA Energy, which it describes as the largest private gas utility in Turkey. Itron will provide 745,000 residential, commercial, and industrial gas meters to 20 different regions served by AKSA.