EXHIBIT 5.1

                                PERKINS COIE LLP

              A LAW PARTNERSHIP INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS
          1201 THIRD AVENUE, 40TH FLOOR, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101-3099
                 TELEPHONE: 206 583-8888 FACSIMILE: 206 583-8500

                            September 3, 1999



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

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Shares of Common Stock,
                  No Par Value, of Itron, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Itron,  Inc. (the  "Company") 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 the
Company is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to up
to 158,975  shares of Common  Stock,  no par value,  which may be issued under a
nonqualified stock option letter agreement (the "Agreement").

         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 on and subject to the  foregoing,  we are of the opinion that any
shares that may be issued  pursuant to the Agreement  have been duly  authorized
and that,  upon the due  execution  by the Company and the  registration  by its
registrar of such shares, issuance thereof by the Company in accordance with the
terms of the Agreement and the receipt of  consideration  therefor in accordance
with the terms of the Agreement,  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