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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                           [Perkins Coie Letterhead]

                                  May 28, 1996




Itron, Inc.
2818 N. Sullivan Rd.
Spokane, WA  99216-1897

         RE:   REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

Gentlemen and Ladies:

         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 80,000 shares of Common
Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Shares"), which may be issued under the
Itron, Inc. 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). We have examined the
Registration Statement and such documents and records of the Company and other
documents as we have deemed necessary for the purpose of this opinion.

         Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of stock options granted or to be
granted pursuant to the Plan have been duly authorized and that, upon the due
execution by the Company and the registration by its registrars of the Shares
and the sale thereof by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan,
and the receipt of the consideration therefor in accordance with the terms of
the Plan, the 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


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