Segment Information Information By Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | |
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||
| Revenues | $ 615,555 | $ 573,651 | $ 1,791,647 | $ 1,638,613 |
| Gross profit | 176,178 | 181,763 | 551,371 | 512,883 |
| Operating Income (Loss) | (497,252) | 58,936 | (399,078) | 140,564 |
| Total other income (expense) | (13,788) | (17,585) | (40,919) | (47,212) |
| Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes | (511,040) | 41,351 | (439,997) | 93,352 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 32,620 | 32,113 | 96,919 | 97,184 |
| Goodwill Impairment | 540,400 | 0 | 540,400 | 0 |
Itron North America [Member] | ||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||
| Revenues | 294,577 | 313,155 | 859,783 | 855,857 |
| Gross profit | 84,919 | 109,551 | 276,599 | 288,682 |
| Operating Income (Loss) | 38,018 | 62,274 | 124,550 | 149,694 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 11,497 | 11,484 | 33,844 | 34,212 |
| Goodwill Impairment | 0 | |||
Itron International [Member] | ||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||
| Revenues | 320,978 | 260,496 | 931,864 | 782,756 |
| Gross profit | 91,259 | 72,212 | 274,772 | 224,201 |
| Operating Income (Loss) | (525,411) | 7,515 | (492,700) | 22,969 |
| Depreciation and amortization | 21,117 | 20,628 | 63,067 | 62,970 |
| Goodwill Impairment | 540,400 | |||
Corporate Unallocated [Member] | ||||
| Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||||
| Operating Income (Loss) | (9,859) | (10,853) | (30,928) | (32,099) |
| Depreciation and amortization | $ 6 | $ 1 | $ 8 | $ 2 |
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- Definition The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Loss recognized during the period that results from the write-down of goodwill after comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.
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- Definition Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.
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