Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E; San Francisco, California, U.S.) has selected Cooper Power Systems (Houston, Texas, U.S.; www.cooperpower.com), a division of Cooper Industries Ltd., to provide a system for peak demand reduction designed for PG&E's residential and small commercial customers.

The Cannon Demand Management solution, which is part of Cooper's Energy Automation Solutions (EAS) group, will enable PG&E to gain at least 5 MW of clean energy capacity by June 15, 2007, and can be expanded to ultimately provide more than 300 MW of clean energy capacity by 2010, subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission. Cooper expects the project will represent between US$28 million and $40 million in revenue from 2007 to 2010 if expanded to full capacity.

Cooper Power Systems' EAS group is providing PG&E a solution comprised of the Yukon operating software platform, along with smart communicating thermostats and control switches. Utilizing a wireless communication network, the system will reduce electrical demand at thousands of air-conditioning units during times of maximum demand, thereby enhancing grid reliability and reducing brownouts and rolling blackouts.

Cooper announced the formation of the EAS group in February 2007 to meet growing demand for comprehensive automation technologies and expertise that helps utility customers increase productivity, improve system reliability and reduce costs. The group combines the capabilities of recently acquired Cannon Technologies Inc. and Cybectec Inc. with Cooper Power Systems' existing automation products and services.