Cooper Power Systems Powers the Smart Grid with New Energy Harvesting Technology

September 16, 2009
WAUKESHA, WI

Cooper Power Systems, a division of Cooper Industries, Ltd. (NYSE: CBE), today introduced the EH Repeater for enhancing Smart Grid mesh radio networks. This is one of several products which leverage Cooper’s proprietary EH Power Supply technology, a family of energy-harvesting products that can be used to power a variety of radios and sensors. The Repeater was introduced at Autovation 2009, a conference focused on smart metering, communications, automation, data management, strategic planning, and industry trends.

The Repeater integrates Cooper Power’s EH Power Supply and a radio into one integrated unit designed to improve a utility’s radio coverage, mesh-network density and communications reliability. The Repeater can be installed in less than 20 minutes with the use of a hot stick or glove and without the constraint of a 120-240VAC power source. The Repeater’s integrated design harvests energy from the electro-magnetic field around existing power conductors, eliminating the need for secondary power sources and their associated spare parts inventories. An additional benefit is minimizing additional training for installation personnel, since the repeater design is based on well established electric utility Faulted Circuit Indicator technology.

“Utilities are entering an exciting era – significantly increasing the number of devices which much be powered across a vast, sometimes remote, geography supporting the Smart Grid,” said Tom Pitstick, vice-president of Cooper’s Energy Automation Solutions business unit. “With this new energy-harvesting power supply, Cooper Power Systems is fundamentally changing the balance of installed price and location flexibility for everything from sensors to the communications network itself.”

Cooper Power Systems: Commitment to Smart Grid:
Cooper Power Systems practices a forward-thinking approach to providing utility customers with comprehensive reliability and productivity solutions and is well positioned to benefit from the $4.5 billion in funding allocated specifically for Smart Grid investment by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the federal government’s economic stimulus plan. Within Cooper Power Systems, the Energy Automation Solutions (EAS) group is a leading provider of innovative technologies and solutions that allow electric utilities to optimize their performance in the areas of Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Demand Response, Smart Sensors, and Distribution Automation – all technologies that will be critical to the overall development of a Smart Grid.

About Cooper Power Systems
Cooper Power Systems, Inc., with 2008 revenues of approximately $1.4 billion, is a division of Cooper Industries, Ltd. (NYSE: CBE). Cooper Power Systems is a global manufacturer of world-class power delivery and reliability solutions for the electrical and industrial markets. Through its Energy Automations Solutions group, it is also a leading provider of software, communications and integration solutions that enable customers to increase productivity, improve system reliability, and reduce costs. For more information, please visit www.cooperpower.com or www.cooperpowereas.com.

About Cooper Industries
Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE) is a global manufacturer with 2008 revenues of $6.5 billion, approximately 88% of which are from electrical products. Founded in 1833, Cooper's sustained level of success is attributable to a constant focus on innovation, evolving business practices while maintaining the highest ethical standards, and meeting customer needs. The Company has eight operating divisions with leading market share positions and world-class products and brands including: Bussmann electrical and electronic fuses; CrouseHinds and CEAG explosion-proof electrical equipment; Halo and Metalux lighting fixtures; and Kyle and McGraw-Edison power systems products. With this broad range of products, Cooper is uniquely positioned for several long-term growth trends including the global infrastructure build-out, the need to improve the reliability and productivity of the electric grid, the demand for higher energy-efficient products and the need for improved electrical safety. In 2008, sixty-one percent of total sales were to customers in the industrial and utility end-markets and thirty-seven percent of total sales were to customers outside the United States. Cooper has manufacturing facilities in 23 countries as of 2008. For more information, visit the website at www.cooperindustries.com.