Cooper Power Systems and Itron Announce Availability of CENTRON II Meter with Integrated RF Mesh Communications

WAUKESHA, WI, and LIBERTY LAKE, WA&mdashh;May 17, 2012—Cooper Power Systems, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), and Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced today the availability of the Itron CENTRON II meter integrated with Cooper Power Systems Radio Frequency (RF) communications technology. This combined offering increases metering platform options and provides greater flexibility for utilities implementing large-scale metering systems.

Cooper Power Systems and Itron recently announced the availability of Power Line Carrier (PLC) support, within the CENTRON II meter, for the Cooper Power Systems PLC AMI offering. Building on that partnership, Cooper Power Systems and Itron have now added Cooper Power Systems RF technology to the CENTRON II meter platform.

"Cooper Power Systems continues to expand the metering options available for our utility customers and this continued relationship with Itron has enabled us to be one of the first to market on this RF platform-providing further evidence of our leadership position,"Mark Thurman, president, Cooper Power Systems."The Itron metering platform is one of the workhorses behind Cooper Power Systems comprehensive suite of AMI technologies which enable communications in all types of service territories."

"The market increasingly demands more choice and through continued collaboration with companies like Cooper Power Systems, Itron can offer a variety of deployment choices that meet specific customer needs," said Mark deVere-White, senior vice president of Itron Energy Group in North America. "Itron's CENTRON II meter was built to address the ever-changing business drivers of the electricity market. With integrated Cooper Power Systems RF and PLC communications, the flexible CENTRON II meter provides the perfect platform to meet current and future business needs."

About Cooper Power Systems:
Cooper Power Systems, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), and a global manufacturer and provider of world-class power delivery apparatus and solutions for the utility, commercial, and industrial markets. The company maintains a complete portfolio of products and services required to transform, protect, connect, and build out an electric power system backbone. Smart apparatus – voltage regulators, capacitors, reclosers, switchgear, smart sensors, and controls – integrated with enterprise level software and secure communications enable customers to increase productivity, optimize asset efficiency, improve system reliability, and reduce costs. Reliability and grid-point solutions include: Integrated Volt/Var Control (IVVC), feeder, and substation automation systems. End-point solutions include: Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Demand Response (DR). The company is a leading provider of engineering optimization and modeling tools. For more information, please visit www.cooperpower.com.

About Cooper Industries:
Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE) is a global electrical products manufacturer with 2011 revenues of $5.4 billion. Founded in 1833 Cooper's sustained success is attributable to a constant focus on innovation and evolving business practices, while maintaining the highest ethical standards and meeting customer needs. The Company has seven operating divisions with leading market positions and world-class products and brands, including Bussmann electrical and electronic fuses; Crouse-Hinds 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 2011 sixty-two percent of total sales were to customers in the industrial and utility end-markets and forty percent of total sales were to customers outside the United States. Cooper has manufacturing facilities in 23 countries as of 2011. For more information, visit the website at www.cooperindustries.com.