Waukesha-based Cooper Power Systems is aligning itself with AT&T Inc. in a venture that could boost sales of sensors that utilities can use to more easily pinpoint problems on their electrical grids.

Cooper, a unit of Houston-based Cooper Industries Ltd., engineers and designs the sensors in southeastern Wisconsin, where it employs 2,200 people.

The sensors will incorporate what essentially is a cell phone that uses the AT&T data network to let utility operations centers know instantly where problems are cropping up.

Such information is increasingly valuable as utilities seek to create a "smart grid" that gives them constant feedback on performance and lets them shift among various power sources and automatically adjust customers' electricity use based on prearranged agreements.

"We think there's huge potential for this," said Tom Pitstick, Cooper Power's vice president and general manager for energy automation solutions.

The federal government is making some $4.5 billion in economic recovery money available for smart-grid technology. And with AT&T maintaining one of the country's largest wireless networks, Cooper Power can promote its sensors over a broad area.

How large the market is for wireless sensors isn't clear yet.

"The number we've been throwing around is a million of these," Pitstick said. In any event, Cooper is seriously pursuing the opportunity.

"I think it's good for the community to know that there's a major smart-grid player right here in our backyard," Pitstick said.

Besides Waukesha, Cooper Power has Wisconsin operations in Pewaukee, South Milwaukee and Franksville. Among the firm's products made in the area are electrical transformers, distribution switchgears and equipment that protects electrical systems from lightning.

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