An electrical distribution system having a load center for programmably and remotely controlling a plurality of circuit breakers, an expander unit coupled to the load center and a plurality of external switches for providing signals to the load center representative of the status of the switches. The load center contains a control module that continually receives inputs from the expander unit via an interface module. It also contains a keyboard and display for programming instructions for closing and opening the individual circuit breakers and for displaying the status of the circuit breakers. The interface module, coupled to the control module, causes the circuit breakers to open and close according to programmed instructions received from the control module or another external device. The expander unit contains a plurality of input circuits coupled to external switches. An expander circuit having a microprocessor receives signals from the input circuits, which are representative of the status of the external switches, and continually provides signals representative of the status of the switches to the load center for the load center to cause the circuit breakers to open and close as a function of the status of the external switches. The expander circuit also continually receives information from the load center about the status of the individual circuit breakers and provides, to a plurality of output terminals, signals representative of the status of the circuit breakers. The output terminals are coupled to a display device for displaying the status of individual circuit breakers. The output terminal also may be used to activate other devices.