a method of communicating data with a plurality of electronic circuit breakers operatively connected in a power distribution system is disclosed and claimed herein . each circuit breaker includes a communication port coupled to a network . the method comprises coupling a communication terminal , having a processing circuit and a first communication port coupled to the processing circuit , to the network via the first communication port ; operating a first communication protocol for automatically addressing individual ones of the circuit breakers and for controlling message traffic on the network ; and transmitting and receiving data on the network under control of the first communication protocol relating to the monitoring and control of the individually addressable ones of the plurality of electronic circuit breakers coupled to the network . in another aspect , the method includes coupling a second communication port of the communication terminal via a communication link to a controller remote from the network and operating a second communication protocol for controlling message traffic relating to monitoring and control of the plurality of electronic circuit breakers between the controller and the communication terminal via the communication link .