Peterson Power
Peterson Power Systems is a family-owned authorized Caterpillar dealer founded in 1936, selling, renting, and servicing Cat diesel and gas generators (20 kW to 4,000+ kW), marine engines, microgrids, and power systems across Northern California, Oregon, and Southwest Washington via 20+ locations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersSan Leandro, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Peterson Power does
Peterson Power Systems, Inc., doing business as Peterson Power, is a family-owned authorized Caterpillar dealer founded in 1936, operating across Northern California, Oregon, and Southwest Washington through more than 20 physical locations. The company sells, rents, services, and finances Cat diesel and gas generator sets ranging from 20 kW to 4,000+ kW, marine propulsion engines meeting EPA Tier 4 Final and IMO III standards, industrial OEM engines, microgrid systems, combined heat and power (cogeneration) packages, automatic transfer switches, compressed air, and temperature control equipment. Underlying technology includes Caterpillar's Microgrid Master Controller (MMC), Bi-direction Power (BDP) modules with IGBT-based power electronics, Cat Remote Access Monitoring (RAM), and the VisionLink/Cat Connect fleet platforms; Peterson is also an authorized warranty service provider for ASCO 300 Series transfer switches.
Revenue is generated through four mechanisms: one-time equipment sales (gensets, engines, parts via Parts.Cat.com), usage-based rentals (a 200+ MW fleet of portable generators from 20 kW to 2,000 kW plus temperature control and compressed air), recurring Customer Value Agreements (CVAs) covering planned maintenance, fluid analysis, load bank testing, and extended service coverage, and managed services including Cat Financial project financing and commercial accounts. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with dedicated representatives across sales, parts, service, rental, and OEM/industrial, supported by 24/7 emergency response and a used-equipment e-commerce storefront (PetersonUsed.com). Customers span nine primary verticals: data centers, hospitals/healthcare, utilities, refineries, agriculture, construction, events/hospitality, wineries, and marine. The company also operates internationally on a project basis, exemplified by the delivery of 60 MW of Mobile Power Units to Costa Rica's Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad within three months following flood damage to hydroelectric infrastructure.
Peterson Power firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Peterson Power
- Legal name
- Peterson Power Systems, Inc.
- Website
- https://petersonpower.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Peterson Power Systems is a family-owned authorized Caterpillar dealer founded in 1936, selling, renting, and servicing Cat diesel and gas generators (20 kW to 4,000+ kW), marine engines, microgrids, and power systems across Northern California, Oregon, and Southwest Washington via 20+ locations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Peterson Power industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Power Generation Equipment Distribution and Service
- NAICS
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (33361), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391)
- SIC
- Motors & Generators (3621), Engines & Turbines (3510), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency & Standby Diesel Generator Power (Critical Facilities) (EUACACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Diesel Engine Power Plants (Medium/High-Speed Reciprocating) (EUACACAB), Remote & Islanded Oil/Diesel Power Generation (Off-Grid, Mini-Grids) (EUACACAG), Gas-Fired Power Plant O&M and Life-Extension/Repowering Services (EUACABAJ), Specialty Power Systems MRO (Generators, Compressors, Pumps, Welders) (TLAKAHAJ), Pump & Compressor Packages (Skids, Booster Sets) (IMAHANAG)
Keywords
Where Peterson Power is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Leandro
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices17 records
Markets served
Peterson Power business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Generator and Engine Sales: Sale of Cat diesel gensets ranging from 20kW to 4000kW+ for stationary and mobile applications, marine engines, industrial OEM engines, and combined heat and power systems.
- Equipment Rental: Rental of generators (20kW to 2000kW), temperature control equipment, compressed air systems. Provides temporary power generation, supplemental cooling, and compressed air for various applications with 24/7 availability.
- Genuine Cat Parts: Sales of OEM parts for power generation equipment, marine engines, commercial engines, and on-highway truck engines. Parts available through 24/7 online access via Parts.Cat.com and parts drop locations throughout service territory.
- Service and Maintenance: Customer Value Agreements (CVAs) providing service contracts with planned maintenance, extended service coverage, load bank testing, megger testing, fuel polishing, and 24/7 repair services.
- Financing Services: Cat Financial provides project and product financing, extended coverage, physical damage insurance, and commercial accounts for parts, service and rentals. Instant approval up to $25,000 with credit decisions within seconds.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Used Portable Generators |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Used Stationary Generators |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Used Air Compressors |
| Subscription | Monthly | Cat Financial Financing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Peterson Power product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Peterson Power Systems is an authorized Caterpillar dealer selling, renting, and servicing Cat diesel and gas generator sets (20kW to 4000kW+), marine propulsion engines, and industrial OEM engines across Northern California, Oregon, and Southwest Washington. The company supplies complete power solutions including Cat microgrids, combined heat and power (cogeneration) systems, automatic transfer switches, and used power equipment, backed by 24/7 repair services, genuine Cat parts, Customer Value Agreements, and remote asset monitoring.
Product overview
Peterson Power Systems is an authorized Caterpillar dealer offering a comprehensive portfolio of power generation and engine products and services. The core product line centers on Cat diesel and gas generator sets (20kW to 4000kW+), marine engines, and industrial OEM engines. Supporting the generator offerings are rental equipment (gensets 20-2000kW, compressed air, temperature control), combined heat and power/cogeneration systems, and Cat microgrid solutions integrating solar, battery storage, and generator assets. The company also sells used equipment, automatic transfer switches, and provides extensive services including 24/7 repair, genuine Cat parts, Customer Value Agreements (CVAs), fuel polishing, remote asset monitoring, and NFPA 110 compliance services. Recent additions include the DR2500 Hybrid System developed with Cupertino Electric for utility-scale distributed energy, and the GC Generator Series optimized for cost-conscious standby applications. All products are supported by a network of over 20 locations in California, Oregon, and Washington.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cat Diesel Gensets and Accessories Caterpillar diesel generator sets ranging from 20kW to over 4000kW for permanent installations and mobile gensets from 30kW to 2000kW, including enclosures, fuel tanks, and custom configurations for commercial and industrial standby power.
- Cat Marine Engines and Auxiliary Systems Caterpillar marine propulsion engines and generator sets for commercial vessels and pleasure craft, including diesel and dual-fuel engines meeting EPA Tier 4 and IMO III standards, marine transmissions, and drives.
- Cat Industrial Engines (OEM) Caterpillar industrial engines from 0.5 to 32 liters displacement for OEM applications including commercial lawn mowers, wood chippers, rock crushers, dredges, pumps, and air compressors, backed by a 10-year/10,000-hour extended warranty.
- Rental Gensets and Engines Temporary and rental power generation equipment from 20kW to 2000kW, including portable generators, studio quiet generators, transformers, automatic transfer switches, load banks, power cables, and fuel services available 24/7 for planned or emergency needs.
- Combined Heat and Power (Cogeneration) Cogeneration systems generating both electricity and thermal energy from the same fuel source, including Cat gas generator sets, emission control equipment, absorption chillers, and complete balance of plant for biogas and natural gas applications ranging from 800kW to 16MW.
- Cat Microgrids Integrated microgrid systems combining renewable energy (solar), energy storage, and Cat reciprocating engines, scalable from 10kW to 100MW, with the Cat Microgrid Master Controller (MMC) managing all power sources and the Cat Bi-direction Power (BDP) module for energy storage.
- Used Generators and Compressors Pre-owned stationary and towable generators from 30kW to 2000kW, air compressors (Atlas Copco), temperature control equipment, and related accessories, including used Cat, Kohler, and other brand equipment listed at specific unit prices.
- Compressed Air Equipment
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivered 60MW of emergency power to Costa Rica within 3 months after natural disaster
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Peterson Power
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles8 records
Peterson Power technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
Peterson Power partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Caterpillar Inc.flagshipPeterson Power is an authorized Caterpillar dealer since 1936, providing the complete Cat product line including diesel gensets, marine engines, industrial engines, microgrid systems, and combined heat and power solutions. This exclusive dealer relationship covers Northern California, Oregon, and Southwest Washington.
- Cupertino Electric, Inc.coreCEI and Peterson collaborated to design the DR2500 Hybrid system combining Battery Energy Storage System with Cat gensets. CEI provides engineering, procurement, and construction services; Peterson provides power systems expertise. One of the largest utility and EPC contractors in California with 65+ years of electrical design and construction experience.
- Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE)minorEmergency power project for Costa Rica's main electricity and telecommunications services provider. Peterson delivered 60MW of gas turbine Mobile Power Units within three months following flood damage to hydroelectric power plant.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Peterson Power competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- United Rentals: Largest equipment rental company in North America with a dedicated power and HVAC division. Competes with Peterson's Cat Rental Store offering across portable generators and temperature control.
- Sunbelt Rentals: Major North American equipment rental company with a Power & HVAC division that competes with Peterson for portable generator and climate control rentals on construction and event projects.
- Generac: Largest manufacturer of standby generators in North America. Competes with Cat gensets in the hospital, data center, and light-commercial standby market where Peterson's dealer role would otherwise apply.
- Cummins Inc. Competing engine and generator manufacturer with its own dealer network. Comparable in that it is an OEM competing with Caterpillar for the same standby, prime, and microgrid power generation projects.
Direct peers
- C2C Power Systems: Caterpillar dealer focused on power generation, referenced alongside Peterson and Hawthorne for emergency load-bank delivery. Directly comparable Cat power systems dealer on the West Coast.
- Aggreko: Global temporary power and temperature control rental specialist. Closest peer to Peterson's 200+ MW rental fleet business, competing in utility-scale emergency and planned temporary power.
- Quinn Power Systems: Caterpillar dealer with power systems coverage in California and Nevada. Competes head-to-head with Peterson on Cat gensets, microgrids, and rental power across Northern California.
- Hawthorne Power Systems: Another authorized Caterpillar power systems dealer serving overlapping West Coast territory, providing the same Cat genset, marine, and microgrid portfolio. Directly comparable as a competing Cat dealer in the same geography.
Others
- Caterpillar Inc. Manufacturer and franchisor of the equipment Peterson sells, services, and rents. Not a competitor but the strategic OEM whose product roadmap, dealer policy, and brand equity directly determine Peterson's economics.
Emerging players
- Enchanted Rock: Natural gas microgrid and on-site power provider for data centers, healthcare, and commercial customers. Emerging direct competitor in the microgrid-as-a-service space where Peterson is also pushing with DR2500 and Cat MMC.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Peterson Power social profiles
Digital presencePeterson Power compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Peterson Power financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Peterson Power leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Peterson Power funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Peterson Power M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Peterson Power
What does Peterson Power do?
Peterson Power Systems is an authorized Caterpillar dealer selling, renting, and servicing Cat diesel and gas generator sets (20kW to 4000kW+), marine propulsion engines, and industrial OEM engines across Northern California, Oregon, and Southwest Washington. The company supplies complete power solutions including Cat microgrids, combined heat and power (cogeneration) systems, automatic transfer switches, and used power equipment, backed by 24/7 repair services, genuine Cat parts, Customer Value Agreements, and remote asset monitoring.
Is Peterson Power a public or private company?
Peterson Power is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Peterson Power founded?
Peterson Power was founded in 1936. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Peterson Power based?
Peterson Power is headquartered in San Leandro, United States, in the North America region.
How does Peterson Power make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Generator and Engine Sales are the primary driver. The others are equipment Rental, genuine Cat Parts, service and Maintenance and financing Services.
Who are Peterson Power's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are United Rentals, Sunbelt Rentals, Generac and Cummins Inc.. Direct peers are C2C Power Systems, Aggreko, Quinn Power Systems and Hawthorne Power Systems. Caterpillar Inc. is listed as an others. Enchanted Rock is listed as an emerging player.
Does Peterson Power have an API?
No public API is recorded for Peterson Power.
What industry is Peterson Power in?
Peterson Power's product category is Power Generation Equipment Distribution and Service. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUACACAH, Emergency & Standby Diesel Generator Power (Critical Facilities), with a secondary code of EUACACAB, Diesel Engine Power Plants (Medium/High-Speed Reciprocating). Its NAICS code is 33361 and its SIC code is 3621.