A motor control center communication system configured to interface with a communication network, the system comprising: a plurality of motor control units, MCUs,; and a MCU controller configured to transmit and receive data signals via the communication network to and from the plurality of MCUs, wherein each of the plurality of MCUs comprises: a magnetic contactor having electrical contacts operable between open and closed positions, and a local control module operatively connected to the magnetic contactor and to the MCU controller, and configured to monitor a status of the electrical contacts, transmit the monitored status information to the MCU controller, and actuate the magnetic contactor based on instructions received from the MCU controller; wherein the MCU controller configured to transmit data signals to the local control module requesting the status information of the magnetic contactor, and to transmit instructions to the local control module based on the status information received, and the local control module is configured to actuate the magnetic contactor based on the instructions received from the MCU controller; and wherein the MCU further comprises a remote motor start relay (RSTART) and a remote motor stop relay (RSTOP), which are external to the local control module and configured to be actuated based on an output of the local control module, to start or stop a motor. a plurality of motor control units, MCUs,; and a MCU controller configured to transmit and receive data signals via the communication network to and from the plurality of MCUs, wherein each of the plurality of MCUs comprises: a magnetic contactor having electrical contacts operable between open and closed positions, and a local control module operatively connected to the magnetic contactor and to the MCU controller, and configured to monitor a status of the electrical contacts, transmit the monitored status information to the MCU controller, and actuate the magnetic contactor based on instructions received from the MCU controller; wherein the MCU controller configured to transmit data signals to the local control module requesting the status information of the magnetic contactor, and to transmit instructions to the local control module based on the status information received, and the local control module is configured to actuate the magnetic contactor based on the instructions received from the MCU controller; and wherein the MCU further comprises a remote motor start relay (RSTART) and a remote motor stop relay (RSTOP), which are external to the local control module and configured to be actuated based on an output of the local control module, to start or stop a motor. a magnetic contactor having electrical contacts operable between open and closed positions, and a local control module operatively connected to the magnetic contactor and to the MCU controller, and configured to monitor a status of the electrical contacts, transmit the monitored status information to the MCU controller, and actuate the magnetic contactor based on instructions received from the MCU controller; wherein the MCU controller configured to transmit data signals to the local control module requesting the status information of the magnetic contactor, and to transmit instructions to the local control module based on the status information received, and the local control module is configured to actuate the magnetic contactor based on the instructions received from the MCU controller; and wherein the MCU further comprises a remote motor start relay (RSTART) and a remote motor stop relay (RSTOP), which are external to the local control module and configured to be actuated based on an output of the local control module, to start or stop a motor.