Acro Energy Technologies said Monday it plans to buy another installer, EE Solar, for about $1.95 million.

Houston-based Acro Energy, whose stock is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "ART," has signed a letter of intent to purchase EE Solar in order to gain a foothold in Southern California. EE Solar is based in Pomona and serves the residential and commercial market in Los Angeles as well as Orange and San Bernardino counties.

The $1.95 million includes cash, a promissory note, Acro Energy's shares and EE Solar's debt.

EE Solar, which has been in business since 1989, generated $4.2 million in revenue last year, Acro Energy said.

The purchase is one of a slew of acquisitions in the installation business in the United States this year.

In June, Alteris Renewables said it had bought most of the Renewable Power Systems' assets to expand its presence in New York. Alteris itself was formed through the merger of Solar Works and SolarWrights last year.

In February, River Junction, Vt.-based groSolar bought the residential installation business of El Cajon, Calif.-based Borrego Solar Systems earlier. Last fall, Real Goods Solar in Boulder, Colo., merged with Regrid Power in Campbell, Calif. and now operates as Regrid.

Lonestar Capital formed Acro Energy by buying Acro Electric earlier this year. Acro Electric, founded in 2002, had served California's Central Valley, the agricultural bastion of the state.

Acro's president is Nat Kreamer, who co-founded solar financing startup SunRun and left SunRun earlier this year.

Acro Energy is keen on using acquisition to broaden its market research. In May, it said bought Light Energy Systems, an installer in Concord, Calif. Acro paid Light Energy owners $192,250 in cash and about 507,800 shares at CDN $0.33 per share. Acro also agreed to assume up to $100,000 in debt.