What City Electric Supply does

City Electric Supply (CES) is a privately held B2B electrical wholesale distributor founded in 1951, operating 83+ Canadian branches as part of a global network of 1,000+ locations across 8 countries. The Canadian entity is headquartered in Caledon, Ontario, with additional Project and Quotation Department offices in Langley, Calgary, and Ottawa. CES serves residential, commercial, and industrial electrical contractors with a catalog of 250,000+ SKUs spanning automation and control, batteries and EV charging, boxes and enclosures, conduit, data comm and security, fuses, generators, lighting, power distribution, renewable energy, tools and testers, and wire and cable.

The company's core technology platform is nopCommerce, an open-source e-commerce engine running cityelectricsupply.ca, which provides trade account registration, online ordering with order templates, wire-cut configuration, proof-of-delivery lookup, and bill pay. The site excludes the province of Quebec from its shipping geography. Distribution is supported by a company-owned delivery fleet offering free delivery on orders over $75, and by value-added services including a Project and Quotation Department for large tenders (switchboards, motor control centers, VFDs, fire alarm, transformers), a Southwire cable pulling equipment rental program, and a quarterly 20-page publication called The Wire with 20,000+ circulation.

The business model is sales-led wholesale distribution generating revenue through one-time product sales to trade accounts on monthly billing. Pricing is quote-based for trade accounts and not publicly listed; the 90-day return policy applies to undamaged products. The company is family-owned with no disclosed external institutional investment, and completed a leadership transition in November 2025 with Blair Feidler appointed co-CEO following Andrew Dawes's retirement. Industry association memberships include Electro-Federation Canada, the Save On Energy Program, and the B.C. Power Smart Alliance.

Name

City Electric Supply

Legal name

City Electric Group Limited

Website

https://cityelectricsupply.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

City Electric Supply is a privately held B2B electrical wholesale distributor founded in 1951, operating 83+ branches across Canada as part of a 1,000+ location global network, selling 250,000+ SKUs to residential, commercial, and industrial electrical contractors through trade accounts, an e-commerce platform, and owned delivery fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Electrical Apparatus and Equipment, Wiring Supplies, and Related Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42361)

SIC

Wholesale-Electrical Apparatus & Equipment, Wiring Supplies (5063), Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Supplies Retail (Wiring, Switches, Breakers, Conduit) (CRAIADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charging Infrastructure Components (connectors, cables, dispensers, payment/controls) (IMAGAHAH)

Keywords

• Electrical wholesale distribution
• Electrical supplies
• Trade account services
• Cable pulling rentals
• Project quotation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Caledon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Electrical product wholesale distribution: Wholesale electrical supplies including over 250,000 products across categories such as automation & control, batteries & EV charging, boxes & enclosures, conduit & strut, data comm & security, fuses, generators, lighting, power distribution, renewable energy, tools & testers, and wire & cable. Revenue generated through direct product sales to trade accounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

City Electric Supply is a B2B electrical wholesale distributor selling over 250,000 SKUs of electrical supplies across automation, batteries & EV charging, conduit, data comm & security, fuses, generators, lighting, power distribution, renewable energy, tools & testers, wire & cable, and related categories. The core offering combines a physical branch network (83+ in Canada, 1,000+ globally) with an e-commerce platform, trade account pricing, project quotation support, free delivery, cable pulling rental equipment, and online bill pay.

Product overview

City Electric Supply is a B2B electrical wholesale distributor operating over 83 branches across Canada as part of a global network spanning 8 countries. The company offers over 250,000 electrical products through a unified e-commerce platform that integrates with physical branch locations and a company-owned delivery fleet. The core offering consists of the online ordering and account management system, complemented by specialized services including a Project and Quotation Department for large-scale electrical projects, Free Delivery with no minimum order requirement, and Cable Pulling Rental equipment featuring Southwire tools. The product portfolio spans 24 categories covering electrical supplies, automation controls, batteries and EV charging, lighting, wire and cable, renewable energy, tools and testers, and more. Additional services include the quarterly The Wire magazine, electrical reference charts, and branch locator functionality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Ordering System B2B e-commerce platform enabling trade account customers to browse 250,000+ electrical supplies, place orders, view invoice/account history, and manage billing online.
• Project and Quotation Department Specialized service providing complete quotation support from tender stage through order management and administration, including bill of materials and takeoffs for projects such as distribution, switchboards, lighting panels, motor control centers, VFDs, fire alarm, and transformers.
• Free Delivery Service Company-owned and operated delivery fleet providing free delivery to customers within local branch delivery areas on orders over $75, with full control over delivery scheduling.
• Cable Pulling Rental Rental equipment program featuring Southwire cable pulling tools including Maxis 6K Puller, reel jacks, accessories, tray rollers, hook sheaves, rope, and pullers for efficient cable installation on commercial and industrial projects.
• The Wire Magazine Quarterly 20-page full-color publication featuring regional, national, and international updates, employee spotlights, new branch openings, customer commentary, product highlights, and manufacturer stories, with over 20,000 issues circulated quarterly through branch locations and digital archives.

Quantifiable outcome

• Southwire Maxis 6K Puller enabled installation of 61,500 circuit feet of 500 kcmil THHN cable (24 runs of 5-conductor, averaging 512.5 feet each) with 6 electricians in one 8-hour day

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Save On Energy ProgramminorOthersMembership in Save On Energy Program, an Ontario energy efficiency initiative. City Electric Supply participates as an approved supplier/vendor in the program.
• B.C. Power Smart AllianceminorOthersMembership as an Alliance Member in B.C. Power Smart, BC Hydro's energy efficiency program. Supports customers participating in Power Smart initiatives.
• Electro-Federation CanadaminorOthersCorporate member of Electro-Federation Canada, the national trade association representing electrical equipment manufacturers, distributors, and industry service providers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rexel: Paris-headquartered global electrical distribution group with a substantial Canadian operation (Rexel Canada) supplying electrical, lighting, energy, and security products to contractors and industrial customers through branch networks. Rexel is the most directly comparable global peer to City Electric Supply in terms of product breadth, customer segments, and branch-based B2B distribution model.
• Mayer Electric: Large US-based privately held electrical distributor with branches across the southern and central US serving commercial, industrial, and residential contractors. Mayer's product breadth, contractor focus, and family-owned governance structure make it a relevant comparable for City Electric Supply's branch and customer model.
• Dakota Supply Group: US-based 100% employee-owned electrical distributor serving utility, contractor, and industrial customers across the upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest with branches and project services. DSG's branch-based B2B model, project quotation services, and product categories overlap with City Electric Supply's offering.
• EECOL Electric: Canadian-headquartered electrical supply distributor with branches across Western and Central Canada, supplying industrial, commercial, and institutional customers with automation, lighting, and power distribution products. EECOL is a direct Canadian competitor with comparable branch density and a similar industrial/commercial customer focus.
• Border States Electric: US-based 100% employee-owned electrical distributor serving utility, contractor, and industrial customers across the US with a branch network and value-added services including project quotation and cable installation support. Border States' service model, customer mix, and branch-based distribution approach are closely aligned with City Electric Supply.
• Graybar: Privately held US-based electrical, lighting, and data communications distributor operating an extensive branch network serving electrical contractors, industrials, and commercial customers. Graybar's product mix, trade-account model, and branch-based service orientation closely mirror City Electric Supply's approach.
• Electrozad: Canadian electrical supply distributor serving industrial, commercial, and contractor customers across Ontario and Western Canada, with a product mix that includes wire and cable, lighting, automation, and renewable energy equipment. Electrozad competes in the same Canadian geographies and customer segments as City Electric Supply.
• Gresco: US-based electrical utility-focused distributor with a substantial Canadian presence (Gresco Utility Supply), supplying transformers, wire and cable, and distribution products to electric utilities and contractors. Gresco is comparable to City Electric Supply's power distribution and wire/cable categories and to its industrial customer segment.
• Sonepar: Privately held global electrical distributor with Canadian banners supplying wire, cable, lighting, automation, and industrial electrical products to commercial and industrial customers. Sonepar competes head-to-head with City Electric Supply across Canada and shares the same family-owned, branch-driven B2B distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Wesco International: US-listed global distributor of electrical, communications, and utility products with Canadian operations, serving electrical contractors, industrial customers, and utilities. Wesco is a broader-incumbent peer with significant scale advantages in automation, data comm, and utility-grade electrical supply that overlap with City Electric Supply's core categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CityElectric_CA
• Facebookfacebook.com/CityElectricSupplyCanada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-electric-supply-corporation-ca
• Instagraminstagram.com/cityelectricsupply_canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City Electric Supply