Forbes Bros

What Forbes Bros does

Forbes Bros. Group of Companies is a family-owned engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services provider specializing in power infrastructure across North America. Founded in 1977 by brothers Mark, Earl, and Rob Forbes in Saskatchewan, the company operates from its Edmonton, Alberta headquarters and runs approximately 1,200 employees across 14 offices and yards in Canada and the United States, with active operations in 26 provinces and states. Its core services span high-voltage transmission line construction (up to 500kV), overhead and underground distribution, substation build and upgrade, telecommunications infrastructure (fiber and towers), renewable energy collection systems (wind and solar), civil underground work, and EV charging station installation. The company owns more than 2,500 pieces of specialized construction equipment, including 6 full sets of stringing gear, supported by 6 major repair shops and dedicated field mechanics on every project. Reference projects include the 700km Manitoba Hydro Bipole III 500kV line and the 34km Nelson River crossing at Keeyask.

The business is organized as a multi-subsidiary group under the Canadian parent Forbes Bros. Ltd. (formerly Remcon Ltd.), with operating brands FB Timberline (South Dakota, 2017), FB Titan (Wyoming, 2017), FB Valley (British Columbia, 2019), FB Bullet (EV charging, 2016), Summit Telecom (2016), HDI Hydrovac Services (2016), and FB Utility Construction. Forbes Bros. USA Inc. handles US operations. Revenue is generated through project-based EPC contracts with enterprise utility and energy clients secured via a direct enterprise field sales motion; pricing is determined through competitive project bids and client negotiations rather than published rates. Customer concentration is centered on regulated electric utilities (SaskPower, BC Hydro, Manitoba Hydro, ATCO Electric, Altalink, Oncor, Pacificorp, Basin Electric, Western Area Power Admin, Black Hills Power) supplemented by renewables developers (TransAlta, Blattner Energy, IEA Renewables), EV charging operators (Tesla, Electrify Canada, SAI Group), telecom carriers (Bell Canada, AFL Global for Telus FTTH), and oil & gas (Pembina Pipeline). The company self-describes as one of the largest privately owned businesses in its market and emphasizes a Community First partnership model prioritizing Indigenous and local suppliers on projects.

Name

Forbes Bros

Legal name

Forbes Bros. Group of Companies

Website

https://forbesbrosgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Forbes Bros. Group of Companies is a family-owned engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services provider specializing in power transmission, distribution, substations, telecommunications, renewables, and EV charging infrastructure across North America, serving major utility and energy clients with a fleet of 2,500+ specialized construction equipment pieces.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Utility Infrastructure Construction Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

akta.pro primary industry

Overhead & Underground Collection System Construction (MV/HV Lines, Duct Banks) (EUAEADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pole, Tower & Structure Installation / Replacement (Distribution) (EUAEACAE), Power Plant Electrical Systems EPC (Switchyard, Transformers, Protection & Controls) (EUAEAAAM), Solar Balance-of-Plant EPC (Piles/Foundations, Trenching, Combiner Networks) (EUAEADAJ), Electrical Balance-of-Plant EPC (MV Collection, Cabling, Earthing, Lighting) (EUAEADAB)

Keywords

• Utility infrastructure construction
• Power transmission services
• Electrical EPC contracting
• Substation construction services
• Renewable energy construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. EPC Construction Services: Engineering, procurement, and construction services for power infrastructure projects including transmission lines, distribution, substations, telecommunications, renewables, underground civil work, and EV charging stations. Project-based revenue from utility companies and energy sector clients across North America.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Forbes Bros. Group of Companies is a family-owned utility construction enterprise providing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for power infrastructure across North America. Its core offerings include high-voltage transmission line construction, power distribution systems, substation construction and upgrades, telecommunications infrastructure, renewable energy collection systems, underground civil work, and EV charging station installation. The company owns over 2,500 pieces of specialized construction equipment and supports utility clients from project mobilization through completion.

Product overview

Forbes Bros. Group of Companies is a family-owned utility construction enterprise providing engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for power infrastructure across North America. The company operates as a multi-subsidiary structure with Forbes Bros. Ltd. (FBL) as the Canadian parent company, supplemented by regional subsidiaries including FB Valley (British Columbia), FB Bullet (EV charging stations), FB Timberline (South Dakota), FB Titan (Wyoming), and FB Utility Construction. The core service portfolio includes Transmission (high-voltage power lines from 69kV to 500kV), Distribution (overhead and underground power distribution systems), Substation (switching stations and substation upgrades), Telecommunications (fiber installation and tower construction), Renewables (wind farm and solar collector systems), Civil Underground (excavation and trenching), and EV Charging Stations (installation of 150-350kW dispensers). The company owns over 2,500 pieces of specialized construction equipment and has completed over 21,000 projects since 1977.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transmission Services High-voltage power transmission line construction including 500kV, 230kV, 138kV, and lower voltage lines using steel lattice towers, monopoles, and wood H-frame structures. Services include right-of-way clearing, foundation installation, conductor stringing, and helicopter erection for utility companies.
• Distribution Services Power distribution line construction and maintenance including overhead and underground distribution systems at 25kV and other standard distribution voltages. Covers commercial, industrial, and residential service connections.
• Substation Services Substation construction and upgrade services including new switching stations, substation expansions, equipment installation, and modifications from 12.47kV up to 500kV class facilities for electric utility clients.
• Telecommunications Services Telecommunications infrastructure construction including fiber optic installation, telecom tower erection, microwave tower installation, and network equipment deployment for telecom providers such as Bell Canada, AFL Global, and Freedom Mobile.
• Renewables Services Renewable energy infrastructure construction including wind farm collector systems, underground cable installation for wind and solar projects, and interconnection facilities for renewable energy developers.
• Civil Underground Underground infrastructure construction including excavation, trenching, boring, concrete work, and civil construction for utility projects.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations Full-service EV charging station construction including design, procurement, and installation of 150kW, 250kW, and 350kW dispensers, civil work, site improvements, and utility coordination for EV charging network operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 21,000 projects successfully completed since 1977
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Indigenous and Local PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForbes Bros. Group of Companies is committed to a 'Community First' model on all projects where they prioritize opportunities with Indigenous and local partners. The company recognizes and appreciates the valuable contributions made by suppliers to achievements and building mutually beneficial long-term relationships.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Primoris Services: Primoris Services operates a Utility, Energy, and Civil segment that delivers T&D, substation, and renewable energy construction — overlapping squarely with Forbes Bros' transmission, distribution, and renewables service lines, particularly in the US Gulf and Western regions.
• MYR Group: MYR Group, through its T&D and ComTel units, specializes in electrical construction including high-voltage transmission, distribution, substation, and commercial/industrial work — closely aligned with Forbes Bros' core services and customer base. Its scale and bidding presence in both the US and Canada make it a frequent direct competitor.
• Aecon Group: Aecon Group is one of Canada's largest publicly traded construction and infrastructure developers with an Industrial and Utility segment executing transmission, distribution, substation, and nuclear power infrastructure projects — a directly comparable Canadian-headquartered peer competing for similar utility workloads.
• MasTec: MasTec is a publicly traded infrastructure construction firm whose Clean Energy & Infrastructure and Oil, Gas & Industrial segments include end-to-end transmission, distribution, substation, and renewable collection system EPC. It operates with a comparable fleet-and-crew model and competes for many of the same utility RFPs as Forbes Bros across North America.
• Quanta Services: Quanta Services is the largest publicly traded electric power infrastructure services company in North America, providing transmission, distribution, substation, and renewable energy EPC — directly comparable to Forbes Bros' core utility construction offering and its primary US/Canada competition. Quanta's acquisition of Valard Construction in 2016 makes it an especially direct Canadian T&D peer.
• Powerline Plus: Powerline Plus is a Canadian-owned T&D and substation construction firm serving utilities and industrial customers across Ontario and Western Canada, overlapping with Forbes Bros in crew-based overhead and underground powerline construction.
• Valard Construction: Valard Construction, now part of Quanta Services, is one of Canada's largest transmission and distribution EPC contractors, working with BC Hydro, AltaLink, and other Western Canadian utilities in direct competition with Forbes Bros in the Canadian T&D market.

Broad incumbents

• Sterling Infrastructure: Sterling Infrastructure operates an E-infrastructure Solutions subsidiary providing transmission, distribution, and substation construction, giving it overlapping service lines with Forbes Bros even though its broader portfolio also includes transportation and building solutions.
• Burns & McDonnell: Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned engineering, architecture, and construction firm with a substantial Transmission & Distribution practice — comparable to Forbes Bros on the EPC side of utility work, although it also offers consulting and broader infrastructure design services beyond construction.
• Black & Veatch: Black & Veatch is a global engineering, procurement, and construction firm with a significant power transmission and renewable interconnection practice. While it operates across many sectors (water, oil & gas, telecommunications), its T&D EPC work competes for the same utility programs as Forbes Bros.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forbesbrosgroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries9 records

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 Forbes Bros