City Light & Power, Inc.

What City Light & Power, Inc. does

City Light & Power, Inc. (CLP) is a privately held, family-owned full-service electric utility infrastructure company headquartered in Denver, Colorado, founded in 1976 as Simmons Electrical Corporation and rebranded in 1994. The company owns, engineers, finances, constructs, operates, and maintains high-voltage electrical distribution systems (35kV sub-transmission loops, 69kV systems, 12.47kV local distribution) along with street lighting and distributed generation assets. Its technology stack includes smart grid components, SCADA engineering, microgrid design (exemplified by a 7.5MW gas-engine system at Fort Campbell), and renewable/distributed generation integration (solar, wind, battery storage) for mission-critical applications.

CLP's core business model centers on long-term utility privatization contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, under which it owns and operates distribution infrastructure at 10 Army and Air Force installations (including Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Campbell, JBLM, Hill AFB, Travis AFB, Keesler AFB, West Point, Fort Riley, Blue Grass Army Depot, and March ARB), generating recurring managed-services revenue over multi-decade contract terms. A secondary line is municipal public-private partnerships for street lighting and utility services, beginning with the first U.S. PPP of its kind with the City of Long Beach in 1996 and expanded to Anaheim, Pasadena, and Upland. The company also provides engineering, construction, operations & maintenance, and emergency response services to electric utilities and cooperatives nationwide (including Southern California Edison), and offers emerging energy solutions around microgrids, EV charging infrastructure, and energy conservation measures. Customer acquisition occurs through competitive government procurement and direct enterprise business development, supported by membership in 12+ industry associations and an 11-location service network spanning all five major U.S. regions.

The company is led by President Bill Simmons (since 2007) and Co-President Tom Simmons, both Colorado State University alumni, with a management team including CFO Marty Maxfield, COO John Mitchell, and VP of Engineering Ajay Sitaula, P.E. CLP has earned APPA Certificates of Excellence in Reliability at 8 locations in 2023 and 1 location in 2022, demonstrating peer-validated operational performance. With 101–250 employees, no external institutional ownership, and no disclosed funding rounds, CLP operates as a privately held, family-led enterprise with a 49-year operating history.

Name

City Light & Power, Inc.

Legal name

City Light & Power, Inc.

Website

https://clpinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

City Light & Power is a privately held, family-owned utility infrastructure company that owns, operates, and maintains high-voltage electrical distribution systems for 10 U.S. military installations under DOD utility privatization contracts, and provides municipal, utility, and energy solutions services nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Electric Power Distribution (221122), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Utility System Construction (2371)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Utility Distribution Companies (Electric + Gas/Water Distribution) (EUADABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Street Lighting & Area Lighting EPC / Maintenance (EUAEACAH), Distribution Substations & Switching Stations (MV) EPC (EUAEACAC), Commercial/Institutional CHP (Hospitals, Universities, Data Centers, Campuses) (EUACAKAJ)

Keywords

• Utility privatization services
• Power distribution infrastructure
• Electrical engineering services
• Utility operations maintenance
• Military base utilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwood Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Utility Privatization Contracts: Long-term lease/ownership contracts with the federal government (Department of Defense) to own, operate, and maintain electrical distribution systems at military installations. Revenue is recurring over contract terms and covers engineering, construction, operations, maintenance, and financing of infrastructure.
2. Engineering Services: Complete engineering service solutions from requirement definition, planning and design to project engineering and development. Includes power system studies, microgrid design, smart grid implementation, and custom system design to customer specifications.
3. Construction Services: End-to-end construction solutions for power distribution infrastructure including new construction, pole placement, equipment installations, trenching, boring, wire placement, system repairs, and complete infrastructure upgrades above and below ground.
4. Operations and Maintenance Services: Ongoing operations and preventative maintenance for infrastructure systems. Includes troubleshooting, fault event analysis, root cause analysis, equipment failure analysis, maintenance test plans, and field inspection services. Revenue is recurring through service contracts at 11 operating locations nationwide.
5. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Contracts: Municipal utility contracts including street lighting systems under PPP arrangements. CLP manages system assessments, financing, design, engineering, conversion, operation and maintenance for municipal customers.
6. Emergency Response Services: Emergency response services to utility companies for events such as hurricanes and windstorms, including labor, equipment and general support for power restoration and damage repair.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

City Light & Power, Inc. (CLP) is a full-service utility infrastructure company that owns, engineers, develops, upgrades, operates and maintains high voltage electrical distribution systems, street lighting systems, and power generation facilities for U.S. military installations, municipalities, and electric utilities/co-ops. The company delivers integrated engineering, construction, operations and maintenance services under long-term utility privatization contracts with the Department of Defense and through public-private partnerships with municipalities.

Product overview

City Light & Power, Inc. (CLP) is a full-service electric utility infrastructure company offering a unified portfolio of services centered on power distribution systems. The core offering consists of three integrated service lines: Engineering Services (requirement definition, planning, design, and project development), Construction Services (new construction, pole placement, equipment installation, trenching, boring, wire placement, and infrastructure upgrades), and Operations & Maintenance Services (preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, fault analysis, and emergency response). These services support four primary market segments: Federal/Utility Privatization (ownership and operation of electrical distribution systems for U.S. military installations), Municipal Services (public-private partnerships for street lighting and utility services), Utility & Electric Co-op Services (engineering and maintenance for utilities nationwide), and Energy Solutions (renewable energy, distributed generation, microgrids, EV charging infrastructure, and energy conservation). The company also provides project financing as part of its end-to-end utility solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CLP Engineering: Engineering services subsidiary providing complete engineering service solutions from requirement definition, planning and design to project engineering and development.

Products and services

• Engineering Services Complete engineering service solutions covering requirement definition, planning, design, and project engineering and development for power distribution infrastructure, including custom system design to customer exact specifications.
• Construction Services End-to-end construction solutions for power distribution infrastructure systems including planning, pole placement, equipment installations, trenching, boring, wire placement, system repairs, and infrastructure upgrades above and below ground.
• Operations & Maintenance Services Ongoing operations and preventative maintenance programs providing maximum system reliability and operating efficiency, including troubleshooting, fault event analysis, root cause analysis, equipment failure analysis, maintenance test plans, field inspection services, and 24/7 emergency response.
• Utility Privatization Services (Federal/Military) Ownership, engineering, development, upgrade, operation and maintenance of overhead and underground high voltage electricity distribution systems, street lighting systems and power generation facilities for U.S. Army and Air Force installations through DOD utility privatization contracts.
• Municipal Public-Private Partnership Services Public-private partnership utility services for municipalities including street lighting systems, system assessments, financing, design, engineering, conversion, operation and maintenance of street lighting and electrical distribution systems.
• Utility & Electric Co-op Services Engineering, financing, construction, operation and maintenance services for electric utilities and electric co-ops, including new construction, pole placement, equipment installations, system upgrades, and emergency response to events such as hurricanes and windstorms.
• Energy Solutions Comprehensive energy solutions including renewable energy integration, distributed generation, microgrid engineering and deployment, battery storage, EV charging infrastructure, and energy conservation measures for government and utility customers.
• Renewable Energy & Distributed Generation Design, engineering and deployment of renewable energy generation and distributed generation resources including photovoltaic solar, natural gas-fired generation equipment, wind, and battery storage components for military installations and other facilities.
• EV Charging Infrastructure Engineering and installation services for electric vehicle charging station networks and the infrastructure required to supply electricity to growing charging networks.
• Energy Conservation Measures Energy efficiency services including preliminary assessments, investment grade audits, project scoping, cost and saving analysis, design, engineering, project management, and measurements and verifications to reduce energy consumption at customer facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminated prolonged outages at Aberdeen Proving Ground through 35kV system upgrade allowing 45MVA per main distribution loop
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Long-term utility privatization contracts with the U.S. Army for ownership, operation and maintenance of electrical distribution systems at Army installations including Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Campbell, Fort Riley, Blue Grass Army Depot, and West Point Military Academy.
• U.S. Air ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Long-term utility privatization contracts with the U.S. Air Force for ownership, operation and maintenance of electrical distribution systems at Air Force installations including Hill AFB, Travis AFB, Keesler AFB, March ARB, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Hanscom AFB.
• Department of Defense (Utility Privatization Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP has been a utility privatization partner with DOD since 2000, entering the UP market and being awarded its first contract for March Air Reserve Base, followed by 9 more contracts over 10 years.
• Association of the United States Army (AUSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP is a proud member of AUSA, a nonprofit educational and professional development association serving America's Army. AUSA has 122 chapters worldwide providing recreational and educational opportunities to soldiers and their families, with over $5,000,000 contributed annually to awards, scholarships and support programs.
• Air Force Association (AFA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP is a member of the Air Force Association, a volunteer-led organization connecting a 97,000-member community of airmen, guardians, families and civilians. AFA offers life-changing grants for wounded warriors, scholarships for Air Force families and professional development opportunities.
• Association of the United States Navy (AUSN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP is a member of AUSN, the leading voice for America's sailors. AUSN provides professional career development and scholarships and is the largest advocacy association for the Navy's current and former sailors.
• Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP is a member of SAME, a 100-year-old professional association leading collaboration among government and industry to develop multidisciplined solutions to national security infrastructure challenges. Through 100 posts and field chapters, SAME unites public and private sector individuals across architecture, engineering, construction, environmental and facility management disciplines.
• American Public Power Association (APPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP is an active member of APPA, which supports not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 U.S. towns and cities. APPA represents public power before the federal government to protect the interests of more than 49 million people served by these utilities and their 93,000 employees.
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP works with IBEW, representing approximately 775,000 active members and retirees working in utilities, construction, telecommunications and other fields. IBEW is among the largest unions in the AFL-CIO.
• National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP is a member of NECA, representing electrical contractors responsible for performing specialized construction work related to the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical systems.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP is an active member of NFPA, a leading information and knowledge resource for fire, electrical and related hazards. NFPA analyzes fire data and provides insights about fire problems, firefighter safety, fire protection systems and related topics.
• RMEL FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP supports the RMEL Foundation, which utilizes electric utility industry engagement to support educational opportunities targeting quality students pursuing careers in the industry through scholarships for engineering students focused on electric energy.
• Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP is a member of CAMU, a trade association representing Colorado's municipal electric systems.
• Utility Privatization Partners (UPP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025CLP is a member of UPP, an organization uniting companies and organizations that own utilities through DOD's utilities privatization program, which has privatized more than 600 utility systems on military bases over 20 years. UPP advances UP outcomes through education, information and engagement.
• Community OrganizationsminorOthers · 1 January 2025CLP and employees support various community organizations including Arrupe Jesuit Intern Program, Boy Scouts of America Denver Council, ACE Scholarships Colorado, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, YMCA Youth & Government, IBEW Local Union 24, and others.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ameresco: Energy services and renewable energy infrastructure provider with a strong federal-government and DoD customer base. Highly comparable to CLP's energy solutions and federal-market services, particularly around distributed generation, microgrids, and energy efficiency at military installations.
• MYR Group: Specialty electrical construction services provider focused on transmission and distribution, commercial and industrial, and commercial electrical construction. Closely comparable to CLP's T&D construction services and high-voltage capabilities, with similar exposure to investor-owned and public power utility customers.
• Primoris Services: Specialty contractor and infrastructure provider serving utility, energy, and civil markets. Comparable to CLP in power delivery and renewable energy construction, with similar expertise in distribution and transmission system upgrades.
• Burns & McDonnell: Privately held engineering, architecture, and construction firm serving utility, federal, and municipal customers. Comparable to CLP in T&D engineering, federal base infrastructure work, and municipal utility services, with similar employee-owned, founder-controlled private structure.
• V2X (formerly Vectrus): Government services company providing infrastructure, base operations, and lifecycle sustainment support to the U.S. military. Comparable to CLP as a DoD-focused infrastructure operator, particularly in the context of long-term base-level contracts and mission-critical facility support.
• IES Holdings: Electrical and communications contractor providing infrastructure services for utility, commercial, industrial, and residential markets. Closely comparable to CLP in T&D construction and in size/segment profile, with similar mix of utility and government-adjacent customers.

Broad incumbents

• EMCOR Group: Mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure, and facilities services provider for commercial, industrial, utility, and government customers. Comparable to CLP in electrical construction and government-contracting capabilities, though operating at substantially larger scale and across a broader portfolio.
• MasTec: Infrastructure construction company serving electric utility, communications, oil and gas, and clean energy markets. Comparable to CLP across T&D construction, renewables integration, and energy infrastructure, though MasTec operates at much greater scale across diversified end markets.
• Black & Veatch: Privately held engineering, construction, and consulting firm with deep utility-sector and government-services expertise. Comparable to CLP in T&D engineering, microgrid development, and renewable integration capabilities, with significant overlap on utility- and federal-sector projects.
• Quanta Services: Largest pure-play utility infrastructure construction firm in North America, providing electric power, pipeline, and communications infrastructure services. Directly comparable to CLP's engineering, construction, and operations work, though it operates at far greater scale and across commercial utilities rather than focusing on DoD utility privatization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-light-power

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 City Light & Power, Inc.