O'Connell Electric Company

What O'Connell Electric Company does

O'Connell Electric Company is a privately held, family-controlled commercial electrical contractor founded in 1911 and headquartered in Victor, New York, serving utility, commercial, industrial, institutional, and government clients across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and selectively the Mid-West and Southern United States. The company operates through five service divisions — Utility (transmission & distribution up to 345kV overhead and 500kV underground, substations up to 765kV, renewables, vegetation management, and asset management/inspection), Construction, EPC, VDC & Off-Site Construction, and Service & Preventive Maintenance — and is structured around dedicated operational groups for power, construction services, technical services, and Syracuse operations. Underlying technology centers on Level 400/500 BIM-based Virtual Design & Construction, laser scanning, and a 20,000-square-foot in-house prefabrication shop with metal fabrication capabilities, supplemented by specialized fleet and tooling for high-voltage and live-line work.

The company generates revenue primarily through project-based contracts — competitive bidding, direct negotiation, and subcontractor relationships — across utility procurement, general contractor partnerships, and direct enterprise engagements, with supplementary recurring service and preventive maintenance contracts (including NFPA 70B/70E compliance, EV charging, and 24/7 emergency response). Customers span National Grid, AVANGRID, Cornell University, Turning Stone Casino, Five Star Bank, GA Braun, Lafarge, Greenidge Generating Facility, Lake Mariner, Golisano Children's Hospital, Colgate University, and government entities including the State of West Virginia. The Parkes family has controlled the company since 1968, with current leadership comprising Tom Parkes (CEO), Michael Parkes (COO), and Jeffrey Gould (CFO); the workforce draws on over 2,000 IBEW union members in addition to a salaried employee base of 501-1,000. O'Connell has grown via acquisitions of T.H. Green Electric (1996, Buffalo), Syracuse Merit Electric (2003), and Rochester Solar Technologies (2007), and continues to invest in owned real estate including the Systems Road campus in Henrietta and offices in Victor, Buffalo, Albany, and North Syracuse.

Name

O'Connell Electric Company

Legal name

O'Connell Electric Company

Website

https://oconnellelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

O'Connell Electric Company is a privately held, 1911-founded electrical contractor providing utility, commercial, industrial, and institutional electrical construction, EPC, high-voltage T&D and substation services, renewable energy, and 24/7 emergency response across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Contracting Services

NAICS

Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (23821), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Utility System Construction (2371)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Substation EPC & construction (AIS/GIS, greenfield/brownfield) (EUADAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transmission line EPC & construction (overhead) (EUADAKAA), Underground transmission & distribution cable EPC (civil + cable install) (EUADAKAB), Overhead & Underground Collection System Construction (MV/HV Lines, Duct Banks) (EUAEADAG), Distribution Substations & Switching Stations (MV) EPC (EUAEACAC), Overhead Transmission Line EPC (HV/EHV) (EUAEABAA)

Keywords

• Electrical construction services
• Utility transmission distribution
• Substation construction services
• Engineer procure construct
• Prefabricated electrical systems

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electrical Construction Services: Provides comprehensive electrical construction services for commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities including design-build, new builds, renovations, duct banks, medium voltage cable systems, distribution upgrades, and low voltage systems. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts awarded via competitive bidding and direct engagement with general contractors, property developers, and facility owners.
2. Transmission & Distribution (Utility Services): High-voltage overhead and underground transmission and distribution services for utility companies, including live-line work, cable installation, fiber optics integration, and storm response. These large-scale infrastructure projects are typically awarded through utility procurement processes and government contracts.
3. Substation Services: Substation construction, testing, commissioning, relay panel fabrication, control building construction, and infrared inspections for utility and industrial clients. Projects are typically fixed-price or cost-plus contracts for new construction or upgrades.
4. Renewable Energy Solutions: End-to-end renewable energy solutions including solar farm design/construction, wind turbine installation, BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems), microgrids, and grid-tied systems for developers and AEC firms. Revenue is project-based, with services spanning from design through construction and maintenance.
5. EPC (Engineer, Procure, Construct): Integrated EPC services providing end-to-end project delivery combining engineering design, material procurement, and construction under one cohesive approach. Streamlines the project lifecycle, ensuring quality, cost-efficiency, and timely delivery for complex projects.
6. Service & Preventive Maintenance: Comprehensive electrical service and preventive maintenance for commercial and industrial clients, including commercial EV charging, NFPA compliance solutions, facility maintenance, protection and control, power engineering, coordination studies, arc flash analysis, equipment inspections, thermographic inspections, and 24/7 emergency response. Revenue model includes recurring service contracts and time-and-materials engagements.
7. Vegetation Management & Access: Vegetation management services including line clearance tree trimming, integrated vegetation management, land clearing, matting and access solutions, and erosion and sediment control for utilities, renewable energy, and telecommunications clients. Typically recurring maintenance contracts or project-based engagements.
8. VDC & Off-site Construction: Virtual Design & Construction and off-site prefabrication services offered as part of project delivery. The company's 20,000-square-foot prefabrication shop supports trade collaboration and metal fabrication for complex projects.
9. 24/7 Emergency & Storm Response: Emergency electrical services and storm restoration available around the clock, including rapid damage evaluation, line repairs, and system restoration. These services are deployed for utility companies and government agencies during disaster response, often on expedited contract terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

O'Connell Electric Company is a commercial electrical contractor that delivers electrical construction, high-voltage utility services, EPC delivery, Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) with off-site prefabrication, and ongoing electrical service and preventive maintenance. Its portfolio spans utility transmission and distribution, substation construction (up to 765kV), renewable energy integration, and specialized solutions across commercial, industrial, healthcare, data center, government, and higher education markets. Work is performed through competitive bidding, direct contracts, and 24/7 storm/emergency response across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and select Mid-West and Southern states.

Product overview

O'Connell Electric Company is a large commercial electrical contractor offering a portfolio of specialized services organized around utility, construction, EPC (Engineer, Procure, Construct), VDC & Off-site Construction, and Service divisions. The company operates across multiple market segments including Utility, Renewable Energy, Healthcare, EV Charging, Higher Education, Government/Public, Entertainment/Hospitality, Commercial, Data Center/Mission Critical, Clean Room/Nano Technology, Manufacturing/Industrial, Transportation, and Food & Beverage. Key service offerings include Transmission & Distribution Services (overhead up to 345kV, underground up to 500kV), Vegetation Management & Access, Renewable Energy (solar, wind, BESS), Substation Services (up to 765kV), Asset Management & Inspection, Electrical Construction, EPC Services, VDC & Off-site Construction (Level 400 BIM, prefabrication), and general electrical service & preventive maintenance. The company serves clients throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions with headquarters in Victor, New York.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transmission & Distribution Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Completed $100M joint venture Rochester Transmission Project involving 40 circuit miles of overhead line, 50 circuit miles of underground line, and multiple substation upgrades in just 20 months
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pluta Cancer FoundationminorOthers · 1 January 2025O'Connell Electric partnered with the Pluta Cancer Foundation as the Title Sponsor for their 2025 programming with a $75,000 donation, becoming the inaugural Title Partner for the Foundation's newly launched Corporate Partners Program. This is a philanthropic/title sponsorship relationship focused on community support and cancer care.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Quanta Services: Largest pure-play utility infrastructure contractor in North America, providing T&D, substation, and renewable energy EPC services. Comparable to O'Connell's core utility offerings but at national scale and publicly traded.
• EMCOR Group: Large publicly traded provider of electrical and mechanical construction, energy, and facilities services. Overlaps with O'Connell's commercial and industrial electrical construction and service offerings but with broader geographic and service scope.
• MasTec: Major infrastructure construction services company serving utility, communications, oil and gas, and power delivery markets. Comparable in T&D, substation, and renewable energy EPC work, though diversified across additional end markets.

Direct peers

• MYR Group: Public specialty electrical construction services firm focused on T&D, commercial and industrial markets. Closely comparable business model to O'Connell with similar high-voltage utility services and commercial electrical work.
• IES Holdings: Public holding company of electrical and mechanical contractors serving commercial, industrial, and utility markets. Closely aligned business model and customer segments to O'Connell's construction and utility services.
• Henkels & McCoy: Large private utility infrastructure contractor providing T&D, substation, gas distribution, and renewable services. Very comparable in scope, customer base, and privately held profile to O'Connell.
• Rosendin: Large private employee-owned electrical contractor serving utility, data center, commercial, and renewable markets. Directly comparable scale and service breadth, with strong data center and mission-critical focus similar to O'Connell.
• Faith Technologies: Privately held electrical contractor offering design-build, prefabrication, and specialty services for commercial, industrial, and mission-critical customers. Comparable VDC/prefabrication capabilities and market segments to O'Connell.
• MMR Group: Private electrical and instrumentation contractor serving industrial, utility, and commercial markets. Similar project-based business model and customer mix to O'Connell, particularly in industrial and power.
• Cupertino Electric: Large private electrical contractor serving data center, commercial, industrial, and renewable customers. Comparable specialty in mission-critical data center electrical work and similar privately held status.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OConnellElectricCompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/o'connell-electric-inc.
• Instagraminstagram.com/oconnellelectric/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 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 O'Connell Electric Company