What Kelso-Burnett Co. does

Kelso-Burnett Co. is a full-service electrical contracting company founded in 1908 and headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The firm delivers commercial tenant interior upgrades, ground-up electrical construction, solar field installation, conveyor integration, and — through affiliates under its parent Newport Industries — structured cabling, security systems, and fire alarm installation. It serves enterprise clients across commercial, industrial, healthcare, renewable energy, educational, institutional, and data center markets, operating from five regional offices across Illinois and Wisconsin plus a national accounts function established in 2024.

The company is 100% employee-owned through an ESOP, one of the first electrical contractors to adopt this structure in 1980, and maintains signatory relationships with the IBEW, Operating Engineers, and Laborers Unions to source skilled tradespeople — most recently enabling self-performed utility-scale solar work. Its delivery model is project-based, enterprise-field-sales-led, with revenue generated through one-time construction engagements priced by scope rather than recurring contracts. Strategic expansion is being pursued through capability bolt-ons (e.g., the acquisition of Entry Control Integrators for automated gate systems), diversification into renewable energy and data center verticals, and a national accounts build-out that extends the firm beyond its Chicago-Midwest base.

Name

Kelso-Burnett Co.

Legal name

Kelso-Burnett Co.

Website

https://kelso-burnett.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kelso-Burnett is a 117-year-old, ESOP-held full-service electrical contractor providing commercial, industrial, healthcare, data center, and renewable-energy construction services across the Midwest and nationally through a dedicated national accounts team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Construction Services

NAICS

Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (238210), Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (23821)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Panel Upgrades & Service Changes (HSAOADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circuit Additions & Dedicated Lines (Appliance/EV/Hot Tub) (HSAOADAD), Overhead & Underground Collection System Construction (MV/HV Lines, Duct Banks) (EUAEADAG), Substation & Interconnection EPC (Collector/POI Substations, Switchyards) (EUAEADAC), Electrical Permitting, Inspection Preparation & Compliance Services (HSAOADAL)

Keywords

• Electrical construction services
• Commercial electrical contracting
• Industrial electrical installation
• Solar field installation
• Data center electrical infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Rolling Meadows

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electrical Construction Services: Project-based electrical construction services for commercial, industrial, healthcare, renewable energy, educational, institutional, and data center markets. Revenue is generated through one-time project engagements rather than recurring contracts.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kelso-Burnett Co. is a full-service electrical contractor that designs and installs electrical systems for commercial, industrial, healthcare, educational, institutional, data center, and renewable energy projects. Its core work spans commercial tenant interior upgrades, ground-up electrical construction, solar field installation, and conveyor system integration, with extended capabilities in structured cabling, security systems, fire alarm installation, and automated gate systems delivered through Newport Industries affiliates and the acquired Entry Control Integrators.

Product overview

Kelso-Burnett Co. is an electrical construction services company offering a diverse portfolio centered on its core electrical construction services. The company provides commercial tenant interior upgrades, ground-up construction, solar field installation, and conveyor integration across multiple market sectors including commercial, industrial, healthcare, renewable energy, educational, institutional, and data centers. As part of Newport Industries, Kelso-Burnett extends its capabilities through affiliated services including structured cabling, security systems, and fire alarm installation. The company recently expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of Entry Control Integrators, enabling automated gate systems integration. The company operates union partnerships with IBEW, Operating Engineers, and Laborers Unions to self-perform solar projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electrical Construction Services
• Automated Gate Systems
• Solar Field Installation
• Conveyor System Integration

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Newport IndustriescoreOthersParent company of Kelso-Burnett. Kelso-Burnett accounts for approximately 85 percent of Newport Industries' revenue. As part of Newport Industries, Kelso-Burnett provides full suite of services through affiliates including structured cabling, security systems, and fire alarm installation.
• Laborers and Operating Engineers UnionscoreOthersUnion signatory agreements enabling Kelso-Burnett to self-perform solar projects using union labor from Laborers and Operating Engineers unions.
• IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)coreOthersPartnership with IBEW union for highly skilled tradespeople. Kelso-Burnett leadership employs electricians in partnership with IBEW along with operating engineers and laborer unions.
• Entry Control IntegratorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecently acquired company specializing in automated gate systems. The acquisition expands Kelso-Burnett's capabilities to offer automated gate systems as part of its service portfolio.
• GLCA (Great Lakes Construction Association)minorOthersProfessional affiliation through membership in Great Lakes Construction Association.
• AGC (Associated General Contractors)minorOthersProfessional affiliation through membership in Associated General Contractors organization.
• CBC (Chicago Building Congress)minorOthersProfessional affiliation through membership in Chicago Building Congress.
• NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association)minorOthersProfessional affiliation through membership in National Electrical Contractors Association.
• Powering ChicagominorOthersProfessional affiliation through membership in Powering Chicago industry initiative.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Faith Technologies: Faith Technologies is a large national electrical and specialty systems contractor headquartered in Wisconsin with comparable services across commercial, industrial, healthcare, and data center markets. It is one of the closest direct competitors to Kelso-Burnett given overlapping geographies and customer verticals.
• Rosendin Electric: Rosendin is one of the largest employee-owned electrical contractors in the U.S., serving commercial, data center, renewable energy, and industrial clients. Its employee-ownership model and renewable/data center focus make it a highly comparable direct peer.
• Gaylor Electric: Gaylor Electric is a Midwest-based (Indianapolis) full-service electrical contractor serving commercial, industrial, healthcare, and data center markets. Geographic overlap in the Midwest and similar service breadth make it a direct peer.
• ERMCO (Electrical Resources & Mechanical Contractors): ERMCO is a Midwest electrical and mechanical contractor headquartered in Indianapolis with deep commercial, industrial, and institutional expertise. Comparable in scale and regional Midwest operating model to Kelso-Burnett.
• Motor City Electric: Motor City Electric is a Detroit-based electrical contractor serving industrial, commercial, and institutional clients in the Midwest. Comparable regional scope, IBEW signatory status, and service mix make it a direct peer.
• Power Design: Power Design is a large multi-state electrical contractor specializing in commercial, multifamily, and data center projects with national reach. Its scale and data center focus are highly comparable to Kelso-Burnett's growth aspirations.

Broad incumbents

• EMCOR Group: EMCOR is a Fortune 500 leader in mechanical and electrical construction, facility services, and energy solutions with national reach across virtually all of Kelso-Burnett's end markets. It is a broad incumbent whose subsidiaries directly compete for the same enterprise RFPs.
• IES Holdings: IES Holdings is a publicly traded provider of electrical and mechanical infrastructure services across commercial, industrial, data center, and renewable markets nationally. Overlapping service portfolio and data center/renewable focus make it a relevant broad incumbent.
• MYR Group: MYR Group is a publicly traded electrical construction holding company with subsidiaries serving commercial/industrial and utility-scale markets. Its commercial/industrial business unit is directly comparable in scope to Kelso-Burnett.
• Quanta Services: Quanta Services is the largest specialty contractor in North America focused on utility and renewable infrastructure, including solar, wind, and transmission. Relevant as a broad incumbent in the renewable EPC and grid-adjacent segments Kelso-Burnett targets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kelso-burnett

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Kelso-Burnett Co.