Primary
Primary Engineering and Construction is a Calgary-based, Canadian multidisciplinary engineering and construction firm with 450+ professionals across 11 offices, delivering end-to-end design-build services for electric utilities, land developers, telecommunications carriers, and industrial power customers throughout Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersCalgary, Canada
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Primary does
Primary Engineering and Construction Corporation is a Calgary-headquartered, privately held Canadian multidisciplinary engineering and construction firm founded in 2002 (per firmographic data) / 2003 (per company history), employing more than 450 professionals across 11 locations in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. The company delivers end-to-end planning, design, construction, and project management services across four core verticals: electric utilities (distribution, transmission, and substation design-build), land development (electrical, telecommunications, natural gas, street lighting, and traffic signal design), telecommunications (overhead and underground outside plant, including 1,000+ km fibre-optic deployments), and industrial power systems (grid interconnection for high-load customers including data centers and crypto-mining facilities). Its service offering is integrated through four internal modules — Planning, Design, Construction, and Project Management — supported by in-house engineering and construction crews that enable single-contractor design-build delivery. The company holds COR certification in both BC and Alberta, Preferred Proponent status with BC Hydro, and the longest-standing slot in ENMAX's Developer Choice Program (since 2008), and operates within ENMAX's Telecom Choice Program as an approved consultant.
The business model is project-based, professional services revenue with enterprise field sales targeting utilities, municipalities, developers, and industrial customers through direct contracting and long-term partnership programs. Notable disclosed project values include a CAD 30 million FlexNetworks fibre contract connecting 61 communities, a CAD 9.24 million Mill Street Substation upgrade for Nelson Hydro, and a CAD 3M+ Southlands residential development. The firm is majority-owned by Oakville Enterprises Corporation (OEC) following a March 2025 transaction, with Jesse Spring continuing as President and CEO. In February 2024 Primary acquired Saskatoon-based NEES Consulting to bolster power systems engineering, and in 2024 was selected as a BC Hydro Preferred Proponent. Customers include BC Hydro, ENMAX, SaskPower, FortisAlberta, FortisBC, Nelson Hydro, Trans Mountain, FlexNetworks, Shaw Communications, Iris Energy, DMG Blockchain Solutions, Taza Development Corp., the City of Vancouver, and SAIT (as an educational partner).
Primary firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Primary
- Legal name
- Primary Engineering and Construction Corporation
- Website
- https://primaryeng.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Primary Engineering and Construction is a Calgary-based, Canadian multidisciplinary engineering and construction firm with 450+ professionals across 11 offices, delivering end-to-end design-build services for electric utilities, land developers, telecommunications carriers, and industrial power customers throughout Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Primary industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Utility Engineering and Construction Services
- NAICS
- Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130), Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (238210), Utility System Construction (2371), Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237)
- SIC
- Electrical Work (1731), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Services-Engineering Services (8711), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electrical Contracting & Wiring (IMAFALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Overhead Distribution Line Construction (MV/LV) (EUAEACAA), Overhead & Underground Collection System Construction (MV/HV Lines, Duct Banks) (EUAEADAG), Underground Duct, Conduit & Manhole/Vault Construction (Telecom Civils) (IMAFAIAK), Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)
Keywords
Where Primary is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calgary
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
Primary business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Engineering Services: Planning, design, and engineering services for electric utility infrastructure, telecommunications, land development, and industrial power systems. Revenue generated through professional service fees, project-based engineering contracts, and design-build arrangements with utilities and private sector clients.
- Construction Services: Construction services for utility infrastructure including overhead/underground powerlines, substations, telecommunications networks, and shallow utilities. Revenue from project-based construction contracts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Primary product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Primary Engineering and Construction is a multidisciplinary engineering and construction services firm delivering planning, design, construction, and project management solutions for electric utility infrastructure (distribution, transmission, substations), land developments (electrical, telecom, gas, street lighting, traffic signals), telecommunications outside plant (fibre and HFC), and industrial power systems (grid interconnection for industrial, data centre, crypto-mining, and renewable customers). Services are delivered by in-house engineering teams and construction crews across 11 Canadian locations.
Product overview
Primary Engineering and Construction is a multidisciplinary engineering and construction services firm that delivers complete solutions across four core service areas: Electric Utility (distribution, transmission, substation design and construction), Land Development (electrical, telecommunications, gas, street lighting and traffic signal design), Telecommunications (outside plant infrastructure design and construction), and Industrial Power Systems (grid interconnection and renewables). The company operates a portfolio of integrated service modules including Planning, Design, Construction, and Project Management, which work together to deliver end-to-end solutions. Primary also participates in utility-specific programs including the ENMAX Developer Choice Program and ENMAX Telecom Choice Program, extending its service capabilities within Calgary's utility infrastructure ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Completed $30M FlexNetworks project connecting 61 underserved communities with 1000+ km of fibre in 3.5 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Primary
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Primary technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Primary partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- BC HydrocoreBC Hydro selected Primary as Preferred Proponent for their newest Transmission and Distribution services contract. Partnership encompasses project management, engineering, and design for overhead and underground distribution infrastructure throughout British Columbia. Longstanding partnership spans more than 15 years including Customer Build Program, On-Call Drafting, and Distribution Design and Engineering Services. BC Hydro aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 900,000 tonnes annually by April 2026.
- SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)minorPrimary announced partnership contributing $100,000 to SAIT over ten years. Includes dedicated scholarship fund for Electrical Engineering Technology Program (two scholarships annually), contributions for EET Program activities and KVA Club, annual Industry Night sponsorship, and support for extracurricular activities. SAIT named a high-usage EET classroom 'Power Future Leaders with Primary Engineering and Construction'.
- NEES ConsultingcoreNEES Consulting, a nine-person consulting firm based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan specializing in power systems engineering, has been acquired by Primary. Founded in 2010 by Brad Nielsen, NEES has earned reputation for quality and customer service. Since 2012, NEES has been a trusted provider of engineering services to SaskPower serving 500,000+ customers. Acquisition solidifies Primary's position as premier transmission and distribution service provider nationwide.
- Rob Lister (OEC President and CEO)minorOEC President and CEO quoted as stating the addition of Primary strengthens OEC's electrical and telecom engineering and construction capabilities while extending national footprint, unlocking new opportunities for growth.
- ENMAX Power CorporationcorePrimary is the longest-standing and most experienced service provider in ENMAX's Developer Choice program since its inception in 2008. Provides end-to-end services including turnkey electrical design, permitting, material management, civil and electrical construction, and energization for developers in Calgary. Also approved as URD constructor and approved consultant for ENMAX Telecom Choice Program.
- FlexNetworksmajorPrimary played crucial role in $30M CTI and CRTC Broadband Fund projects for FlexNetworks, assisting with funding applications, detailed design, permitting, and project management for more than 1000 km of fibre-optic network connecting 61 underserved communities from Regina to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
- City of VancouverminorPrimary partnered with City of Vancouver and Urban Solar and Mainroad Transtronic to provide turnkey solution for Arbutus Greenway solar lighting pilot project - first of its kind in Vancouver. Completed lighting design and provided project and construction management services for 30 solar-powered LED lights along 900m pathway.
- SaskPowercoreNEES Consulting has been a trusted provider of engineering services to SaskPower since 2012. SaskPower is Saskatchewan's principal provider of electrical power services to more than 500,000 customers. Integration of NEES team enhances Primary's capabilities in substation and switching station designs.
- Nelson HydromajorPrimary was selected by Nelson Hydro to provide comprehensive engineering services for Mill Street Substation upgrade project. Scope included defining architecture for brownfield substation replacement, structural/civil engineering, power system studies, and SCADA integration for serving approximately 6,000 customers.
- Mission GroupminorPartnership with Mission Group and FortisBC for Bernard Block project in Kelowna, BC. Primary provided innovative utility solutions including engineering utility-owned switchgear and customer-owned unit substation, with distribution upgrades to power high-rise in city's core.
- FortisBCminorPartnered with FortisBC for Bernard Block project, engineering custom unit substation to meet FortisBC's stringent interconnection standards supporting approximately 4.5 MVA building load.
- Taza Development Corp.majorWorking closely with Taza Development Corp. on 1,200-acre Taza indigenous development - one of the largest indigenous development projects in North America. Primary designed and built shallow utilities infrastructure including electrical distribution, telecommunications, streetlights, and traffic signals. First operational traffic signals designed within Tsuut'ina Nation.
- BC Hydro Customer Build ProgramcoreSelected to carry out design/build of underground electrical infrastructure under BC Hydro Customer Build Program for Southlands 530-acre development in Tsawwassen. Prepared BC Hydro infrastructure masterplan and streetlighting, traffic signal, and telecommunications designs for 990-unit master planned residential development.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Primary competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MYR Group: U.S.-based electrical construction services provider specializing in transmission, distribution, substation, and commercial/industrial electrical work. MYR competes with Primary on the construction side of utility infrastructure projects, particularly on larger bids.
- WSP Global: Canadian-headquartered global professional services firm with a major power and energy practice. WSP competes with Primary for engineering, design, and program management work with Canadian utilities and large industrial customers.
- AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin): Major Canadian engineering and construction firm with a large nuclear and power services practice. Competes with Primary for utility engineering contracts and increasingly for grid-modernization and renewable interconnection work.
- Aecon Group: Canada's largest publicly traded construction and infrastructure development company. Aecon's utility and energy segment directly competes with Primary on transmission, distribution, substation, and telecom infrastructure work for Canadian utilities.
- Stantec: Canadian-headquartered global engineering, architecture, and consulting firm with a substantial power and utilities practice. Stantec competes with Primary's engineering services for electric utility clients in Canada and competes for similar talent.
- Pike Electric: Utility construction services provider specializing in overhead and underground electric distribution and transmission work. Pike is a direct competitor to Primary on utility-side construction, particularly for large investor-owned utilities.
- Burns & McDonnell: 100% employee-owned engineering, architecture, and construction firm with deep transmission, distribution, and substation expertise. Burns & McDonnell competes with Primary for utility clients and design-build engagements, especially in Western Canada and the U.S. Northwest.
Broad incumbents
- Quanta Services: Largest pure-play utility infrastructure services company in North America. Quanta's Electric Power Infrastructure Solutions segment competes with Primary on transmission, distribution, and substation construction across North America, and represents the dominant scaled player Primary benchmarks against.
- EMCOR Group: Large U.S. mechanical and electrical construction services provider. EMCOR competes with Primary on the electrical contracting portion of utility, commercial, and industrial infrastructure projects.
- Black & Veatch: Global employee-owned engineering, procurement, and construction firm with a substantial energy and utility infrastructure practice. Black & Veatch competes with Primary on substation, transmission, and grid-interconnection work for utilities and industrial customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Primary social profiles
Digital presencePrimary financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Primary leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Primary subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Primary funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Primary M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Primary
What does Primary do?
Primary Engineering and Construction is a multidisciplinary engineering and construction services firm delivering planning, design, construction, and project management solutions for electric utility infrastructure (distribution, transmission, substations), land developments (electrical, telecom, gas, street lighting, traffic signals), telecommunications outside plant (fibre and HFC), and industrial power systems (grid interconnection for industrial, data centre, crypto-mining, and renewable customers). Services are delivered by in-house engineering teams and construction crews across 11 Canadian locations.
Is Primary a public or private company?
Primary is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Primary founded?
Primary was founded in 2003. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Primary based?
Primary is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Primary make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Engineering Services are the primary driver. The others are construction Services.
Who are Primary's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MYR Group, WSP Global, AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin), Aecon Group, Stantec, Pike Electric and Burns & McDonnell. Broad incumbents are Quanta Services, EMCOR Group and Black & Veatch.
Does Primary have an API?
No public API is recorded for Primary.
What industry is Primary in?
Primary's product category is Utility Engineering and Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFALAA, Electrical Contracting & Wiring, with a secondary code of EUAEACAA, Overhead Distribution Line Construction (MV/LV). Its NAICS code is 237130 and its SIC code is 1731.