What Kolb Electric does

Kolb Electric is a privately held, family-owned electrical services company founded in 1925 by Walter Kolb and headquartered in Lorton, Virginia. The company provides residential, commercial, industrial, and construction electrical services across the Baltimore and Washington, DC metropolitan area, operating from six physical offices in Lorton, Elkridge, Alexandria, Washington DC, Gaithersburg, and Frederick, supported by a fleet of five bucket trucks described as one of the largest in the Mid-Atlantic. Its service portfolio spans routine residential wiring, lighting, and panel work; commercial build-outs, parking-lot lighting, ballast replacement, and standby generator installation; plus specialty services such as infrared thermography inspections (marketed with a 400% ROI claim) and 24/7 emergency dispatch year-round.

The company's underlying technology is conventional electrical contracting equipment augmented by advanced diagnostic tools: fully stocked radio-dispatched service vehicles, bucket trucks capable of aerial work up to 50 feet, infrared thermography for preventive inspection, and certified-install status for Generac standby generators. There is no software platform, mobile application, or public API; service delivery is entirely physical and labor-based. The company holds industry affiliations with Best Pick Reports, the Better Business Bureau, and multiple property management associations (IREM, CAI, MMHA, PMA), and has received the Angie's List Super Service Award (2018) and Best Pick certification (2019).

Revenue is generated through quote-based labor and installation charges plus pass-through electrical materials sales, with a 10% discount coupon available to consumers and free quotes offered for installations. The customer base is fragmented across residential homeowners, commercial SMB and mid-market accounts, and property management operators, with no publicly disclosed financials. The go-to-market relies on local SEO, customer testimonials, referrals through association memberships, and emergency-response availability as core acquisition channels.

Name

Kolb Electric

Legal name

Kolb Electric Inc.

Website

https://kolbelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kolb Electric is a family-owned electrical services contractor founded in 1925, serving residential, commercial, and property management customers across the Baltimore and Washington, DC metropolitan area from six offices with 24/7 emergency dispatch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Contracting Services

akta.pro primary industry

Circuit Additions & Dedicated Lines (Appliance/EV/Hot Tub) (HSAOADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Generator Installation & Transfer Switches (Standby/Portable Interlock) (HSAOADAF)

Keywords

• Residential electrical services
• Commercial electrical services
• Emergency electrical repair
• Electrical wiring installation
• Lighting installation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lorton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electrical Service Labor and Installation: Kolb Electric generates revenue through labor charges for electrical installations, repairs, and maintenance services. Pricing appears to be quote-based for custom work with a standard 10% discount coupon available to customers. The company offers free quotes on electrical installations.
2. Electrical Products and Materials: Revenue from selling electrical products including lighting fixtures, circuit breakers, outlets, wiring, generators, and related hardware as part of installation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kolb Electric is a family-owned electrical contracting company that provides residential and commercial electrical services across the Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia metropolitan areas. Services include wiring, lighting installation, circuit breaker replacement, standby generator installation, infrared thermography inspections, and 24/7 emergency electrical response delivered from six local offices using fully stocked radio-dispatched vehicles.

Product overview

Kolb Electric is a family-owned electrical services company serving the Baltimore and Washington, DC metropolitan areas since 1925. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of electrical services organized into two core offerings: Residential Electrical Services and Commercial Electrical Services, supported by specialized sub-services. Residential services include circuit breaker replacement, lighting installation (recessed, outdoor, security, LED, dimmers), wiring services (ceiling fans, pools/hot tubs, outlets, new home, underground), and emergency response. Commercial services encompass build-outs, bucket truck services, parking lot lighting, standby generators, light pole repair, ballast replacement, and infrared thermography inspections. The company operates six local offices with a fleet of five bucket trucks, providing 24/7 emergency electrical service alongside scheduled maintenance and installations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Electrical Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 400% average return on investment for infrared inspection programs

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Best Pick ReportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry certification and listing program that endorses qualified contractors. Kolb Electric is listed as a Best Pick certified electrical contractor, gaining visibility and credibility through the program's endorsement.
• BBB (Better Business Bureau)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAccredited business listing providing consumer trust verification and dispute resolution backing. Kolb Electric maintains BBB accreditation demonstrating commitment to ethical business practices.
• Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional association for real estate and property management professionals. Partnership provides access to property management companies and commercial real estate decision-makers.
• Community Associations Institute (CAI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation serving community associations,HOAs, and their professional partners. Partnership enables access to property management decision-makers.
• Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerState association for multifamily housing industry professionals. Provides networking and business development opportunities in the Maryland property market.
• Property Management Association (PMA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional property management professional association supporting member companies with training, networking, and vendor partnerships.
• GeneraccoreTechnology or IntegrationGenerac is the world's leading manufacturer of standby commercial generators. Kolb Electric is a certified installer of Generac standby generators, offering installation, maintenance, and repair services for Generac products in the DC metro area. Generac has been designing generators since 1959 and offers models from 800W to 9mW output.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Roto-Rooter: A national home services franchise specializing in plumbing, drain, and water cleanup with 24/7 emergency availability and same-day service. Comparable service business model, emergency response positioning, and trade-services delivery, though focused on plumbing rather than electrical work.
• ServiceMaster Restore: A national home services franchise offering restoration, cleaning, and maintenance services with 24/7 emergency response. Comparable service business model and emergency positioning, but with broader home services scope and restoration focus rather than pure electrical contracting.
• Mister Sparky Electric: A national electrical services franchise under Authority Brands, providing residential electrical services with strong emphasis on 24/7 emergency availability and on-time guarantees. Closely comparable service mix and emergency response positioning to Kolb Electric, but franchise-backed.
• Mr. Electric: A national electrical services franchise owned by Neighborly, offering residential and commercial electrical repair and installation across the US. Directly comparable service offerings to Kolb Electric, but with national brand recognition, franchise scale, and centralized marketing infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Absolute Electrical Services: A Maryland and DC-area electrical contractor offering residential and commercial services. Comparable in service scope, customer segments, and DC-metro geographic focus to Kolb Electric, with similar emphasis on licensed electrician service delivery.
• Jaffe Electric: A Mid-Atlantic electrical services company serving Maryland, Virginia, and DC with residential and commercial offerings. Directly comparable geographic coverage and service overlap with Kolb Electric, including similar emphasis on code compliance and emergency response.
• Tim Kyle Electric: A Maryland-based residential and commercial electrical contractor serving the greater Baltimore area. Direct local competitor with overlapping service portfolio (wiring, lighting, generators, panel upgrades), geographic overlap, and similar residential-and-commercial customer mix to Kolb Electric.

Others

• Generac: World's leading manufacturer of standby generators, for which Kolb Electric is a certified installer. Not a direct competitor but a key product partner and supply ecosystem enabler for Kolb Electric's standby generator installation, maintenance, and replacement service line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kolb Electric