PLC Trenching Co., LLC

What PLC Trenching Co., LLC does

PLC Trenching Co., LLC is a North American specialty contractor that performs full-service underground utility installation for utility-scale renewable energy, grid hardening, telecommunications, and heavy highway infrastructure projects. Founded in 1998 by David L. Critelli and headquartered in Clinton, New York, the company began in telecommunication installations before entering the renewable energy market in 2003. It is affiliated with Power Line Constructors, an outside electrical construction company, and operates as a private LLC.

The company's core offering is a proprietary single-pass trenching platform that combines rock-saw and chain trenchers with a patented laying-box technology. The laying-box fully encapsulates coiled flexible utilities in protective bedding — either screened native material or select imported sand/thermal backfill — as they enter the trench. In a single continuous operation, the platform excavates a consistent 12-inch-wide trench at 36 to 54 inch depths, installs the utility, and places the first layer of backfill; the trench is backfilled and compacted to spec within 30 minutes. PLC Trenching is described as the only company in the United States with lawful use of this laying-box technology. A proprietary web-based reporting system provides real-time project status, material tracking, and GPS as-built data for every collection-system trench.

PLC Trenching generates revenue through project-based contracting for utility-scale wind farm collection systems, solar farm medium-voltage cable installation, battery energy storage system (BESS) collection systems, grid hardening and undergrounding, telecommunication duct and conduit installation, and heavy highway underdrain work. Pricing is quote-based, not publicly disclosed, and the go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with clients submitting project details through a website Request a Quote form and receiving follow-up within two business days. The customer base consists of large enterprise construction, electrical, and utility firms including Kiewit, MasTec, M.A. Mortenson, Henkels & McCoy, Michels, Rosendin Electric, Blattner Energy, and Alliant Energy. The company operates across the United States and Canada via traveling crews and has completed over 27 million trench feet of underground utility installation over its 28-year history.

Name

PLC Trenching Co., LLC

Legal name

PLC Trenching Co., LLC

Website

https://plctrenching.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PLC Trenching is a North American underground utility installation contractor that uses a proprietary single-pass trenching platform with patented laying-box technology to serve utility-scale wind, solar, BESS, telecom, and grid hardening projects for enterprise construction and utility customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Underground Utility Construction Services

NAICS

Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130), Utility System Construction (2371)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cable Installation & Construction Services (trenching, duct banks, HDD, pulling, cable laying) (EUADADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trenchers & Pipe Layers (IMAHAAAJ), Underground Duct, Conduit & Manhole/Vault Construction (Telecom Civils) (IMAFAIAK), Underground transmission & distribution cable EPC (civil + cable install) (EUADAKAB)

Keywords

• Underground utility installation
• Trenching services
• Wind farm collection
• Solar cable installation
• Utility-scale construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Underground Utility Construction Services: Project-based contracting for underground utility installation. Services include trenching, cable placement, backfill, and compaction for utility-scale wind, solar, battery storage, telecom, grid hardening, and heavy highway projects. Revenue is earned through fixed-price or cost-plus project contracts based on scope, footage, and project complexity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

PLC Trenching installs underground utilities for utility-scale wind, solar, battery storage, telecom, grid hardening, and heavy highway projects using a proprietary single-pass trenching platform and patented laying-box technology. The company excavates trenches, places coiled flexible utilities, and places first-lift backfill in one continuous operation, then backfills and compacts within 30 minutes. Services are sold to enterprise construction firms, renewable energy developers, utilities, and infrastructure operators on a project contract basis across the US and Canada.

Product overview

PLC Trenching Co., LLC operates as a single unified trenching services company offering a proprietary single-pass trenching platform for underground utility installation. The core offering centers on their patented laying-box technology (available as Screening Laying Box and Select Import Laying Box variants) deployed via a fleet of rock-saw and chain trenchers. Services span wind farm collection systems, solar farm medium-voltage cable installation, battery energy storage systems (BESS), heavy highway underdrain installation, telecommunication duct/conduit installation, and grid hardening projects. The company supplements its core installation services with proprietary web-based project management and GPS as-built reporting tools. The portfolio functions as an integrated service offering rather than discrete software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laying-Box Technology Patented laying box technology that fully encapsulates utilities in a protective bedding layer as they enter the trench, available as Screening Laying Box or Select Import Laying Box variants, exclusive to PLC Trenching in the United States.
• Single-Pass Trenching Platform Proprietary trenching system that excavates trenches, installs coiled flexible utilities, and places the first layer of backfill in one continuous operation at 36–54 inch depths, in rock or soft soils, with backfill and compaction within 30 minutes.
• Wind Farm Collection System Installation Utility-scale wind farm underground collection system installation, including design support, cable management plans, GPS as-built services, material transport, and installation reporting for wind developers and EPC contractors.
• Solar Farm Trenching & Medium-Voltage Cable Installation Medium-voltage cable trenching and installation for utility-scale solar farms, scheduled before posts and racking arrive to minimize site congestion and trade-stacking conflicts.
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Collection System Installation Underground collection and interconnection trenching for utility-scale battery energy storage projects, with consistent 12-inch-wide trenches at 36–54 inch depths.
• Telecommunication Duct & Conduit Installation Underground duct and conduit installation for telecommunications, including concrete-encased and multi-duct systems along highways and railroads.
• Heavy Highway Underdrain Installation Underdrain system installation for new and existing highways, including spoils loading, filter stone placement directly from delivery trucks, and geotextile filter fabric wrapping of drain pipe.
• Grid Hardening & Undergrounding Installation Underground utility installation services supporting grid hardening and undergrounding of overhead power lines for electric utilities and their contractors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 27 million trench feet completed (over 5,000 miles)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kiewit ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMajor construction company that has engaged PLC Trenching for underground utility installation on utility-scale projects.
• Gilbert-Southern Corp.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction company client for underground utility trenching services on renewable energy projects.
• Mastec, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInfrastructure construction company that has worked with PLC Trenching on underground utility projects.
• MFS Technologies Ltd.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnology/services company in the infrastructure sector that has engaged PLC Trenching.
• Alliant Energy Corp.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUtility company that has utilized PLC Trenching services for underground infrastructure projects.
• Rosendin Electric, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElectrical construction contractor that has partnered with PLC Trenching on utility-scale renewable energy projects.
• M.A. MortensoncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMajor construction firm that has engaged PLC Trenching for underground utility installation.
• Henkels & McCoy, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInfrastructure services company that has utilized PLC Trenching for underground utility projects.
• Michels Corp.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInfrastructure construction company that has worked with PLC Trenching on underground utility projects.
• InfraSourceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInfrastructure services company that has engaged PLC Trenching services.
• Fiber Network Solutions, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFiber network solutions company that has partnered with PLC Trenching for underground duct and conduit installation.
• Blattner Energy, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRenewable energy construction company specializing in wind farms that has engaged PLC Trenching.
• Sentry Electrical Group, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElectrical construction company that has utilized PLC Trenching services.
• The Wesson GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction/electrical services company that has partnered with PLC Trenching.
• Christenson Electric, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElectrical contractor that has worked with PLC Trenching on underground utility projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MasTec, Inc. Large diversified infrastructure construction company serving power, communications, oil & gas, and clean energy. MasTec is both a customer of PLC Trenching and a vertically-integrated competitor with self-perform trenching crews, making it a relevant broad incumbent comparison.
• Kiewit Construction: One of North America's largest engineering and construction firms with extensive energy and infrastructure operations. Kiewit is both a customer of PLC Trenching and a potential self-perform competitor on utility-scale renewable projects.
• Primoris Services Corporation: Infrastructure construction contractor serving utilities, energy, and civil markets, including renewable energy civil and underground T&D work. Comparable to PLC's collection system installation scope at a larger scale.
• Quanta Services: North America's largest pure-play utility infrastructure services firm, with significant underground electric T&D and renewable energy collection system work. Overlaps with PLC's grid hardening and wind/solar trenching through subsidiaries and acquired entities (e.g., Blattner).
• MYR Group Inc. Specialty electrical construction services provider focused on T&D and commercial/industrial markets. Performs underground utility installation for similar utility and renewable customers, slightly broader scope than PLC but directly comparable in trenching and collection system work.
• M.A. Mortenson: Major construction firm with a leading wind and solar energy EPC practice that subcontracts underground collection system work. Functions as both a key customer and, via its own civil crews, a comparable execution peer.

Direct peers

• Henkels & McCoy, Inc. Large infrastructure services contractor performing underground utility installation for electric, gas, telecom, and renewable energy projects. A direct customer of PLC Trenching and a closely comparable specialty contractor across multiple of the same verticals.
• Pink Energy（前） / Blattner Energy: Utility-scale wind and solar EPC contractor (now under Quanta Services) that has engaged PLC Trenching for underground collection system work. A direct comparable in the wind/solar underground installation vertical.
• Michels Corp. Family-owned heavy infrastructure contractor specializing in pipeline, underground utility, transmission, and renewable energy construction. Performs trenching and underground collection work for many of the same customers and project types as PLC Trenching.

Emerging players

• Tesmec USA: Manufacturer of trencher and surface mining equipment with a US presence that competes for specialized trenching contracts on pipeline, transmission, and renewable infrastructure. Comparable in the equipment/technology layer of PLC's single-pass platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 PLC Trenching Co., LLC