Phillips Southern Electric Co

What Phillips Southern Electric Co does

Phillips Southern Electric Co., operating as PSE Contractors, is a third-generation family-owned electrical contracting firm incorporated in 1962 in Wichita, Kansas. The company provides commercial/industrial, civil, and utility electrical services across Kansas and Oklahoma, with a primary focus on traffic signal construction and maintenance, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), highway and airport lighting, and underground/aerial utility construction including directional drilling and fiber optic splicing. Its customer base is anchored by state DOTs and municipal governments, with secondary exposure to private commercial/industrial clients and electric and communication utilities.

The company operates a project-based revenue model through competitive bidding, negotiated contracts, and design-build delivery methods. Pricing is quote-based and engagement-driven, with customers initiating contact via phone (316-265-4186) or email. Its competitive position rests on an in-house heavy equipment fleet capable of directional drilling across rivers and rock, large-diameter foundation pier drilling, and equipment erection to heights over 100 feet, complemented by a credentialed workforce that includes Cisco Certified Technicians, licensed electricians, journeyman linemen, and superintendents with 25+ years of field experience.

PSE self-performs all aspects of its projects from construction through integration and offers 24-hour emergency response for traffic and utility infrastructure. The firm maintains bonding and insurance capacity for critical and high-volume public-sector projects, and operates with no disclosed external investors, parent company, or institutional ownership.

Name

Phillips Southern Electric Co

Legal name

Phillips Southern Electric, Inc.

Website

https://phillips-southern.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Phillips Southern Electric Co (PSE Contractors) is a third-generation, family-owned electrical contractor in Wichita, Kansas providing traffic signal, ITS, lighting, utility, and commercial/industrial electrical services to DOTs, municipalities, and private clients across Kansas and Oklahoma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Contracting Services

NAICS

Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (23821)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Contracting (Commercial/Industrial) (IMAIABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Transformer/Driver/Power Supply Service & Replacement (HSAIAHAL)

Keywords

• Electrical construction services
• Traffic signal installation
• Intelligent transportation systems
• Highway lighting installation
• Utility infrastructure construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electrical Construction Services: Project-based revenue from electrical construction, installation, and maintenance services for commercial/industrial, utility, and civil projects. Revenue is generated through competitive bidding, negotiated contracts, and design-build delivery methods. Pricing is based on project scope with no job too large or small.
2. Traffic Signal and ITS Services: Installation and maintenance of traffic signals and intelligent transportation systems including CCTV, vehicle detectors, DMS signs, and fiber optic/wireless communications. Services include 24-hour emergency response capabilities.
3. Utility Construction and Maintenance: Underground and aerial utility construction including directional drilling, trenching, cable plowing, rock sawing, duct bank construction, pole installation, and fiber splicing services for utility and communication facilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Phillips Southern Electric Co (DBA: PSE Contractors) is a third-generation, family-owned electrical contracting firm founded in 1962 in Wichita, Kansas. The company provides commercial, industrial, civil, and utility electrical construction services, including traffic signal installation, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), highway lighting, and utility infrastructure construction across Kansas and Oklahoma.

Product overview

PSE Contractors (formerly Phillips Southern Electric) is a full-service electrical, DOT, and utility construction contractor serving government and private sector clients in Kansas and Oklahoma. The company operates as a single unified contracting service rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core service portfolio encompasses four primary divisions: Traffic Signals/ITS (traffic signal installation and intelligent transportation systems including CCTV, vehicle detectors, and DMS signs), Lighting (highway, airport runway, sports field, and decorative lighting), Commercial/Industrial (electrical construction, remodeling, and preventive maintenance), and Utility (overhead/underground electrical and fiber optic/communication construction). Additional specialized services include mass outdoor warning siren installation, heavy sign installation, pier drilling/foundation construction, and temporary traffic signal trailer rental. The company offers multiple engagement models including competitive bid, negotiated contracts, and design-build arrangements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Direct peers

• Sturgeon Electric (MYR Group subsidiary): Subsidiary of MYR Group that performs traffic signal, highway lighting, ITS, and commercial electrical work across multiple states. Closest comparable in terms of DOT/municipal customer base, ITS scope, and self-perform electrical contracting model, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Sachs Electric (Ermco): Midwest-based electrical contractor providing commercial, industrial, utility, and traffic/ITS services. Comparable service portfolio to PSE including traffic signal/ITS and utility construction, with similar DOT/municipal and private commercial customer mix.
• Henkels & McCoy: Mid-Atlantic-based infrastructure contractor specializing in electric, gas, and communications utility construction, including overhead/underground distribution and fiber optic services. Comparable to PSE's utility construction portfolio and customer base, though operating at larger regional and multi-state scale.
• M.J. Electric: Utility electrical contractor performing substation, overhead/underground distribution, and industrial electrical construction across the Midwest and nationally. Closely comparable to PSE's utility construction and commercial/industrial electrical offerings, with similar mix of DOT/private/utility customers.
• Irby Construction Company: Utility-focused electrical contractor building overhead and underground distribution infrastructure across the central and southern U.S. Comparable to PSE's underground/aerial utility construction work and electrical utility customer base, with similar directional drilling and trenching capabilities.
• PAR Electrical Contractors (Quanta Services subsidiary): Quanta Services subsidiary performing overhead and underground electrical distribution and transmission construction for utilities. Directly comparable to PSE's utility construction division in terms of customers (electric utilities), scope (overhead/underground line work), and directional drilling capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Faith Technologies: Large multi-regional electrical and specialty systems contractor serving commercial, industrial, and utility customers. Comparable electrical contracting service mix but operates at significantly larger scale with broader geographic reach and deeper resources for design-build mega-projects.
• IES Holdings: National electrical contracting platform with commercial, industrial, and infrastructure service lines. Comparable electrical construction and maintenance offerings, though serves a broader geographic footprint and larger commercial/industrial client base than PSE's regional focus.

Emerging players

• CEC (Communications Engineering Company): Midwest contractor specializing in ITS, traffic signal, fiber optic, and intelligent transportation system integration. Overlaps with PSE's ITS and fiber optic service offerings, particularly for DOT and municipal customers, though with stronger systems-integration emphasis.

Regional players

• Capital Electric Line Builders: Kansas-based electrical line construction and utility contractor serving electric utilities across the Midwest. Directly comparable to PSE's utility construction and overhead line work, though operates primarily outside Kansas and Oklahoma and is more utility-segment focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phillips-southern-electric-co

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 Phillips Southern Electric Co