Vaughan Electric Co., Inc.

What Vaughan Electric Co., Inc. does

Vaughan Electric Co., Inc. is a privately held, 3rd-generation family-owned electrical contracting firm founded in 1981 and headquartered at 3007 Wake Forest Hwy in Durham, North Carolina. The company delivers design-build electrical services across three primary segments: commercial properties (healthcare, institutional, education, hospitality, manufacturing, transportation, government, and industrial), industrial facilities (design build, engineering, installation, custom manufacturing, maintenance, fabrication, project management, and shutdowns), and residential properties (single-family, townhomes, multifamily, and custom homes), with additional specialized offerings in solar installation, EV charging, voice and data communications, emergency power/UPS/generator systems, and fire alarm and life safety systems. Its technical toolkit includes Building Information Modeling and Virtual Design and Construction (BIM/VDC) for project planning and execution, LEED-aligned green building practices, NFPA 70E safety compliance, and proprietary safety applications for lockout/tagout and power sequencing.

The business operates on a project-based, quote-driven professional services model with no subscription or recurring revenue component. Pricing is determined per project based on scope, complexity, and specifications. Customer acquisition is sales-led, relying on the company's website (project gallery, quote request forms, direct phone and email contact), and on subcontractor relationships with nationally significant general contractors including Skanska USA, Gilbane Building Company, Balfour Beatty, Clancy and Theys, Barnhill Contracting, Rodgers Builders, New Atlantic Contracting, CT Wilson, Riggs Harrod, and McDonald York. Named end customers span Duke University, Duke Urgent Care, multiple elementary schools, multifamily developments (American Tobacco, Bentley Ridge, Old Bull, Sutton Station), and the Old Pepsi Plant industrial site, indicating breadth across education, healthcare, residential, and industrial verticals. The firm is governed by family leadership (Chip Vaughan as President & CEO, Sam Vaughan Jr. as CFO, Chad Vaughan as VP, Tony Cannady as CAO) and holds leadership positions in CECA, NECA, and DECA trade associations, with consecutive years on the Triangle Business Journal Top 25 Electrical Contractors list.

Name

Vaughan Electric Co., Inc.

Legal name

Vaughan Electric Co., Inc.

Website

https://veco-nc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Vaughan Electric Co., Inc. is a 3rd-generation, family-owned electrical contractor founded in 1981 providing commercial, industrial, and residential electrical design-build, installation, and maintenance services to customers in North Carolina's Research Triangle Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Contracting Services

NAICS

Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (23821)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Contracting & Wiring (IMAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electrical Permitting, Inspection Preparation & Compliance Services (HSAOADAL), Generator Installation & Transfer Switches (Standby/Portable Interlock) (HSAOADAF)

Keywords

• Commercial electrical contracting
• Industrial electrical services
• Design-build electrical
• Electrical repair and maintenance
• Residential electrical services

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electrical Contracting Services: Service-based revenue from electrical installation, repair, replacement, and maintenance services for commercial, industrial, and residential properties. Projects include new construction, upgrades, and ongoing service work. Revenue is project-based with no recurring subscription component.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Vaughan Electric Co., Inc. provides commercial, industrial, and residential electrical contracting services including design-build, installation, upgrades, repairs, and maintenance. The company delivers electrical distribution systems, fire alarm and life safety systems, emergency power/UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)/generator installation, solar installation, voice and data communications, and lighting upgrades for commercial, industrial, and residential properties in the Research Triangle Area of North Carolina.

Product overview

Vaughan Electric Co., Inc. is a commercial electrical contracting company serving the Research Triangle Area since 1981, offering a portfolio of four core service lines: Commercial Electrical Services (covering healthcare, education, industrial, hospitality, government sectors), Industrial Electrical Services (design, installation, maintenance for manufacturing), Residential Electrical Services (single-family, townhomes, multifamily, custom homes), and Electrical Repairs (comprehensive maintenance and troubleshooting). The company also provides specialized services including Solar Installation, Emergency Power/UPS/Generators, Voice & Data Communications Systems, and Fire Alarm & Detection Equipment. Services are delivered through a combination of BIM/VDC technology tools and field personnel, with a focus on design-build, LEED green practices, and safety compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Electrical Services Comprehensive electrical contracting for commercial properties across healthcare, institutional, education, hospitality, manufacturing, transportation, government, and industrial sectors, including complete electrical distribution systems, design-build, and installations for new construction or upgrades.
• Industrial Electrical Services Specialized electrical contracting for manufacturing plants and industrial facilities covering design-build, engineering, installation and inspection, custom manufacturing, maintenance and repair, fabrication, project management, specialty field maintenance, and shutdown services.
• Residential Electrical Services Electrical contracting for single-family homes, townhomes, multifamily residences, and custom homes, including power distribution, interior/exterior lighting, outdoor lighting, solar panels, branch circuit wiring, EV (electric vehicle) charging stations, generators, fixture installation, and troubleshooting.
• Electrical Repairs Comprehensive repair services including safety and maintenance inspections, panel upgrades, recessed lighting, troubleshooting, generator installs, wiring, surge protection, exhaust fans, ceiling fan installation, fixture repair and replacement, outdoor lighting, hot tub and appliance wiring, dedicated circuits, and breaker replacements.
• Solar Installation Solar panel installation services for residential and commercial properties, aligned with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building practices and sustainable energy solutions.
• Emergency Power / UPS / Generators Installation of emergency power systems, UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems, and standby generators for commercial, industrial, and residential properties to provide reliable backup power.
• Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems Design-build and installation of fire alarm and detection equipment, and life safety systems for commercial, industrial, and institutional properties.
• Voice & Data Communications Systems Installation of low-voltage voice and data communications infrastructure for commercial buildings, supporting structured cabling and networking systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• LED lighting can cut energy consumption by over 80% compared to conventional light bulbs and last up to 25% longer

Named customers17 records

Segments5 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

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CECA (Carolinas Electrical Contractors Association)coreOthersVaughan Electric is a member of CECA which supports electrical contractors throughout North Carolina. Sam Vaughan Jr. serves on CECA's Board of Directors. The association provides networking among electrical contractors throughout the state and promotes best practices and ethics in the workplace.
• NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association)coreOthersVaughan Electric is a member of NECA, the national trade association for the electrical contracting industry.
• DECA (Durham Electrical Contractor Association)coreOthersChip Vaughan serves as Head of the Durham Electrical Contractor Association (DECA). Both Sam and Chip are members of DECA.
• Skanska USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop general contractor that Vaughan Electric works with on commercial electrical projects in the Research Triangle area.
• Gilbane Building CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop general contractor that Vaughan Electric works with on commercial electrical projects.
• Balfour BeattyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTop general contractor that Vaughan Electric works with on commercial electrical projects.
• Clancy and TheysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional general contractor that Vaughan Electric collaborates with on projects.
• Barnhill Contracting CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional general contractor that Vaughan Electric collaborates with on projects.
• Rodgers BuildersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional general contractor that Vaughan Electric collaborates with on projects.
• New Atlantic ContractingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional general contractor that Vaughan Electric collaborates with on projects.
• CT WilsonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional general contractor that Vaughan Electric collaborates with on projects.
• Riggs HarrodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral contractor that Vaughan Electric collaborates with on projects.
• McDonald YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral contractor that Vaughan Electric collaborates with on projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Holder Construction: Atlanta-based national general contractor with strong Southeast presence; competes indirectly for the same institutional, commercial, and mission-critical project pipeline and is a potential GC partner/competitor for Triangle-area work.
• Triad Electric: North Carolina-based commercial and industrial electrical contractor operating in adjacent Piedmont/Triad markets, with similar service mix and customer profiles, providing indirect competitive pressure for Triangle work.

Broad incumbents

• Rosendin: One of the largest U.S. employee-owned electrical contractors, active in mission-critical, commercial, and renewable work; a relevant incumbent peer on larger healthcare, data center, and commercial build-outs.
• MMR Group: National electrical and instrumentation contractor serving industrial and commercial customers; comparable on industrial design-build and shutdown/maintenance work that overlaps with Vaughan's industrial segment.
• EMCOR Group: Large publicly traded national electrical and mechanical contractor with significant Triangle-area presence; competes for the same institutional, healthcare, and commercial work and sets the pricing/scale benchmark for the segment.
• IES Holdings: Publicly traded provider of electrical and mechanical solutions for commercial, industrial, and residential markets; competes for the same commercial/industrial bid pipeline and brings national procurement and labor leverage.
• Faith Technologies: Large privately held U.S. electrical contractor with design-build, prefab, and EV/solar capabilities, representing the scaled national peer that increasingly competes for institutional and commercial projects in growth markets like the Triangle.

Direct peers

• Pendergraph Electric: Carolinas-based commercial and industrial electrical contractor with a similar mid-size, multi-segment (commercial, industrial, service) profile and a comparable GC-partnered go-to-market in North Carolina.
• Lee Electrical Construction: North Carolina electrical contractor serving commercial, industrial, and institutional customers in overlapping Triangle-area geographies, with comparable design-build and service capabilities.
• Watson Electric Company: Long-standing North Carolina commercial and industrial electrical contractor (Greenville / Triangle area), referenced directly in the Vaughan family history; competes for the same regional GC and institutional project pipeline.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vaughan-electric-co-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Vaughan Electric Co., Inc.