What RLI Electric LLC does

RLI Electric LLC is a privately held, founder-owned electrical contracting company headquartered in Durham, Connecticut, founded in 1999 by Robert Isleib. The firm provides residential electrical services with a specialization in landscape and outdoor living space lighting, including pathway, architectural, poolscape, pergola, and outdoor kitchen lighting, alongside the proprietary Sound Field outdoor audio system and TADA interior lighting design methodology. It also handles general residential wiring, remodeling, and on-demand electrical service calls for both residential and commercial properties.

The company operates on a project-based professional services model with in-person consultations, custom design, and installation performed across more than 20 Connecticut towns. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via website, phone, email, and referral relationships with landscape architects and contractors. Revenue is generated through landscape lighting design and installation, outdoor living space services, interior electrical and lighting work, and ad-hoc electrical service calls, with bi-annual or annual maintenance contracts creating a recurring revenue layer. Key technology components include low voltage LED landscape lighting systems, professional-grade fixtures with lifetime warranties, and integrations with Lutron Caseta smart controls and Sonance outdoor audio.

RLI Electric holds Connecticut Electrical Contractor License #E1-183930 and is a member of the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals, Independent Electrical Contractors Association, and Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association. The company maintains 1-10 employees and has never raised external funding or engaged in M&A activity. Its competitive positioning rests on the founder's 32+ years of trade experience and specialized landscape lighting credentials, proprietary service methodologies, and a curated network of referral and technology partners.

Name

RLI Electric LLC

Legal name

RLI Electric LLC

Website

https://rlielectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RLI Electric LLC is a privately held, founder-owned residential electrical contracting company in Durham, Connecticut, specializing in landscape lighting, outdoor living space illumination, and the proprietary Sound Field outdoor audio system for homeowners across 20-plus Connecticut towns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Electrical Contracting and Landscape Lighting Services

SIC

Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Lighting Design & Layout (HSAIAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Landscape Lighting Installation (HSAOAFAB), Low-Voltage Outdoor Lighting Installation (HSAIAHAB), Landscape Lighting Installation & Maintenance (BPABADAM)

Keywords

• Residential electrical contracting
• Landscape lighting design
• Outdoor lighting installation
• Low voltage lighting
• Outdoor living spaces

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Landscape Lighting Design and Installation: Full-service landscape lighting projects including design, installation, and post-installation focusing after dark. Revenue is project-based, generated from design fees (if client goes to bid) or included in installation cost for direct clients.
2. Outdoor Living Space Services: Services including poolscape lighting, outdoor kitchen lighting, pavilion and pergola electrical work including lighting, fans, heaters, outdoor TVs, wifi extenders, and outdoor audio systems.
3. Interior Electrical and Lighting: Residential wiring, remodeling, and interior lighting design following TADA methodology. Services include undercabinet lighting, recessed lighting, and decorative fixtures.
4. Electrical Service Calls: On-demand electrical service calls for repairs, troubleshooting, and emergency electrical work for both residential and commercial properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RLI Electric LLC is a fully licensed Connecticut electrical contractor (CT Lic # E1-183930) that designs, installs, and maintains residential landscape lighting, outdoor living space lighting, and interior lighting systems. Founded in 1999 by Robert Isleib, the company combines licensed electrical work with specialized low voltage LED landscape lighting design, including poolscape, outdoor kitchen, pavilion, and pergola lighting, plus the proprietary Sound Field outdoor audio system and TADA-based interior lighting design.

Product overview

RLI Electric LLC is a fully licensed electrical contracting company offering a comprehensive portfolio of outdoor and interior lighting services. The core offerings center on landscape lighting (enhancing plants, trees, and outdoor features), architectural lighting (house illumination), and steps/pathways lighting for safety. The outdoor living spaces division includes poolscapes, outdoor kitchens and grill areas, pavilions and pergolas, and the proprietary Sound Field outdoor audio system featuring satellite speakers and subwoofer. Interior services follow the TADA methodology (Task, Accent, Decorative, Ambient) for layered lighting design, including kitchen undercabinet lighting. Specialized products include Tiki light fixtures with citronella reservoirs, pathlighting solutions, and LED lamp installations. The company also provides general residential wiring and remodeling services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Landscape and Outdoor Lighting Services Design, installation, and after-dark focusing of low voltage landscape lighting for plants, trees, ornamental features, architectural house lighting, and steps/pathways. Includes pathway lighting that guides movement safely, architectural lighting that softens a home's exterior while providing passive security, and pathlighting that enhances plant colors and eliminates dark pools. Targeted at residential homeowners in Connecticut.
• Outdoor Living Spaces Services Specialty lighting and electrical work for poolscape areas, outdoor kitchens and grill areas, and pavilions and pergolas. Includes lighting for outdoor refrigerators, sinks, pizza ovens, rotisseries, and warming trays, plus amenities such as fans, heaters, outdoor TVs, wifi extenders, and outdoor audio. Combines safety and aesthetic lighting around pool areas and outdoor entertainment spaces for residential clients.
• Sound Field Outdoor Audio System Strategically placed outdoor audio system featuring eight satellite speakers and an in-ground subwoofer, designed to produce balanced, rich sound while minimizing audio trespass to neighboring properties. Integrates with Sonos systems for smartphone and tablet control. Designed for residential outdoor living spaces.
• TADA Interior Lighting Design Interior lighting design methodology using four layers: Task (general fill light for daily tasks), Accent (highlighting interesting objects), Decorative (fancy fixtures such as chandeliers), and Ambient (soft light eliminating shadows). Designed for proper physiological lighting design in residential interiors.
• Kitchen Undercabinet Lighting Dual-purpose kitchen lighting installation that provides task lighting for food preparation and aesthetic lighting that enhances countertops, decorations, and backsplashes. Targeted at residential kitchens.
• Tiki Light Fixtures Aged brass light fixtures with a citronella oil reservoir that create soft, subtle lighting for large patio areas while helping repel insects. Sold/installed as a specialty outdoor lighting product for residential customers.
• Residential Wiring and Remodeling Services Expert residential wiring and remodeling services delivering high-quality electrical solutions for homeowners alongside landscape lighting services. Founded on this core competency in 1999.
• Electrical Service Calls On-demand electrical service calls for repairs, troubleshooting, and emergency electrical work for both residential and commercial properties. Used for issues such as restaurant dining room lighting failures and other urgent electrical problems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fixtures last with lifetime warranties; LED lamps carry five year warranties
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Torrison Stone GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape and stone garden company featured on RLI Electric's partners page. Serves as potential referral partner for projects requiring combined landscape and lighting services.
• Caseta by LutroncoreTechnology or IntegrationSmart lighting control system integration partner. Lutron Caseta provides smart home lighting control capabilities that RLI Electric incorporates into landscape and outdoor lighting installations. Featured prominently on partners page.
• Madison Earth CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape care and maintenance company. Serves as referral partner for ongoing landscape maintenance that may intersect with lighting system maintenance needs.
• Picture-Perfect LandscapeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape design and installation company. Collaborative partner for projects requiring both landscape and professional lighting design services.
• EA QuinnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm. Partner for design/build projects requiring specialized landscape architecture and professional lighting design collaboration.
• Sonance AudiocoreTechnology or IntegrationOutdoor and landscape audio equipment manufacturer. RLI Electric installs Sonance Garden Series audio systems as part of their outdoor living space offerings, featuring satellite speakers and in-ground subwoofers for Sound Field audio experiences.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Mister Sparky Electric: National residential electrical service franchise under Neighborly offering wiring, repair, and installation across a broad portfolio. Overlaps with RLI on residential electrical and outdoor lighting installation but operates at much larger scale and broader service scope without RLI's landscape lighting specialization.
• Mr. Electric: National Neighborly franchise providing residential and commercial electrical services including lighting installation, wiring, and repairs. Broad incumbent competing in the same Connecticut geography on general electrical work but lacking RLI's focused landscape lighting design expertise and aesthetic-driven positioning.

Regional players

• The Grounds Guys: Neighborly franchise providing landscape and grounds maintenance services that increasingly bundle outdoor lighting installation. Adjacent competitor in the homeowner outdoor services space, often partnering with or competing against specialty lighting contractors on landscape projects.

Direct peers

• Outdoor Lighting Perspectives: National franchise specializing in landscape and architectural lighting design and installation for residential properties. Directly comparable to RLI Electric's core service offering with a similar premium design-led approach and warranty-backed fixtures, though operating at significantly larger national scale.
• Blingle Premier Lighting: National lighting installation franchise offering landscape lighting, permanent holiday lighting, and outdoor living illumination for residential and commercial properties. Comparable to RLI's landscape lighting and outdoor living space offerings, particularly in the architectural and pathway lighting sub-categories.
• Nite Time Decor: National landscape and outdoor lighting franchise offering design, installation, and maintenance of low-voltage lighting systems for homes. Direct peer in the residential landscape lighting category, competing on similar aesthetic-driven, fixture-warranty-backed value propositions.

Others

• Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting: Manufacturer of professional-grade low-voltage landscape lighting fixtures and transformers commonly specified by landscape lighting installers. Ecosystem participant that supplies fixtures of the type RLI installs, relevant as a comparable upstream brand rather than direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Trimlight: Growing national brand specializing in permanent programmable outdoor lighting systems installed on rooflines and landscapes for year-round use. Emerging peer in the outdoor lighting installation space with overlapping residential customer base and complementary (rather than identical) product approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/RLI-Electric-LLC/300101168887
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rli-electrical-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/rlielectric/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 RLI Electric LLC