United Utility, Charlotte, NC, a utility services company, has acquired Williams Electric Co. an electrical utility contractor based in Shelby, NC, with primary operations in North and South Carolina and expanded reach throughout the Southeast. The acquisition adds to United Utility's platform of utility service providers, while growing its national footprint. United Utility is building a platform of providers with specialized, expertise in overhead and underground power transmission and distribution, substation, relay system, fiber optics communication and storm recovery services.
Williams Electric will continue to operate under the same name with the same management team and staff in place, working with United Utility to serve customers and pursue new opportunities to expand services. "This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to build upon Williams Electric's well-respected brand, experience and dedicated staff to provide top-notch service to our respective customers throughout the region," said United Utility CEO Ali Azad in the press release. "With the addition of Williams Electric to our team, we continue to enhance and expand our suite of utility services for customers along the East Coast, especially in the transmission and distribution sector."
Founded in 1968 and based in Shelby, NC, Williams Electric offers a wide array of electrical services, including transmission, distribution and storm restoration. The company primarily serves regulated utilities, cooperatives and municipal utilities along the East Coast, particularly in North Carolina and South Carolina.
"Williams Electric Co. was founded over 50 years ago with a commitment to safety, customer service and quality construction. These remain at the forefront as we strive to provide exceptional service to our customers and an engaging, reliable work environment for our employees," said Williams Electric President Rick Falls in the release. "We are very excited to partner with United Utility, who values these principles and will work with us to continue to provide dependable and efficient service while maintaining the same name and staff that our customers have grown to know and trust.
"I am glad to see that the company my father, Ed Williams, and Speed Williams launched in 1968 will continue to operate with the same management team and with the same focus on safety and customer service," said Andrew Williams, owner of Williams Electric.
The acquisition is the latest in a series of key acquisitions that are part of United Utility's national growth strategy. United Utility was established in 2018 through the acquisition of W.A. Chester, an electrical contractor offering specialized services in underground transmission and distribution cable systems, overhead distribution, substations, and communications.
The company, which is owned by Bernhard Capital Partners, Baton Rouge, LA, a portfolio company, expanded its footprint earlier this year with the acquisition of Mississippi-based B&B Electrical & Utility Contractors. Founded in 1982, B&B offers a full array of electrical and utility services for the southeastern U.S. United Utility also acquired a minority investment in E.P. Breaux Utility Services, a minority-owned company, located in Baton Rouge, LA, in Feb. 2021. This utility contractor specializes in EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) partnerships for new substation construction (Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and air-insulated switchgear (AIS)), substation modification and reconfiguration projects.