Electrification Business Opportunities: Growth and Innovation for Electrical Contractors

Author: Jeff Golden
May 9, 2025 - 7 MIN. READ

Key takeaways:

• With electric vehicles representing 7.5% of new car sales and more homeowners and building managers embracing electric solutions, electrification is happening on a major scale.
• Electrical contractors have opportunities to explore areas like EV charger installation, renewables integration, panel upgrades, and more.
• If you’re wondering how to transition to electrification services, consider certifications and expanding your business model.
• Raiven’s Electrification Store and White-Label EV Charger Store can be strong differentiators as you enter this new market.

It might sound futuristic, but ten years from now, you could be driving an electric van on your way to conduct routine maintenance at an all-electric building.

Electrification is rapidly reshaping energy consumption, and sectors like transportation and commercial buildings are undergoing significant changes.

Electrification is the trend to watch in 2025, and smart electrical contractors are already gaining a competitive advantage by focusing on electrification business opportunities.

Electrification 101

Electrification is about transitioning legacy systems to high-efficiency, electric-powered solutions, opening new opportunities for skilled electrical contractors.

You’ve seen EVs on the roads (they now represent 7.5% of all new car sales), but electrification is happening on a deeper level.

Commercial buildings account for 30% of CO2 emissions in the U.S., so regulatory pressure exists to replace old building systems powered by fossil fuels with electric ones. Businesses and consumers are also on board and love the idea of a more sustainable lifestyle.

As an electrification contractor, you can offer significant cost savings to residential and commercial customers. Tax incentives and other programs help reduce upfront costs, and switching to electric solutions leads to substantial cost savings and happy customers (for instance, you can save up to $500 a year when switching from a natural gas furnace to an air-source heat pump – savings can exceed $2,000 a year when replacing a propane heating system).

Electrification Business Opportunities to Explore

Reimagining your electrical contractor business as an electrification company means expanding your capabilities. You can still offer the same core electrical services, but broadening your scope will open new revenue streams for high-demand electrification services.

Smart Home Products

Getting started with electrification projects doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few quick skill upgrades, you can easily branch out and offer to install and configure:

• Connected thermostats.
• Smart lights.
• Security systems.
• Connected appliances.
• Smart locks.

Connected solutions for commercial building electrification projects, such as occupancy sensors or access control solutions, are also worth considering.

EV Charging Installation

Learning to install Level 2 EV chargers is a simple skill upgrade, and it could become a lucrative opportunity. EV drivers want chargers in their homes, and businesses are investing in EV charging for their customers, employees, and electric fleets.

Electric HVAC

Did you know that heat pumps now outsell gas furnaces? There is a clear shift toward electric HVAC solutions as homeowners and commercial building managers look for ways to cut heating and cooling costs.

It’s an exciting opportunity for HVAC contractors, but electrical contractors can help by learning how to wire heat pumps.

Solar Systems Integration and Battery Storage

Producing the electricity used to power electrification solutions is an attractive idea. Solar panels are getting more affordable and performing, making them the ideal solution for producing green energy.

Besides connecting solar energy systems to a home or building’s electrical infrastructure, you can differentiate your business by learning how to install battery storage solutions. Solar and energy storage are a key focus for utilities, and smaller systems are also popular among homeowners and building managers looking to be more independent from the grid.

Panel Upgrades for Electrification

This is closer to your core electrical services. Electrification increases electricity usage by replacing gas-powered solutions with electrical ones.

For many homeowners and building managers, this means installing a 200-amp panel and upgrading their electrical infrastructure. It’s a big market with an estimated 48 million U.S. homes needing a panel upgrade before being ready for EV charging.

Microgrid Installations

Want to go further with electrification? A microgrid can make sense for customers ready to embrace this trend fully.

A microgrid is a system that generates, stores, and distributes electricity, making a home, business, or community fully independent from the grid. This model requires advanced energy management solutions, renewables integration, and electrical infrastructure upgrades.

Electrification and Your Business Model

What makes electrification jobs different? They’re typically bigger in scope and cost compared to regular electrical work. You’re also dealing with customers who aren’t just fixing or improving their electrical infrastructure. They’re investing in electrification to cut costs and build a sustainable lifestyle.

Your business model needs to evolve to reflect these differences and fully take advantage of the many opportunities the electrification market offers:

• Consider investing in certification and training to build trust and offer the best quality possible when working on electrification projects. The EVITP certification for EV charging installation is a great place to start.
• Many of your customers might not be aware of electrification technologies or have limited knowledge. Offer your expert advice to guide them toward the right electrification products.
• Home and building energy audits are in high demand. If you can offer this service, you can turn audits into the starting point of a customized electrification plan.
• The way you present yourself matters. As an electrification expert, you can brand yourself as a partner here to optimize energy usage, cut costs, and help meet sustainability goals.
• A value-added business model makes a lot of sense in the electrification market, starting with maintenance plans for electrification solutions.
• Your average customer lifetime value will likely increase once you start taking on larger electrification jobs. Take advantage of this by actively nurturing your customer relationships and suggesting further electrification upgrades.

Powering Your Electrification Business with Raiven

Raiven is a leading digital supply chain network on a mission to improve buying for the trades. Joining our network offers several key advantages for electrical contractors interested in electrification.

Raiven’s Electrification Store

Thanks to Raiven’s Electrification Store, you can buy all the electrification tools and equipment via a convenient platform and access exclusive discounts.

Raiven’s White-Label EV Charger Store

What if your customers could buy EV chargers through you? With Raiven’s White-Label EV Charger Store, you can add shopping options for EV chargers to your existing website.

In addition to offering an optimized customer experience, you keep 50% of the sales profits, and Raiven fulfills the orders on your behalf.

More About Joining Raiven