Author: Jeff Golden
May 9, 2025 - 7 MIN. READ
Key takeaways:
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 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).
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.
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 solutions for commercial building electrification projects, such as occupancy sensors or access control solutions, are also worth considering.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
Thanks to Raiven’s Electrification Store, you can buy all the electrification tools and equipment via a convenient platform and access exclusive discounts.
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.