Key Stats
Founded: 1957 (as The Electric Corporation of San Francisco)
Headquarters: Irving, Texas, USA
Ownership: Private (Colburn Family)
Employees: Approximately 7,500
Locations: Over 700 nationwide
Estimated Revenue: $5.5 billion (2024)
Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc. (CED) is one of the largest privately held electrical distributors in the United States. The company operates a decentralized network of over 700 independently managed locations across the country, supplying electrical products and services to the residential construction, commercial and industrial construction, manufacturing, and solar energy markets.
Founded in 1957 as The Electric Corporation of San Francisco with just two locations, CED rebranded under its current name in 1964 when the Colburn family assumed ownership. The company has grown through a sustained strategy of acquiring independent electrical distributors while allowing them to retain their local names, management teams, and customer relationships. This approach—operating as what CED calls “profit centers” rather than branch offices—distinguishes the company from competitors that integrate acquisitions under a single corporate brand.
CED’s product offerings span the full range of electrical distribution: load centers, circuit breakers, switchgear, transformers, wiring devices, lighting, power systems, home automation tools, and solar energy equipment. The company serves electrical contractors, industrial facilities, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and residential builders. As of 2025, CED ranks as the third-largest electrical distributor in the United States behind WESCO International and Sonepar USA, with an estimated market share of approximately 3.2% of the U.S. electrical equipment wholesaling market.
CED History
1957
Company Founded
Richard Worthy establishes The Electric Corporation of San Francisco with two locations in California. The company traces additional heritage to Incandescent Supply, an electrical distributor founded in 1913.
1964
Colburn Family Takes Control
Richard D. Colburn leads the rebranding to Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED). The Colburn family implements a decentralized business model emphasizing local autonomy and begins a strategy of acquiring distributors while retaining their local management.
1990s
National Expansion
CED expands beyond California through acquisitions across the United States, including the purchase of Canadian distributor Guillevin International. The company establishes its decentralized “profit center” operating model.
1999
All-Phase Electric Supply Acquired
CED acquires All-Phase Electric Supply, adding to its growing national network while maintaining its strategy of preserving acquired companies’ local identities and management teams.
2004
Leadership Transition
Richard D. Colburn, the family patriarch who led CED’s transformation from a regional distributor to a national network, passes away. His son Keith W. Colburn continues to lead the company.
2010s
CED Greentech Launched
CED establishes its Greentech division to focus on the growing solar and renewable energy sector. The company expands to over 500 locations and headquarters relocates to Irving, Texas.
2019-2024
Accelerated Acquisition Activity
CED accelerates its M&A strategy with multiple acquisitions: Frost Electric Supply, Nu-Lite Electrical Wholesalers, and Sun Valley Electric (2019); Wildcat Electric Supply (2021); Amperage Electrical Supply (2022); and Parrish-Hare Electrical Supply (2024). The company surpasses 700 locations.
Ownership & Leadership
CED has been privately owned by the Colburn family since 1964, making it one of the largest family-controlled electrical distributors in North America.
Richard D. Colburn (1925-2004)
The Colburn family patriarch acquired control of the company in 1964 and rebranded it as Consolidated Electrical Distributors. Richard D. Colburn built his fortune through business acquisitions, particularly in the construction industry. He established the decentralized operating philosophy that became CED’s defining characteristic—allowing acquired distributors to retain their local names, management, and customer relationships while benefiting from CED’s financial resources and purchasing power. Colburn was also a noted arts benefactor in Los Angeles. The Colburn family’s net worth was estimated at $1.3 billion by Forbes in 2014, ranking them among the 200 wealthiest American families.
Keith W. Colburn
Keith Colburn, son of Richard D. Colburn, has led the company following his father’s death in 2004. Under his leadership, CED has continued its growth-through-acquisition strategy while maintaining the family’s preference for operating privately and out of the spotlight. The Colburn family also owns other distribution companies through its holding company structure. Keith Colburn and his brother Richard W. Colburn are involved in various business and philanthropic activities through vehicles including the Negaunee Foundation. As of 2025, Kurt Lasher serves as President and CEO of CED’s day-to-day operations, though the Colburn family retains ownership.
Acquisitions & Growth Strategy
CED’s growth has been driven primarily by acquisitions of independent electrical distributors. Unlike competitors who rebrand acquired companies, CED typically allows acquisitions to continue operating under their original names with local management intact.
The company has been among the most active acquirers in the electrical distribution industry, alongside WESCO, Sonepar, Graybar, and Rexel. Industry publications have counted CED among the distributors that together have made over 165 acquisitions in the United States over the past 25 years. Recent acquisitions include:
- Parrish-Hare Electrical Supply (2024) – Texas-based distributor with four locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, expanding CED’s presence in data center and high-growth sectors
- Bayou Electric (2024) – Louisiana-based single-location distributor
- Amperage Electrical Supply (2022) – Houston, Texas market expansion
- Wildcat Electric Supply (2021) – Chicago market expansion
- Frost Electric Supply, Nu-Lite Electrical Wholesalers, Sun Valley Electric (2019) – Multiple acquisitions expanding geographic footprint
CED also operates U.S. Electrical Services (USESI) as a subsidiary, which has made its own acquisitions including Askco Electric Supply (New York) and Desert Electric Supply (California) in 2024.
CED Network Growth
CED has grown from two locations in 1957 to over 700 independently managed profit centers across the United States.
CED Competitors
CED competes with other national and regional electrical distributors in a highly fragmented industry. The top 10 distributors account for approximately 52% of the U.S. electrical distribution market.
| Company | Headquarters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WESCO International | Pittsburgh, PA | #1 electrical distributor (includes Anixter) |
| Sonepar USA | North Charleston, SC | #2 electrical distributor (French-owned) |
| Graybar Electric | St. Louis, MO | Employee-owned, $11.6B revenue (2024) |
| Rexel USA | Dallas, TX | $8.8B North American revenue (2024) |
| Border States Electric | Fargo, ND | Employee-owned, strong in Upper Midwest |
| City Electric Supply | Dallas, TX | Aggressive branch expansion (180+ new since 2018) |
| Elliott Electric Supply | Nacogdoches, TX | $2.1B revenue, Texas-focused |
| McNaughton-McKay | Madison Heights, MI | Rockwell Automation specialist |
| Crescent Electric Supply | East Dubuque, IL | Midwest-focused regional |
| U.S. Electrical Services | Middletown, CT | CED subsidiary |
FAQs
Is CED a public company?
No. Consolidated Electrical Distributors is privately held by the Colburn family. The company does not file public financial statements and does not disclose detailed ownership percentages. This private structure has allowed CED to pursue its long-term acquisition strategy without pressure from public shareholders.
How many locations does CED have?
CED operates over 700 independently managed locations (which it calls “profit centers”) across the United States. Each location has significant autonomy to make local decisions about products, services, and customer relationships, distinguishing CED’s operating model from more centralized competitors.
What does CED sell?
CED distributes electrical products and services for residential, commercial, industrial, and solar applications. Product categories include: wiring devices, load centers, circuit breakers, safety switches, switchgear, transformers, lighting, power distribution equipment, home automation systems, and solar/renewable energy equipment. The company serves electrical contractors, industrial facilities, OEMs, and residential builders.
Who owns CED?
CED is owned by the Colburn family, which has controlled the company since 1964 when Richard D. Colburn led its rebranding from The Electric Corporation of San Francisco. Keith W. Colburn, Richard’s son, has continued the family’s leadership following his father’s death in 2004. Kurt Lasher serves as President and CEO handling day-to-day operations.
How big is CED compared to competitors?
CED ranks as the third-largest electrical distributor in the United States by most industry rankings, behind WESCO International and Sonepar USA. Forbes estimated CED’s revenue at $5.5 billion in 2024, with approximately 7,500 employees. The company has an estimated 3.2% share of the U.S. electrical equipment wholesaling market.
