B&B Electric Turns Behind-the-Scenes Work into Lasting Energy Savings
2026 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award
Energy Savings Before the Lights Turn On
Wisconsin businesses working with the Eau Claire-based contractor have saved $2.5 million in energy costs. Before a business opens its doors, someone has to make sure the systems behind its walls and above its ceilings are going to work properly. At B&B Electric in Eau Claire, that responsibility starts with detailed plans, skilled hands and an understanding of what each customer needs. The results reach well beyond the wiring. Through its work with FOCUS ON ENERGY®, B&B Electric helps Wisconsin businesses use less energy, control operating costs and invest in equipment that performs better.
“Our work as an electrical contractor has always been about more than wires, panels, and systems,” said Eric Fanetti, B&B Electric’s CEO.
That commitment earned the company a 2026 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award, recognizing years of helping customers turn energy-saving opportunities into completed projects.
Helping Customers Move from Plans to Progress
B&B Electric started with just two people in 1984, growing into a regional contractor with more than 400 electricians serving Wisconsin and Minnesota. Customers span commercial, industrial, agricultural and residential settings, each with different demands on their buildings and equipment.
As a Focus on Energy Trade Ally, B&B Electric brings energy efficiency into the conversations about those needs, helping customers assess opportunities, define projects, select equipment and coordinate incentives through installation. That support matters when an upgrade involves more than choosing a replacement. Customers need to understand how a project fits their operations, what it will cost and how available incentives can help make the investment possible. The work includes LED lighting, drives and controls, heating and cooling improvements, and other electrical upgrades. Each project offers a chance to reduce energy waste while improving how a facility operates.
Savings That Continue After Installation
Projects completed over the past seven years helped Wisconsin businesses avoid $2.5 million in annual energy costs. B&B Electric customers also received incentives totaling $1.2 million to support their investments. Those figures reflect two distinct benefits: financial support that helps customers complete projects, and lower operating costs that continue after the equipment is installed. For a business managing competing priorities, both can make energy efficiency a practical investment.
“Your work shows how contractors can lead by example, help customers save energy, reduce costs, and make smart long-term investments,” said Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Commissioner Marcus Hawkins.
The People Behind the Progress
For Fanetti, the recognition belongs to the people doing the work every day.
“To our electricians, our project managers, our designers, the complete support staff, they are truly the heart of our organization,” he said.
The company’s emphasis on employee development and safety training supports that work, alongside a commitment to dependable service and lasting customer relationships. Their contribution begins long before a customer flips a switch. It takes shape in project plans, careful installation, and relationships ensuring customers are confident about their next investment.
Work behind walls and above ceilings and below the ground has value you can’t see. And that’s OK with B & B Electric. The value this Trade Ally provides with the hidden work reaches the people who depend on those buildings every day and the Wisconsin communities those businesses call home.
