Onni-Rye buys Pacific Industrial Electric to expand data center power work

Onni-Rye Holdings has acquired Pacific Industrial Electric, adding more than 50 years of medium- and high-voltage expertise to its electrical contracting platform. The deal is aimed at larger infrastructure projects, especially data centers, where faster and more reliable power delivery is increasingly critical.

Why it matters: - Onni-Rye Holdings is expanding its ability to handle complex electrical infrastructure projects as demand rises for power systems that can support data centers. - Pacific Industrial Electric adds specialized medium- and high-voltage expertise, plus equipment and emergency response capabilities, to a portfolio that already includes Rye Electric and Oilfield Electric. - The acquisition strengthens Onni-Rye’s position in a market where speed, reliability and technical depth are becoming more important for industrial and data center customers.

What happened: - Onni-Rye Holdings acquired Pacific Industrial Electric Company, Inc., a California-based specialty electrical contractor. - The acquisition was announced November 10, 2026. - Pacific Industrial Electric joins Rye Electric and Oilfield Electric in the Onni-Rye portfolio. - The transaction terms were not disclosed.

The details: - Pacific Industrial Electric has been operating for more than 53 years. - The company serves industrial, commercial and public-sector customers primarily in California and Arizona. - Pacific Industrial Electric focuses on medium-voltage distribution systems, substations, electrical construction, design-build, testing, maintenance and emergency response. - The company also provides electrical equipment rental. - Pacific Industrial Electric uses a union workforce, in-house engineering expertise and specialized equipment to complete technically demanding projects. - The company owns electrical equipment including transformers and substations, which supports rapid deployment and emergency response. - John Martin and Chris Michalski will continue to lead the business. - Dave Richards, managing partner and M&A advisor at Keystone Business Advisors, served as exclusive sell-side advisor to Pacific Industrial Electric.

Between the lines: - The deal reflects continued investment in specialized electrical contractors as power infrastructure demand rises alongside data center development. - Onni-Rye is pairing Pacific Industrial Electric’s technical capabilities with Onni Capital’s financial and operational resources to pursue larger projects. - The company’s own leadership framed the acquisition as a way to preserve Pacific Industrial Electric’s culture and customer service while expanding its reach. - Data centers are driving demand for more sophisticated medium-voltage systems, making contractors with substation and emergency-response capabilities more valuable.

What's next: - Onni-Rye plans to use Pacific Industrial Electric’s capabilities to pursue larger and more complex infrastructure work. - The company expects the combined platform to support faster data center development and broader power delivery projects. - Pacific Industrial Electric’s leadership says the partnership should create opportunities for employees and support long-term growth. - Onni-Rye says its focus is on giving Pacific Industrial Electric’s team more resources while keeping its safety and technical standards in place.

The bottom line: - The acquisition gives Onni-Rye a deeper bench in specialized electrical contracting just as data center and power infrastructure demand accelerates.