Redding, CaliforniaCSLB 390480 · A · B · C-10info@calelectroinc.com
Cal Electro, Inc.

Standby plants, transformers, and the switchgear that carries them.

Standby and prime generation, 80kW to 6.25MW

Capability

Cal Electro installs and replaces generation from a single standby set at a library to a complete standby power plant on a military ocean terminal. The largest contract Cal Electro has completed is generation work: the South Lake Tahoe wastewater plant generator replacement at $6,136,535. The O’Neill Pumping Plant transformer rehabilitation, at $5,358,818.79, is the second.

Scope has run from an 80kW standby generator to a 6.25MW generation plant, with switchgear, load banks, automatic transfer switches, fuel tanks and transfer pumps, ductbanks and medium voltage cable, 12kV underground distribution, re-conductor work and ground mount photovoltaic. Standby generation paired with photovoltaic, switchgear and an automatic transfer switch is the beginning of a microgrid, and the Anderson Library and MOTCO Wharf 2 plants are both built that way.

Generator pads, fuel systems, duct bank and terminations are self-performed, with mechanical and piping crews on the same contract as the electrical.

Live facilities
Generator replacements delivered on operating treatment plants and pumping stations without interrupting service.
Coordinated outages
Transformer and switchgear work planned against the owner’s outage calendar.
Why we self-perform
25Projects published in full
$6,136,535Largest published contract

The record

Every power generation & distribution contract published in full, newest first.

Open a title for the write-up, the photographs and the contract detail.

Power Generation & Distribution: 25 contracts, newest first, with owner, year and published contract amount.
ProjectOwnerYearContract
City of Anderson2026 · upcoming$247,311.69

Cal Electro is furnishing and installing an 80kW standby generator and its associated infrastructure at the Anderson Library, on a project that also adds a ground-mount photovoltaic system.

Cal Electro was awarded Anderson Library Solar & Standby Generator for City of Anderson in California, 2026, a $247,311.69 contract.

USACE2026 · upcoming$846,510

Working to USACE requirements, Cal Electro is pulling roughly 15,000 feet of cable, installing conduit and stub-ups, and setting the electrical switchgear for the generation plant.

  • Secure site

Cal Electro was awarded MOTCO ERCIP 6.25MW Generation Plant for USACE in Concord, California, 2026, a $846,510 contract.

SLDMWA2023 · ongoing$5,358,818.79
A single-phase power transformer suspended from crane rigging above a substation yard, dry hills behind
A single-phase power transformer suspended from crane rigging above a substation yard, dry hills behindA transformer lowered towards a concrete pad while a worker in a hard hat and high-visibility vest guides itA transformer radiator assembly hanging in slings from a crane boom against a clear blue skyA wide view of a pumping plant with a mobile crane rigged beside the switchyard and a crew working at the baseA mobile crane with its boom raised beside the tall brick wall of a pumping plantA crane boom extended overhead above a trailer carrying an oversize load placardA crane lifting a steel assembly from a flatbed trailer beside a substation structureA substation structure carrying insulators and bus, with a tractor unit parked in the foregroundWorkers in hard hats and high-visibility vests standing at a table beside the transformer padA mobile crane and trailers parked on an access road at sunset

Cal Electro rehabilitated four single-phase main transformers at the O'Neill Pumping-Generating Plant, three in service and one spare, refilling them with synthetic ester fluid and replacing bushings and other critical components. The work was sequenced around coordinated outages, with the plans and testing that required.

  • Electrical
  • Mechanical
  • Outage coordination
  • Live facility

Cal Electro is delivering O'Neill Pumping Plant Power Transformer Rehabilitation for SLDMWA in Merced County, California, 2023, a $5,358,818.79 contract.

USACE2022$4,890,000
A worker standing on a large tied reinforcing steel mat inside timber formwork
A worker standing on a large tied reinforcing steel mat inside timber formworkMultiple parallel grey conduits laid in a long open trench across a graded siteA flatbed trailer loaded with metal-clad electrical equipment parked on an open apronA crane lowering a long grey walk-in electrical enclosure onto a new concrete padA crane lifting a large radiator-fronted generator set above a completed concrete padA crane lowering a horizontal cylindrical fuel tank beside new electrical equipmentA finished standby power plant with equipment enclosures behind yellow bollards and a security fenceA completed standby power installation on a paved pad, enclosed by a chain link fence with hills behind

Cal Electro designed and built a complete standby power plant to power the MOTCO pier, comprising fuel tanks, transfer pumps, switchgear, a load bank, automatic transfer switch, transformer and the associated electrical and mechanical equipment. Civil work covered site preparation, concrete pads, electrical grounding, site lighting, fencing and bollards, and the required demolition.

  • Electrical
  • Civil
  • Mechanical
  • Secure site

Cal Electro delivered MOTCO Wharf 2 Standby Power Plant for USACE in Concord, California in 2022, a $4,890,000 contract.

City of Oakland2020$421,429.31
A marked saw-cut line crossing a paved lot toward a fence, stacked shipping containers and ship-to-shore cranes beyond
A marked saw-cut line crossing a paved lot toward a fence, stacked shipping containers and ship-to-shore cranes beyondWork trucks, a trailer and a concrete saw on a paved lot marked out with orange delineatorsA core drill bit against a concrete wall with three round cored holes and scanned rebar lines marked in ink

Cal Electro installed 1000 kcmil medium-voltage cable to a new pad and into a four-way switch and manhole.

  • 12kV

Cal Electro delivered Port of Oakland Seaport 12kV Service Connection for City of Oakland in California in 2020, a $421,429.31 contract.

Diablo Valley College2019

Cal Electro delivered Diablo Valley College Replacement of Main Electrical Switchgear in 2019.

City of South Lake Tahoe2019$6,136,535
Timber formwork and reinforcing set on a concrete pad at a treatment plant, with snow-capped mountains behind
Timber formwork and reinforcing set on a concrete pad at a treatment plant, with snow-capped mountains behindA crew working around two large precast concrete vaults inside a taped-off work areaA rectangular precast concrete vault sitting in an open excavation with spoil piled alongsideLarge blue ductile iron pipes and fittings joined together in an open excavationA boom truck with its boom stowed parked on a plant road among tall pine trees

Cal Electro replaced the treatment plant's emergency generator, beginning with demolition of the existing generator, breakpoint chamber, engine-driven pump motor, main electrical switchgear, and miscellaneous piping and duct banks. The replacement went into a new building, with new electrical switchgear, piping and a fuel tank. Site work regraded several areas to improve drainage, relocated existing utility piping and installed new electrical duct banks.

  • Electrical
  • Civil
  • Mechanical
  • Live facility

Cal Electro delivered Wastewater Treatment Plant Emergency Generator Replacement, South Lake Tahoe for City of South Lake Tahoe in California in 2019, a $6,136,535 contract.

CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife2018$598,000
A wooden distribution pole carrying crossarms, insulators and conductor, with hatchery buildings below
A wooden distribution pole carrying crossarms, insulators and conductor, with hatchery buildings belowA worker at a grey padmount electrical enclosure on a concrete pad, with mountains in the distanceA line truck with its boom raised to a wooden distribution pole in open sagebrush countryThe empty interior of a metal switchgear enclosure showing copper bus bars and mounting railsA wooden pole carrying a bank of distribution transformers and cutouts against a cloudy skyA worker in fall protection reaching along a new wooden crossarm fitted with insulatorsA wooden pole carrying a transformer and riser conduit, seen from below against a blue sky

Cal Electro repaired and replaced material, cross arms and hardware on deteriorating wood poles, and replaced the overhead transformers along with roughly 2,300 feet of overhead conductor and the underground 12kV.

  • 12kV

Cal Electro delivered Overhead Electrical System Replacement & Upgrade, Fish Springs Hatchery for CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife in California in 2018, a $598,000 contract.

City of Gridley2016$162,859.41
A standby generator installed inside a masonry enclosure with louvred doors open to the front
A standby generator installed inside a masonry enclosure with louvred doors open to the frontA generator set and a packaged unit standing on a paved area beside a building, cones set around themTwo workers laying concrete block for a low enclosure wall beside a mixer and a stack of block

Cal Electro installed a new generator with two disconnects feeding two new automatic transfer switches, and cut the switches into the existing services during a short outage.

Cal Electro delivered City of Gridley City Hall Generator in California in 2016, a $162,859.41 contract.

Siskiyou Power Authority2014$376,542.07
The open interior of a control panel showing rows of numbered terminal blocks and bundled field wiring
The open interior of a control panel showing rows of numbered terminal blocks and bundled field wiringAn open control cabinet with dense wire bundles, labelled control switches and a digital multimeter hanging at the rightA row of grey control cabinets standing open inside a powerhouse, their interiors exposedA red switchgear unit on a wooden pallet with copper bushings across its faceA view from above of a hydroelectric powerhouse floor with large blue penstock pipes running to turbine casingsThe curved concrete face of a dam in a rock canyon with a steep incline railway running down beside it

Cal Electro delivered Box Canyon Hydroelectric PLC Control & Relay Upgrade Project for Siskiyou Power Authority in 2014, a $376,542.07 contract.

2014

Cal Electro delivered Electrical Underground Rebuild and Re-Conductor Project in 2014.

2012

Cal Electro delivered 12kv Underground Distribution System Cable Replacement in 2012.

2012

Cal Electro delivered Hewlett Subdivision 12kv Upgrade in 2012.

2011

Cal Electro delivered Alternate Intake Project, 69kv Transmission Line in 2011.

Bellevue Union School District2011

Cal Electro delivered Bellvue Unified School District Solar for Bellevue Union School District in 2011.

2010

Cal Electro delivered Big O Tires Rooftop Array in 2010.

2010

Cal Electro delivered Wild Horse Ranch, Platina, CA in California in 2010.

Butte College2009

Cal Electro delivered Butte College Solar Project in 2009.

Milpitas USD2008

Cal Electro delivered Milpitas Unified School District Solar Project for Milpitas USD in California in 2008.

2003

Cal Electro delivered Alameda County Fairgrounds Photovoltaic in California in 2003.

El Dorado Irrigation District2002$690,000
A small concrete powerhouse beside a river with an outdoor switch structure behind it
A small concrete powerhouse beside a river with an outdoor switch structure behind itScaffolding and staging against the concrete wall of a powerhouse in a steep river canyonAerial view of a powerhouse surrounded by brown floodwater, captioned EID Power House The Flood 1975

Cal Electro installed flood protection at the power house: removing windows, placing and grout-injecting concrete walls, demolishing existing equipment and walls, fitting water-tight doors, and carrying out erosion control outside the building.

Cal Electro delivered EID Power House for El Dorado Irrigation District in 2002, a $690,000 contract.

2002

Cal Electro delivered Seaside Park Photovoltaic in 2002.

City of Redding2001

Cal Electro delivered City of Redding Generator in California in 2001.

DWR2001$1,600,000

Cal Electro installed the crane controls at the Oroville power house for the Department of Water Resources.

Cal Electro delivered Oroville Power House for DWR in California in 2001, a $1,600,000 contract.

City of Redding1994$1,307,000
A row of green turbine enclosures with tall exhaust stacks at a peaking power plant
A row of green turbine enclosures with tall exhaust stacks at a peaking power plantRoof-level view across green turbine enclosures and stainless exhaust stacks with access platforms

Cal Electro installed the phase two electrical for Zurn Nepco at the Redding Peaking Power Plant: finish grading, foundations, the control building, pipe supports, medium voltage cable, control cables, underground duct bank, buss duct and switchgear. The scope ran through to testing and commissioning of the three 20-megawatt generators.

  • Electrical
  • Civil

Cal Electro delivered City of Redding Peaking Power Plant in California in 1994, a $1,307,000 contract.

Bids

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Invite us to bid

Plans and addenda go to info@calelectroinc.com, or call (530) 223-5937.

Next capability

1.4  Caltrans