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Casey Electric Sales, Rexel USA: The Immense Task of Electrifying the Country

We asked Rob Domlewski, Vice President of Operations for Casey Electric Sales Inc. and Jeffrey Parker, a Branch Manager for Rexel USA a series of questions about what electrification means to them, their thoughts on electrification opportunities, and the commitment it will take to electrify the country.

Q: Do you understand the massive amount of commitment it will take to re-electrify this country, and are you taking pride in the work you are doing every day?

Domlewski: “I do not believe anyone truly understands just how much work needs to be done to properly re-electrify this country; we tend to forget just how big the U.S. really is. While some states are being very proactive in their re-construction, some are lacking funds or proper resources to make the necessary change. I am proud of what I do each day; I am very happy to be a part of a generation where renewable energy is a major focus, as it will create a path for the new generation of talent to take it one step further and help advance the technology we have available today.”

Parker: “It can feel insurmountable and a large spend in terms of what our state and federal government will need to commit to, however the reality is we have a responsibility to future generations to truly fix the country’s electrical grid. Electricity increasingly is becoming more and more a critical part of our lives. With EV demands, and our goal of full adoption, we’ll need to lean on additional resources and measures like Solar, and wind to offset our demand.”

Q: What are your thoughts on electrification opportunities right now?

Domlewski: “Electrification has many opportunities in the various sectors of our industry; in my opinion the key opportunities involve transportation (EV’s, green energy, and energy storage). These opportunities have massive potential to create a more sustainable and resilient energy system, and drive economic growth.”

Parker: “Electrification opportunities right now are incredibly promising. For my branch specifically, some form of green energy makes up 75% of our sales. We’re seeing significant advancements in renewable energy technologies, such as EV, solar and wind power, which are becoming more efficient and cost-effective. Electric vehicles are gaining traction, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and lowering emissions. Additionally, smart grids and battery storage solutions are enhancing the reliability and efficiency of our power systems.”

Q: What do you see are the future opportunities?

Domlewski: “Continuing the development and adoption of electric vehicles and the charging infrastructure, energy storage, renewable energy solutions are all current, and future opportunities for years to come. The transition to renewable-powered and energy-efficient data centers are another example of future opportunities, especially due to the growing demand for cloud services and data storage.”

Parker: “In our short term future we’re seeing breakthroughs in battery technology, like solid-state batteries, which promise to make energy storage more efficient and reliable. Smart grids are becoming smarter, helping us better manage electricity supply and demand while integrating renewable energy sources more seamlessly. Electric vehicles are on the rise, thanks to improved charging infrastructure and battery tech which I feel is giving customers more faith in adoption.

We’re also getting better at incorporating solar, wind, and other renewables into our offering, so we can train our teams to have the right conversation and ask the end users what other measures are you considering, or maybe haven’t thought of yet.

Lastly, would be more controllability. We’re moving into a world this year where all your lighting will be controlled by one app on your phone for much more impressive energy savings whether you’re home or not.”

Q: Why is electrification important to you?

Domlewski: “Electrification is a critical factor in economic development and quality of life improvement in rural and underdeveloped regions. By bringing electricity to these areas can enhance education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. It is a key component of modern infrastructure development and climate change mitigation strategies. Electrification can also pertain to the context of transportation, adoption of electric power for various vehicles, and development of infrastructure like charging stations. Lastly, electrification also includes the integration of renewable energy sources (wind, solar, and even hydroelectric power) into the electrical grid, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.”

Parker: “I’m 35 now, so this is all I do and all I know. I started at 17 as a co-op student and was immediately drawn to the idea that we’re savin”g the world through better technology.”

Q: How are you working with your company and partners to continue this success?

Domlewski: “At Casey Electric Sales, we take pride in partnering with the best electrical manufacturers in the world; often times whose mission is to drive green energy and seek green certifications; whether this is during their manufacturing process, the material they use in their products or how raw materials are procured.”

Parker: “By constantly enforcing education, and training for my team we can stay on the cutting edge of what’s coming down the pipeline; and, most importantly, having honest and transparent conversations with our customers about the trends they’re seeing, or the ask from their customers.”

Q: Does work on electrification projects make you proud of what you do every day?

Domlewski: “Absolutely. The environmental impact, innovation, and progress, improving quality of life, as well as the economic impact are all examples of what makes the current times great, and it brings speculation of what the future holds.”

Parker: “Absolutely. The EV portion alone of what we do makes me extremely happy. You feel like culturally, and in our community, you’re doing some real good.”

Q: Do you believe electrification can be a recruiting tool for future workers in our supply chain?

Domlewski: “I strongly believe the world took a major swing at electrification about 5 years ago with the massive popularity of electric vehicles, and before that, the change to LED lighting. These are modern advancements in our industry and the new generation of the workforce is strongly involved in helping drive that forward. With green energy, renewable energy, energy storage, and overall technology surrounding electrification, I am confident that our industry will thrive for generations to come.”

Parker: “All of these new measures of electrification are guaranteeing that we’ll need to increase our workforce. With the right marketing and pitch of the importance of these roles, it will be the perfect fit for recruiters.”

Q: How do you think electrification will impact business over the next decade?

Domlewski: “Driven by the advancements in technology, increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions, and the push for modernization, I envision growth in the solar and wind power sector, as well as energy storage. Another factor that may come in to the play over the next decade is the introduction of A.I. in the management of energy efficiency, and automation.”

Parker: “As more things like smart homes, solar, and EV continue to determine how we work and operate, I believe the main impact will become a new conversation about a full smart grid update. Homes will become complete energy efficient dwellings, as well as all commercial spaces, allowing our industry to provide many more measures we never even considered, in order to fulfill these upcoming needs.”

Q: What kinds of work are you doing now as a result of electrification opportunities that maybe you would not have the opportunity to do a few years ago?

Domlewski: “There are far more data center, energy storage, solar farms, infrastructure, and other green energy-focused projects happening right now that were seldom just 10 years ago when I first started in the electrical industry.”

Parker: “Even with my background of working with Rexel Energy Solutions, we’ve come a long way from selling LED tubes and lamps through energy programs with utilities. Now, we’re in spaces providing every fixture with controls, giving our customers much larger savings on the product as well as their utility bill. With more adoption of EV and solar, these projects would have been a pipe dream even 5 years ago.”