It may only be October 2026, but if you are in construction, 2027 is already here.

Some of the conversations we are having today aren’t about projects starting next week or even next month. They are about projects that will mobilize well into 2027.

That is exactly how it should be.

After more than 20 years in the electrical construction industry, I have learned that some of the most successful projects are won or lost long before anyone ever steps onto the jobsite.

The planning matters.

The budgeting matters.

The design matters.

The procurement strategy matters.

And perhaps most importantly, who you bring into the conversation early matters.

Stop Waiting Until the Drawings Are Finished

There is still a tendency in construction to complete a design, issue documents, collect bids, award the project and then expect everyone to figure out the details afterward.

Sometimes that works.

Sometimes it creates expensive problems.

Electrical systems have become increasingly complex. Between utility requirements, emergency power, lighting controls, low voltage systems, EV infrastructure, automation, energy management and increasingly sophisticated equipment, electrical contractors can bring significant value to a project well before construction begins.

Getting your electrical contractor involved early allows questions to be answered while they are still relatively inexpensive questions.

Can this be built as designed?

Is there a more efficient way to accomplish the same objective?

Are there equipment availability concerns?

Are there opportunities for value engineering?

Does the budget match the design?

What decisions need to be made today to protect the construction schedule six or twelve months from now?

Those conversations are far easier to have in a conference room than in a job trailer after construction has already started.

A Good Budget Is More Than a Number

One of the biggest mistakes in preconstruction is treating budgeting as simply attaching a dollar amount to a set of drawings.

A useful electrical budget should help the project team make decisions.

As the design progresses, the electrical contractor can identify major cost drivers, evaluate alternate systems and materials, look for constructability issues and help determine where money can be saved without compromising the intent of the project.

That is where experienced contractors can provide tremendous value.

The goal shouldn’t simply be to produce the lowest number.

The goal should be to develop an accurate, buildable and realistic number that the owner and project team can rely on.

There is a big difference.

Procurement Has Become Part of Preconstruction

Construction teams also need to think about procurement much earlier than they once did.

Electrical equipment can represent a significant portion of a project’s critical path. Depending on the project and equipment involved, switchgear, transformers, generators, specialty lighting, controls and other components can require substantial coordination and lead time.

Waiting until the electrical subcontract is awarded to begin thinking about procurement can put the schedule at risk before work even begins.

That is why procurement needs to be discussed during preconstruction.

What equipment is critical?

When does it need to be released?

What approvals are required first?

Are there acceptable alternates?

Can portions of the electrical package be released early?

These aren’t purchasing questions anymore.

They are scheduling questions.

Manpower Doesn’t Appear Overnight

There is another resource that deserves just as much planning as equipment: people.

Qualified electricians are in demand.

When a project requires a significant workforce, contractors need time to recruit, train, schedule and allocate the right people.

You don’t build a great electrical team overnight.

At Tenax, we are continuing to invest in our workforce because we know the projects being discussed today will require talented people tomorrow.

That means recruiting.

It means apprenticeship.

It means training.

It means safety.

And it means developing leaders who can manage increasingly complicated projects in the field.

Owners and general contractors should be having manpower conversations with their trade partners early.

A contractor may be able to price your project today. That doesn’t automatically mean they will have the qualified workforce necessary to execute it six months from now.

The Schedule Starts Before Construction

Everyone talks about the construction schedule once a project starts.

The best teams start talking about it before the contract is signed.

Electrical work touches nearly every part of a commercial project. Underground infrastructure, utility coordination, temporary power, rough-in, equipment feeds, lighting, controls, life safety systems, inspections, startup and commissioning all have to integrate with the work of other trades.

That requires coordination.

And coordination requires time.

Bringing key trade partners into the conversation earlier allows the project team to identify potential conflicts, establish realistic durations and determine critical milestones before those milestones become emergencies.

Build Partnerships Before You Need Them

One of the biggest changes I have seen in construction is the increasing importance of relationships between general contractors and their trade partners.

The traditional model can become very transactional:

Send the plans.

Get three numbers.

Pick one.

Build the project.

But the best construction teams I’ve worked with don’t operate that way.

They build relationships with subcontractors they trust. They communicate early. They share information. They ask questions. They work through problems together.

That doesn’t eliminate competitive bidding or accountability.

It creates better information and better execution.

At Tenax Electrical, we don’t want to simply receive drawings when a project is ready to bid.

We want to be part of the conversation that helps make the project successful.

If a project is coming in 2027, let’s talk about it in 2026.

Let’s discuss the budget.

Let’s look at the design.

Let’s identify procurement risks.

Let’s talk about manpower.

Let’s build a realistic schedule.

Let’s solve problems while they are still inexpensive to solve.

2027 Starts Now

Tenax Electrical has experienced tremendous growth, and we are grateful for the general contractors, owners, developers, vendors, employees and industry partners who continue to put their trust in our team.

We’re adding people.

We’re adding projects.

We’re expanding our capabilities.

And we’re already working with partners on opportunities that will carry well into 2027.

There is a lot of work ahead of us, and we’re preparing for it now.

Because in this industry, the companies that wait until January to start planning for the new year are already behind.

2027 starts now.

And at Tenax Electrical, we’re ready to catch another gear.

David Yencarelli
President
Tenax Electrical Company

Safety. Respect. Professionalism.