Barnum & Celillo Electric reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
This electrical contractor isn't worth the risk. One customer detailed a four-month billing dispute where the company couldn't produce a work order for invoiced work, then threatened collections without ever clarifying what the charges were for. Project management scores are the strongest area (4 positive mentions), with reviewers highlighting on-time completion and reliable scheduling for commercial builds. But sales conduct and post-sale support both fell below neutral, with 2 negative mentions each. We found workmanship complaints about rude technicians alongside warnings about disorganized billing practices. One commercial client who paid over $10,000 across two years abandoned the relationship entirely, advising future customers to require signed work orders before paying any invoice. The positive reviews skew heavily toward decade-old testimonials from long-term commercial partners, not recent residential solar customers navigating permit delays or warranty issues.
If you need an electrical contractor who can document their work and respond to billing questions within four months, look elsewhere. The project management competence doesn't offset the operational chaos.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Chris encountered a service visit that fell flat: the company provided poor service and came across as unprofessional. He dealt with a technician who was very rude, which soured the whole interaction. After that experience he would not recommend them for any type of work. His takeaway: the attitude and conduct of the crew made the visit unacceptable.
Jeff R. has worked alongside BCE for more than 20 years and watched the company build a reputation on consistent quality and service. When he needed a new facility in 2004, he knew to call them; Fred and his team designed, installed and have continued to service the building’s electrical systems ever since. They handled everything from routine maintenance to wiring a plasma cutter and managing expansions, repeatedly getting work designed, permitted and completed on budget and on schedule. After two decades of that reliability, BCE sits at the top of his very short list of contractors he’s comfortable recommending.
K A. hired BCE for electrical work during 2012–2013, paying more than $10,000, and ended up tangled in a billing dispute that soured the relationship. BCE emailed an invoice on September 10, 2013; nine days later K A. replied that the billed work hadn’t been approved and that the invoice didn’t make clear what it covered, so they refused to pay. More than four months elapsed before BCE replied — this time threatening collections but still unable to identify the billed work or produce a work order. Frustrated by the company’s poor communication and apparent disorganization, K A. walked away from BCE after this second major problem and started looking for other, more reliable electrical contractors. The one bright spot in the experience came from estimator Kevin Brown, who stepped in to sort out issues with Ivan and Emerleen; that intervention is the only reason K A. left a two‑star rating rather than one. The practical takeaway K A. presses on future customers: insist on a signed bid or work order and a signed completion verification before paying, don’t reuse old email threads for new work, and require email‑only communication so you have written proof of everything.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 68
Clean Record
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 13 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
BBB Rating
Not BBB rated.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Contractor License
License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
K A. hired BCE for electrical work during 2012–2013, paying more than $10,000, and ended up tangled in a billing dispute that soured the relationship. BCE emailed an invoice on September 10, 2013; nine days later K A. replied that the billed work hadn’t been approved and that the invoice didn’t make clear what it covered, so they refused to pay. More than four months elapsed before BCE replied — this time threatening collections but still unable to identify the billed work or produce a work order. Frustrated by the company’s poor communication and apparent disorganization, K A. walked away from BCE after this second major problem and started looking for other, more reliable electrical contractors. The one bright spot in the experience came from estimator Kevin Brown, who stepped in to sort out issues with Ivan and Emerleen; that intervention is the only reason K A. left a two‑star rating rather than one. The practical takeaway K A. presses on future customers: insist on a signed bid or work order and a signed completion verification before paying, don’t reuse old email threads for new work, and require email‑only communication so you have written proof of everything.
Riko Pererra left a stark, one-star critique of this solar company, encapsulating the experience in a single, all-caps word: "UNPROFESSIONAL!" They offered no timeline, no project details, and no follow-up comments—just that blunt label and the 1-star rating. The standout fact for prospective buyers is how terse and negative the feedback is: the entire review is the one-word charge "UNPROFESSIONAL!" paired with a one-star score.