About Us

The history of a firm tells volumes about it’s character. We invite you to explore our background.

We firmly believe the overall factor in our success is simple:

Our people make the difference.

Every effort is made to attract and retain honest, hard-working, quality employees.

WORK WITH US!

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Family Owned Business Since 1946

Triangle Electric, Inc., is a family-owned business started in 1946 by Harold Hoffelt, Oscar Stenehjem, and Selmer Johnson.

Electricity service was expanding and rural electrification to western North Dakota and eastern Montana was a big part of our early business. Appliance sales and service were also included. The company name was selected from a pool of contest entries that responded to an ad in the Williston Herald in 1947.

When the oil and gas exploration began in North Dakota in the early 1950s, Triangle Electric was well established and participated in the first major oil boom in the Williston Basin. Commercial and residential construction projects were at an all-time high, and these structures still serve our community. Ellsworth Larson held the master’s license under which Triangle operated for 35 years.

In 1963, Dennis Hoffelt returned from UND with a degree in business management and joined his father, Harold, as a partner with the firm. Dennis served as general manager from 1963-1996. Glen Heller was Triangle Electric’s oil and gas general foreman during the oil boom of the late ’70s and early ’80s. In 1978, Donn Hoffelt, an electrical engineer, joined his father and brother in the partnership. Following Herald’s retirement in 1980 and Dennis’s retirement in 1996, Donn became sole proprietor and currently serves as company president. Under Donn’s management, Triangle Electric has grown from approximately 50 employees in 2008 to approximately 300 electricians and support staff in 2013.

For the last decade, all oil and gas crews were managed by Ron Ihmels, who has 40 years of experience in the electrical industry as both a master electrician and an electrical inspector with the state of North Dakota. In his final years with Triangle Electric, Ron not only handled a large workload but also acted as a mentor for many, up-and-coming project managers. Our project management is performed by seasoned individuals who have years of oil and gas industrial electrical construction experience.