By Michelle Mercure

The year 2020 changed the way we work almost overnight. Kitchens became conference rooms, spare bedrooms turned into offices, and the “commute” was measured in steps from bed to desk. Along with this shift came a surge in demand for services and products tailored to homebound life. Delivery companies expanded, home office equipment flew off the shelves — and, perhaps unexpectedly, electrical needs began to shift as well.

“So it’s very important to have electricity, you know, at all times. And we never know when the power’s going to go out,” said Rene A. Lachapelle Jr. owner of RALCO Electric, a local company preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary in July 2026. For decades, RALCO has served homes and businesses in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and the rise of re

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