History

Texeleco, Inc.

Texas Electric Company is a family owned company founded in June of 1964 by Walter Mueller and B.L. Turner. A few years later Turner left the company to pursue a career as an inspector for the City of Austin. Walter continued the business as sole proprietor hiring, among others, his sons Sid and Rod. Texas Electric has been providing quality electrical contracting services since our founding. It is our mission to provide a higher standard and quality to every job we do.

Working part-time through high school and college, Sid became a full time employee in 1973 and ten years later purchased Texas Electric when Walter retired. Rod graduated from TLU in Seguin, beginning his career in management in the service industry. After 14 years, Rod returned to the family business as co-owner. Continuing it’s expansion, Texas Electric welcomed Anne Phares as Regional Office Manager. After earning a degree in Human Resources Management from St. Edward’s, Anne joined her brothers to complete a family of skilled professionals.

Texas Electric Company has always specialized in custom residential and commercial electrical work providing quality, personalized service to our customers. With the growth of the digital network, the need to develop a staff experienced in more than just the basics has become imperative. Texas Electric encourages individual growth for our employees by providing continuing education through training classes and tuition assistance, thus ensuring knowledgeable up-to-date staff.

Audio Connections was a fourteen-year-old Austin company specializing in the design and installation of custom Home Entertainment Systems with high performance, high technology, intuitive ease of operation and beautiful appearance. Audio Connections is a charter member of the Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association (CEDIA), the national trade association of specialists in the design and installation of high-end home electronic systems. We subscribe to their ethics and business codes. In addition to CEDIA certifications, our Designers and Installers have factory training in a broad range of products and technologies, including ISF certification and Advanced THX certification from Lucasfilm.

Audio Connections has received many accolades for the quality of our staff and our work. Director of Sales & Concepts Steve Colburn is former Chairman of CEDIA’s Home theater Committee, Co-chair of their Home Entertainment Council and Editor of their Home Theater Manual. Sony certifies Audio Connections as one of about 200 of their premium Consumer Integrated Systems (CIS) custom installation centers.

In the spring of 2000, Texeleco Inc. formed a new division to serve the audio video needs of their electrical clients. Texas Integrated Systems has a staff of trained professionals who are skilled in design and installation of custom home theaters, phone systems and systems integration including lighting control. Growth came quickly.

One year later a strategic alliance with Audio Connections was made stronger with a merger into Texas Integrated Systems Audio Connections. The combination of the long-term customer base of both companies along with complementary instead of redundant strengths has allowed for exceptional growth in the market. Texeleco Inc. is the managing General Partner for Texas Electric and Texas Integrated Systems Audio Connections (TISAC).

Nationally there are less than 10 companies with combined high and low voltage installation crews. However this is up from just a few years ago. It is our belief that the high-end residential market is a stable, growing market. Even when there are economic slumps the high-end market simply reduces project scope instead of eliminating an entire project as is common in the commercial and standard residential markets.

Texeleco Inc. utilizes cutting edge technology developed by the industry leaders in their respective fields. Lighting/Dimming Control comes from Lutron, the largest manufacturer of dimmers world-wide. Our control system equipment is made by Crestron. Crestron enjoys a 50+ market share nationally in the home control market. We also install Panasonic Digital phones, home networking, air conditioning control, landscape lighting control, gate interfaces and security interaction. Currently high voltage electrical represents approximately 60% of our sales and low voltage 30%. Service and maintenance takes in the remaining 10%.

Our market currently ranges from homes in the $650,000 range to estates valued @ $20 million plus. We have developed a strong presence in the Austin market within several different groups including Architects, Designers, Executives, CPA’s and Attorneys. This is a field fed and supported by traditional “word of mouth” advertising. 40% of our business comes from long-term repeat customers. 55% comes from new clients recommended by existing clients. Only 5% comes from yellow pages, home shows or other outside recommendations. Investment in advertising has not proven to be productive. Our business growth is based on a combination of the necessity of electricity and all its uses coupled with the emerging technologies of the Digital Revolution.

Texeleco, Inc. is headed up by Rod Mueller, president, Sid Mueller, vice president and Anne Phares, corporate secretary. Rod received a BA in English from Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. He spent 14 years working in the service industry. His duties included Training Coordinator for Frontier Enterprises, a $30 million restaurant company based in San Antonio. He also held operations management positions with them where he developed skills and understanding of corporate P&L and employee development. He then worked for Sizzler and Bonanza franchises with duties including purchasing, management and training. In 1994 he brought these skills back to the family business and applied them to help grow it from $250,000 in sales in 1995 to over a million dollars in 3 years.

Sid Mueller has remained in the business since 1973. His skills in estimating, designing and project management are integral to the growth of the company. Sid earned his Masters Electrical License in 1973. He oversees electrical design, code and safety issues. He develops and verifies labor and material budgets for electrical projects.

Anne Phares’ work history includes over 15 years in the banking industry including loan operations as well as general bank operations and accounting. She also brings experience in the administration of staff and volunteers through her work with the Lutheran Church District offices as well as work as Human Resources Manager of Asoma Instruments, an international manufacturing firm. She holds a degree in Human Resources Management from St. Edward’s University in Austin.