35 Years of Powering Seattle
Douglas Spear started this company out of the back of a single truck in 1987, serving the Capitol Hill neighborhood he called home. Back then, it was just Douglas and an apprentice — two guys doing honest electrical work at fair prices.
Word spread fast. Neighbors referred neighbors, landlords became regulars, and by the mid-1990s RD Merrill had grown into a team of eight covering residential and light commercial work across Seattle.
Today, we employ over 20 licensed electricians and serve clients from Ballard to Rainier Beach, Bellevue to Bainbridge Island. The trucks look different but the standard is the same: every wire pulled as if it were in our own home.
Douglas Spear founds RD Merrill Electrical in Capitol Hill, Seattle.
Expands to a crew of 8 and opens first dedicated office in the Eastlake neighborhood.
Diana Merrill-Oakes joins the business, overhauling operations and customer service.
Becomes one of Seattle's first contractors certified for residential EV charger installations.
Recognized as a Seattle Business Magazine "Top Local Contractor" for the third consecutive year.
Team grows to 20+ licensed electricians. Still family-owned and Seattle-focused.
Our Core Values
Safety First
Every decision we make on a job site is guided by code compliance and the long-term safety of the people who live and work in the spaces we wire.
Honest Pricing
We believe in flat-rate, transparent quotes. The price we give before the job is the price you pay — period.
Clean Work
Proper installation means neat, labeled work. We pull the permits, pass the inspections, and leave documentation behind.
Community Roots
Seattle is home. We invest in local apprenticeship programs and give back to the neighborhoods that have trusted us for decades.
Meet the Team
Douglas Spear
Douglas founded RD Merrill in 1987 after 12 years working for Seattle City Light. He holds a Washington State Master Electrician license and has overseen thousands of residential and commercial projects throughout his career.
Diana Merrill-Oakes
Diana joined the family business in 2003 and transformed it into a modern, customer-first operation. She manages scheduling, customer relations, and ensures every project meets RD Merrill's strict quality standards.
Travis Holloway
Travis brings 14 years of field experience specializing in residential rewires and panel upgrades. He's certified for EV charger installations and leads our training program for apprentice electricians.
Priya Nair
Priya leads all commercial and tenant-improvement projects. She has managed electrical scopes on projects ranging from small retail buildouts to multi-story office renovations across the Seattle metro area.
Ready to Work Together?
Contact our team today for a free estimate on your next electrical project.
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