6.2.1.3Vertical

Municipal Electric Utilities

City and county-owned electric utility systems.

Market snapshot

These figures describe Electric Distribution Utilities (6.2.1), the segment that Municipal Electric Utilities sits within — not Municipal Electric Utilities on its own.

Market size
~$417B
Growth
~4.0%CAGR (2017–22, nominal)
Companies
~8,800
FragmentationConsolidatingEstimate

U.S. Census Bureau 2022 CBP/Economic Census, NAICS 221121 (electric bulk power transmission & control) + 221122 (electric power distribution); generation is tracked under Power Generation.

Business model & economics

Revenue model

Regulated rate-base returns on T&D infrastructure

Key economics

Recurring revenue
High

recurring, regulated electricity delivery

EBITDA margin
Stable, regulated returns
Capex intensity
High

Characteristics

  • Largest utility segment; investor-owned franchise monopolies.
  • Grid modernization, hardening, and electrification capex.
  • Data-center and industrial load growth reshaping planning.

M&A deal context

Deal activityModerate

Who’s acquiring

  • Investor-owned utility holding companies
  • Infrastructure funds & investors
  • Regulated-utility consolidators

What’s driving deals

  • Investor-owned utility consolidation.
  • Grid-modernization and electrification capex.
  • Load-growth-driven rate-base expansion.

Find Municipal Electric Utilities acquisition targets

Search Acquisera’s index for companies classified under Municipal Electric Utilities (6.2.1.3) and build a targeted deal pipeline.

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