The National Electrical Manufacturers Association

What The National Electrical Manufacturers Association does

NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) is a 1926-founded, ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization operating as a private, nonprofit trade association headquartered in Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia. Its core function is to develop and publish over 700 electrical standards and technical papers covering millions of member products, deliver exclusive business intelligence through its NEMA Intelligence Portal, Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI), Lamp Indices, and proprietary electricity consumption forecasting, and advocate on regulatory, trade, and infrastructure policy at the federal level. Member industries collectively represent approximately 360,000 American jobs across more than 7,000 facilities in every U.S. state and generate $106B-$130B in annual shipments plus $36B-$38B in exports of electrical equipment and medical imaging technologies.

NEMA's products and services span four pillars: (1) Standards — published via the makeitelectric.store storefront; (2) Intelligence — including the EBCI, Lamp Indices, electricity forecasts (the May 2026 forecast projecting 6,130 TWh by 2050), and the Infrastructure Funding Portal; (3) Advocacy — direct legislative and regulatory representation, cybersecurity policy support, and the Make It American domestic content certification program backed by 1:1 legal consultations with three named law firms (King & Spalding, Miller & Chevalier, Schulz Trade Law); and (4) Membership resources — including the NEMA Academy, podcasts, webinars, NEMA SmartBrief newsletter, and active social channels. Its 2026 strategic agenda is anchored in AI-driven data center energy demand (co-developed AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework with PNNL and ASHRAE), BABA compliance for federally funded infrastructure projects, USMCA trade defense via a trilateral coalition with Mexico's CANAME and Canada's Electro-Federation Canada, and critical infrastructure cybersecurity policy.

NEMA's revenue model is membership dues-driven with supplementary income from standards publication sales (makeitelectric.store), the Make It American certification program (with Schneider Electric's 20+ facilities across 12 states as anchor client), advertising, events, and intelligence subscriptions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors under nonprofit bylaws, has no parent company or external investors, and operates with 51-100 employees. Recent leadership includes Chairwoman Annette Clayton and President & CEO Debra Phillips.

Name

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association

Legal name

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

Website

https://nema.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

NEMA is a 1926-founded, ANSI-accredited U.S. trade association and standards developing organization representing electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers. It develops 700+ electrical standards, delivers proprietary business intelligence, runs the Make It American BABA certification program, and advocates on infrastructure, trade, and cybersecurity policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association and Standards Development

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (92613)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Records Management, Information Governance & Retention (BPAEAPAO)

Keywords

• Electrical standards development
• Trade association services
• Electroindustry advocacy
• Domestic content certification
• Industry business intelligence

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NEMA is a membership-based trade association that develops and publishes more than 700 electrical standards and technical papers covering millions of member products, provides exclusive industry-specific business intelligence (Electroindustry Business Conditions Index, Lamp Indices, electricity consumption forecasts), and represents the collective interests of U.S. electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers through legislative advocacy and certification programs such as Make It American (BABA domestic content certification).

Product overview

NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) is an ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization that operates as a membership-based trade association for the U.S. electroindustry. The organization offers a portfolio of products and services centered on standards development (over 700 electrical standards and technical papers), business intelligence (Electroindustry Business Conditions Index, Lamp Indices, electricity consumption forecasts), and certification programs (Make It American domestic content certification for BABA compliance). Key offerings include the Standards Store for purchasing technical publications, the NEMA Intelligence Portal for member-exclusive analytics, the Infrastructure Funding Portal for federal funding opportunities, and the AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework co-developed with PNNL and ASHRAE. NEMA also provides member resources including the BABA On-Demand Legal Resource Center for navigating domestic content requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Make It American: A domestic content certification program to help members offer BABA-compliant products for federally funded infrastructure projects.
• NEMA Business Information Services (NEMA/BIS)
• Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI)

Products and services

• Make It American Domestic Content Certification Program Paid certification program enabling electroindustry manufacturers to verify and document that their products meet Build America, Buy America (BABA) domestic content requirements for federally funded infrastructure projects. Certification involves third-party supply chain audits and registration on NEMA's BABA registry. For U.S. electrical manufacturers pursuing federal contracts.
• NEMA Standards Publications A portfolio of more than 700 electrical standards and technical papers covering millions of member products, sold individually and by subscription through the NEMA publications store at makeitelectric.store. Includes individual standards such as ANSI C12.22 (AMI smart meter protocol) and NEMA 250 (enclosure ratings up to 1000V). For electrical equipment manufacturers, utilities, engineers, and testing laboratories.
• NEMA Intelligence Portal Member-exclusive portal providing access to current industry events, intelligence archives, economic data, and business information services. Includes access to the Electroindustry Business Conditions Index, Lamp Indices, electricity consumption forecasts, and other analytics. For NEMA member companies' strategy, planning, and operations teams.
• Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) Subscription-based business conditions index tracking the performance of the U.S. electroindustry, providing exclusive industry data and analytics for strategic planning and operational decision-making. For NEMA member companies.
• Lamp Indices Market indices tracking lamp and lighting product business conditions and market performance within the U.S. electroindustry. For lighting manufacturers and member companies tracking market trends.
• BABA On-Demand Legal Resource Center Member-exclusive service providing 1:1 legal consultations with three premier law firms (King & Spalding, Miller & Chevalier, and Schulz Trade Law PLLC) on navigating Build America, Buy America domestic content requirements. For NEMA member companies supplying federally funded infrastructure projects.
• Infrastructure Funding Portal Member-exclusive information portal about federal infrastructure funding opportunities, helping members identify and navigate federal funding programs applicable to the electroindustry. For NEMA member companies pursuing federal infrastructure contracts.
• AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework Published guidance framework co-developed with PNNL and ASHRAE covering hyperscaler data center development best practices, including grid-interactive design, cooling efficiency, and energy management strategies. Identifies micro-grids and rechargeable battery systems as alternative power sources. For data center developers, utilities, engineers, and policymakers.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schneider ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Schneider Electric has been certified under NEMA's Make It American domestic content certification program. Over 20 of Schneider Electric's U.S. manufacturing facilities across 12 states have received certification, confirming their products meet domestic content requirements for federally funded projects. The certification is part of Schneider's $700 million investment in domestic manufacturing and NEMA's broader Build America, Buy America initiative.
• Schneider ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Schneider Electric certified under NEMA's Make It American domestic content program, coinciding with a $700 million investment in domestic manufacturing. The certification involves third-party audits verifying supply chain conformance, with more than 20 facilities listed on NEMA's Build America, Buy America registry across 11 states. The milestone coincides with the one-year anniversary of NEMA's certification program.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026PNNL co-developed a comprehensive guide with NEMA and ASHRAE to help developers, engineers, utilities, and policymakers with best practices for siting, building, and maintaining data centers. The AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework addresses rising electricity demand from AI-driven data centers, offering strategies for grid-interactive design, cooling efficiency, and energy management. The collaboration involved more than 50 industry partners.
• ASHRAEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026ASHRAE co-developed with NEMA and PNNL a comprehensive AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework guide for siting, building, and maintaining data centers. The guide addresses rising electricity demand from AI-driven data centers and offers strategies for grid-interactive design, cooling efficiency, and energy management.
• Senator Mark WarnercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Senator Mark Warner introduced the 'Combat Emerging Threats to Critical Infrastructure Act of 2026,' requiring CISA to update cybersecurity plans for all 16 critical infrastructure sectors. NEMA publicly expressed support for the bill, citing the need to strengthen operational resilience against evolving cyber and supply chain threats affecting the electrical manufacturing sector.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026PNNL, along with NEMA and ASHRAE, published the AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework, a comprehensive guide covering all aspects of hyperscaler data center development from siting and construction to maintenance and power management. The guide provides research-backed best practices aimed at helping policymakers, utilities, and builders construct data centers that minimize energy costs while maintaining safe operations.
• CANAME (Cámara Nacional de Manufacturers Eléctricas, Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2026National electrical manufacturer associations from the US, Canada, and Mexico jointly appealed to trade ministers to strengthen the USMCA agreement and preserve its three-nation structure amid concerns about global competition from state-subsidized Asian firms. This represents a trilateral North American electrical manufacturing coalition.
• Electro-Federation Canada (EFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2026Canadian Electro-Federation Canada joined NEMA and Mexico's CANAME in a joint appeal to trade ministers to strengthen and preserve the USMCA trilateral structure, addressing concerns about competition from state-subsidized Asian firms in North American supply chains.
• CANAME (Cámara Nacional de Manufacturers Eléctricas, Mexico)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026NEMA, Mexico's CANAME, and Canada's Electro-Federation Canada issued a joint letter urging governments to extend and strengthen the USMCA trade agreement. The groups called for improvements in three areas: harmonizing technical standards, consulting industry on rules of origin to address concerns about Chinese transshipment, and preserving the trilateral structure of the agreement.
• Electro-Federation Canada (EFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026NEMA, Mexico's CANAME, and Canada's Electro-Federation Canada issued a joint letter urging governments to extend and strengthen the USMCA trade agreement. The trilateral alliance called for harmonizing technical standards, consulting industry on rules of origin to address Chinese transshipment concerns, and preserving the agreement's three-nation structure.
• King & Spalding (Law Firm)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNEMA partnered with three distinguished law firms with deep expertise in BABA- and NEMA-related matters to provide members with exclusive 1:1 legal consultations on Build America, Buy America requirements. King & Spalding is one of the three premier firms providing guidance to help NEMA members navigate domestic content compliance.
• Miller & Chevalier (Law Firm)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNEMA partnered with Miller & Chevalier as one of three distinguished law firms providing members with exclusive 1:1 legal consultations on BABA requirements and domestic content compliance under the Build America, Buy America Act.
• Schulz Trade Law PLLC (Law Firm)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNEMA partnered with Schulz Trade Law PLLC as one of three distinguished law firms providing members with exclusive 1:1 legal consultations on BABA compliance and domestic content requirements for federally funded infrastructure projects.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): IEC is the leading international standards body for electrotechnical equipment, including many of the same product categories NEMA covers; it sets the global benchmark NEMA's standards often align with or compete against.
• Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI): AHRI is a U.S. trade association representing HVACR manufacturers that develops standards and certifies equipment performance, closely paralleling NEMA's trade-association, standards, and certification model.
• Underwriters Laboratories (UL): UL is a global safety science organization that develops standards and provides testing, inspection, and certification for electrical and related products, directly comparable to NEMA's ANSI-accredited standards development and certification work.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): NFPA develops widely adopted codes and standards (e.g., NFPA 70 National Electrical Code) closely intersecting with NEMA's electrical equipment standards; both serve as membership-based SDOs.
• CSA Group: CSA Group is a Canadian standards, testing, and certification organization with overlapping electrotechnical standards work, including active collaboration with U.S. manufacturers — directly comparable to NEMA's standards and certification activities.
• ASHRAE: ASHRAE is an ANSI-accredited standards body focused on HVAC, refrigeration, and building systems; it is also a NEMA co-development partner on the AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework, making it a directly comparable standards and member-service peer.
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): IEEE is a large global standards-developing organization covering electrical, electronics, and computing domains, including power, smart grid, and cybersecurity standards that overlap with NEMA's portfolio.
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI): ANSI is the U.S. standards body that accredits NEMA and other SDOs and coordinates U.S. participation in ISO and IEC; directly comparable as a U.S. standards and policy-cooperation organization.
• Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM): AHAM is a U.S. trade association for home appliance manufacturers that develops standards, certifies products, and conducts policy advocacy — a structural analog to NEMA in a related manufacturing vertical.
• Electro-Federation Canada (EFC): EFC is the Canadian trade association for electrical and electronics manufacturers and a direct NEMA counterpart; it co-signed the USMCA trilateral advocacy and operates a near-identical membership-and-standards model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nemaupdates
• YouTubeyoutube.com/NEMAVue
• Facebookfacebook.com/132533056815384
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nema

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The National Electrical Manufacturers Association