Irby Utilities

What Irby Utilities does

Irby Utilities, operating under the legal name Stuart C. Irby Co., is a privately held North American distributor of utility products and services headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sonepar, the world's largest electrical distributor. Founded in 1926 by Stuart Chalmers Irby, the company serves electric, gas, and communications/broadband utilities as well as the contractors and construction firms that support them across all 50 U.S. states through 58 branch locations, 1.5 million sq. ft. of warehousing, and 42,000+ SKUs from leading manufacturers including Eaton, 3M, Hubbell, TE Connectivity, Klein Tools, Milwaukee, nVent, ABB, and AFL.

The company's offering extends well beyond physical product distribution into integrated supply chain management (including vendor-managed inventory and logistics), tool and safety services (rubber goods testing, tool repair, FR clothing), testing and monitoring (AMI/electric metering), emergency preparedness and storm response, and project services spanning grid modernization and turnkey broadband network deployment. In 2024 Irby acquired Azotel Technologies, bringing the SIMPLer cloud-based broadband operations software platform in-house as a digital complement to its distribution core. The technology backbone is therefore a mix of traditional distribution/warehouse operations, integrated supply-chain systems, geospatial grant-reporting tooling, and the acquired SIMPLer SaaS platform.

Irby's revenue mechanics combine one-time product sales across a large SKU catalog with project-based and recurring service revenue (VMI, testing, AMI deployment, broadband turnkey). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with both field sales across 58 locations and a self-service e-commerce channel (irbyutilities.com, with a My Account portal) reaching enterprise utility buyers and mid-market contractors. The company has reported more than 10% year-over-year growth for nine consecutive years and tenfold growth over the past 20 years, operating with 1,000+ associates and celebrating its 100th anniversary in June 2026. Leadership includes President Joe LeNoir, SVP of Communication Services Steve Ferguson, and SVP of Strategic Relations David May.

Name

Irby Utilities

Legal name

Stuart C. Irby Co.

Website

https://irby.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Irby Utilities is a Sonepar-owned, nationwide U.S. distributor of electric, gas, and broadband utility products and services, serving utilities and contractors across all 50 states through 58 locations, 1,000+ associates, and 42,000+ SKUs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Utility Product Distribution

NAICS

Electrical Apparatus and Equipment, Wiring Supplies, and Related Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42361)

SIC

Wholesale-Electrical Apparatus & Equipment, Wiring Supplies (5063)

akta.pro primary industry

Utility & Underground Distribution Cable (URD/Substation) (IMADAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conductor, Cable & Hardware Stringing / Replacement (EUAEACAF), Electrical Balance-of-Plant EPC (MV Collection, Cabling, Earthing, Lighting) (EUAEADAB), Local Distribution Company (LDC) Natural Gas Distribution Utilities (TLAGADAA)

Keywords

• Utility product distribution
• Electrical supplies wholesale
• Broadband network solutions
• Grid modernization services
• Supply chain management

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Utility Product Distribution: Irby generates revenue through distribution of utility products including electric, gas, and broadband/communications materials to utilities, contractors, and construction firms. Revenue comes from product sales across 42k+ SKUs with operations across all 50 states through 58 locations.
2. Services and Solutions: Irby provides additional revenue through service offerings including supply chain management, logistics, emergency preparedness and response, project management, tool and safety services, testing and monitoring, and turnkey communication and broadband network solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Irby Utilities distributes over 42,000 SKUs of electric, gas, and broadband/communications materials and equipment from leading manufacturer brands to utilities and contractors across all 50 states. The company supplements physical product distribution with services such as supply chain management, emergency storm response, tool and safety programs, testing and monitoring, grid modernization, and turnkey broadband network deployment, as well as the SIMPLer broadband operations platform acquired in 2024.

Product overview

Irby Utilities is a Sonepar company and leading North American distributor of utility products and services, offering a comprehensive portfolio of materials, solutions, and support for electric, gas, and broadband utilities. The company's offerings span multiple service areas including supply chain management (with vendor-managed inventory and logistics), tool and safety services (rubber goods testing, tool repair, FR clothing), testing and monitoring (AMI metering, mobile testing), emergency preparedness and response, and project services including grid modernization and turnkey broadband network solutions. A key product is the SIMPLer broadband operations platform (acquired in 2024 from Azotel), which provides cloud-based software for streamlining broadband operations. Irby also distributes products from over 20 major manufacturer brands including 3M, ABB, AFL, Eaton, Hubbell, Klein Tools, Milwaukee, nVent, and TE Connectivity. The company operates 58+ locations across all 50 states with over 1,000 associates, 42,000+ SKUs in stock, and 1.5 million square feet of warehousing space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SIMPLer: Broadband operations software platform acquired in 2024, providing clear, connected, and customer-focused solutions for broadband operations.
• SIMPLer

Products and services

• SIMPLer Broadband Operations Platform Cloud-based broadband operations platform that streamlines operations by replacing spreadsheets and disconnected systems with an integrated, customer-focused solution, serving communications providers, cooperatives, and municipalities deploying broadband networks.
• AMI and Electric Metering Solutions Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) modernization offering that pairs hardware and software from partners including Landis+Gyr, Aclara, and Itron to deliver metering precision, automated data collection, and scalable capabilities for electric utilities.
• Grid Modernization Services Comprehensive support for utility grid modernization including infrastructure assessment, material and technology selection, project management, government compliance interpretation, and ongoing updates for grid hardening and resilience, serving electric utility customers.
• Turnkey Communication and Broadband Network Solutions End-to-end broadband network deployment services including grant assistance, construction management, geospatial data solutions, materials procurement, and ongoing post-project business support services for broadband operators, cooperatives, and municipalities.
• Supply Chain Management Integrated supply chain services including supply chain integration, vendor-managed inventory (VMI), and logistics solutions designed to optimize material procurement and delivery for utility customers and contractors.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Storm and disaster response services supporting utilities across preparation, response, and recovery phases, including rapid mobilization of materials and experienced field teams serving electric utility customers nationwide.
• Tool and Safety Services Field-focused services including rubber goods testing, mobile testing, tool repair, FR clothing, ropes and slings, and grounds and jumpers to ensure worker safety and equipment reliability for utility crews.
• Testing and Monitoring Services Comprehensive testing and monitoring services including rubber goods testing, mobile testing, and AMI/electric metering solutions supporting quality assurance across utility infrastructure.
• Project and Sustaining Services Jobsite services including project management, digital tools, grid modernization, and turnkey broadband network solutions designed to keep utility projects on track.
• Electric Utility Product Distribution Distribution of an extensive portfolio of electric utility materials and equipment from leading manufacturer brands, with over 42,000 SKUs in stock, serving electric utilities across all 50 states.
• Gas Utility Product Distribution Distribution of gas utility materials and solutions that allow utilities to rely on a single accountable partner for gas distribution infrastructure products and supply support.
• Communications and Technology Product Distribution Distribution of broadband and fiber materials supporting communication network deployment and enhancement for utilities, communications providers, and broadband builders.
• Eaton Wildfire Mitigation Products Grid protection solutions including Eaton arresters, fuses, and extreme-duty capacitors designed to reduce wildlife risk and operate reliably in high-temperature environments up to 75 degrees C ambient.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved more than 10% year-over-year growth for nine consecutive years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Azotel (SIMPLer)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Irby acquired Azotel in 2024, gaining the SIMPLer platform for broadband operations management. SIMPLer helps broadband operators ditch spreadsheets and disconnected systems, making operations clear, connected, and customer-focused. This acquisition strengthens Irby's turnkey broadband solutions offering.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Graybar Electric Company: Major U.S. electrical, communications, and utility products distributor with $10B+ revenue and ~9,000 employees; overlaps directly with Irby's wire/cable, utility, and broadband distribution lines.
• WESCO International / Anixter: Global electrical, communications, and utility distribution leader post-Anixter merger, with deep utility customer base and broadband/network build-out capabilities directly overlapping Irby's offering.
• Summit Electric Supply: Specialty electrical distributor focused on industrial and utility customers with engineered product expertise, comparable to Irby in serving complex electrical project needs.
• Rexel USA: U.S. arm of the global Rexel electrical distribution group, competing head-to-head with Irby for utility, contractor, and broadband customers across multiple states.
• Platt Electric Supply: Western U.S. electrical wholesale distributor (now part of Sonepar) serving utility and contractor customers with similar product breadth and branch-based service.
• Border States Electric: Employee-owned U.S. distributor of electrical and utility products with similar geographic breadth, utility customer base (electric/gas/Telco), and T&D project material supply model — the most direct comparable to Irby.
• Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED): Large U.S. electrical wholesale distributor serving contractors, utilities, and industrial customers across hundreds of branches, directly competing with Irby in utility material distribution.
• Elliott Electric Supply: Regional U.S. electrical apparatus distributor serving utility and contractor customers with comparable stocking/branch model and adjacent inventory breadth.
• McNaughton McKay Electric: Privately held U.S. electrical distributor focused on industrial and utility customers in the Midwest/Southeast, overlapping with Irby's regional branch footprint and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• Sonepar (parent): Global parent organization and the world's largest electrical distributor; included as the broader incumbent within whose portfolio Irby is the U.S. utility-focused operating company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/irby_co
• Facebookfacebook.com/irbyco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irbyco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Irby Utilities