California Municipal Utilities Association

What California Municipal Utilities Association does

California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1932 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, representing publicly owned electric utilities, water agencies, and wastewater agencies across the state. As of January 2025, CMUA's membership totaled 84 utility organizations, whose collective service footprint covers 75% of Californians with water service and 25% with electric service. The association functions as the unified advocacy and professional development body for California's publicly owned utility sector, engaging with the California State Capitol, CPUC, CEC, CARB, and State Water Resources Control Board on legislative and regulatory matters affecting its members.

CMUA's service portfolio centers on three operational pillars: advocacy (legislative tracking, regulatory representation, Capitol Day), member education and convening (the Annual Conference, Customer Engagement Summit, Capitol Day, board meetings, webinars, workshops), and information services (the weekly CMUA News & Views newsletter, policy papers, the Energy and Water Megatrends series, the Executive Director's Dispatch, and the Member Innovation Showcase video platform). Additional offerings include the Resource Efficiency Awards, legislative and regulatory leadership recognition, a member job board, member directory, and subject-matter implementation guidebooks (e.g., CPUC Net Billing Tariff, Advanced Clean Fleets Rule). The California Water, Wastewater, and Energy Workforce Development Program, funded by a $4 million California Workforce Development Board grant awarded in January 2023, extends CMUA's scope into statewide workforce pipeline development with a diversity, equity, and inclusion mandate.

The business model is membership-funded. CMUA derives revenue from annual membership dues (General Membership for utilities/JPAs/non-profits; Associate Partners for industry suppliers and consultants), event registration fees, and year-round associate partner sponsorship sold across eight tiers. Major events such as the 2027 Annual Conference at the Westin Anaheim Resort anchor member engagement and non-dues revenue. Danielle Blacet-Hyden became Executive Director on January 1, 2025, succeeding Barry Moline, and leads a small core staff housed at 915 L Street in Sacramento. The association operates without external parent ownership and is governed by a Board of Governors drawn from member utilities; in 2022 it received the ASAE Power of Associations Summit Award for its role in securing $2 billion in state utility customer relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Name

California Municipal Utilities Association

Legal name

California Municipal Utilities Association

Website

https://cmua.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

California Municipal Utilities Association is a Sacramento-based nonprofit trade association, founded in 1932, representing 84 publicly owned electric and water utilities in California — collectively serving 75% of Californians with water and 25% with electricity — through legislative advocacy, training, conferences, and workforce development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Utility Industry Trade Association Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Utilities (22)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Municipal Electric Utilities (Munis) (EUADABAB)

Keywords

• Municipal utility association
• Public utility advocacy
• Water utility services
• Electric utility advocacy
• Utility trade association

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CMUA generates revenue through annual membership dues from publicly owned electric utilities, water agencies, wastewater agencies, and associate/industry partners. Membership types include General Membership for utilities/JPAs/non-profits and Associate Partners for industry suppliers and consultants.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from conference registrations, training events, workshops, and webinars. Conference pricing noted at $339 per night for hotel accommodations at the 2027 Annual Conference venue.
3. Sponsorship Revenue: Associate Partner Sponsors pay for year-round visibility and brand recognition at CMUA events, webinars, and member communications. Eight sponsor tiers are available targeting utilities and water agencies across California.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1932 that represents 84 publicly owned electric utilities, water agencies, wastewater agencies, and associate partner companies across California. It sells annual membership, advocacy services at the California State Capitol and state regulatory agencies, professional training, conferences, and sponsorship opportunities to its utility members. CMUA members collectively provide water service to 75% of Californians and electric service to 25% of the state.

Product overview

CMUA is a professional association representing publicly owned electric utilities and water agencies in California, not a unified software product company. Its service portfolio consists of member-focused programs including advocacy (legislative and regulatory committees), professional development (training, webinars, annual conferences), information services (newsletter, policy papers, megatrends research), awards recognition programs, and workforce development initiatives. The organization does not offer a software platform or modular product architecture. Key offerings include the annual CMUA Water & Power Conference, Capitol Day advocacy events, Customer Engagement Summit, legislative updates, policy papers on clean energy and water management, innovation showcase videos, resource efficiency awards, and a workforce development program funded by a $4 million state grant.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CMUA General and Associate Membership
• CMUA Annual Conference
• CMUA Annual Capitol Day
• Customer Engagement Summit
• CMUA Training Program (Webinars, Workshops, In-Person Training)
• Associate Partner Sponsorship Program
• Resource Efficiency Awards Program
• California Water, Wastewater, and Energy Workforce Development Program
• CMUA Job Board
• Speakers Bureau

Quantifiable outcome

• Secured $2 billion in state funding for utility customer assistance during COVID-19 pandemic
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Burns & McDonnellminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026-2027 Associate Partner Sponsor providing engineering, architecture, and construction services to utilities.
• The Energy Authority (TEA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner2026-2027 Associate Partner Sponsor providing energy market and advisory services.
• Braun Blaising & Wynne, P.C.minorGTM or Marketing Partner2026-2027 Associate Partner Sponsor providing legal services to utilities.
• Flynn RCIminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026-2027 Associate Partner Sponsor providing utility services.
• Duncan & Allen Counsellors at LawminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026-2027 Associate Partner Sponsor providing legal counsel to utilities.
• Duncan Weinberg Genzer & PembrokeminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026-2027 Associate Partner Sponsor providing legal services to utilities.
• Bell Burnett & AtwaterminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026-2027 Associate Partner Sponsor providing consulting services.
• Tree Service KingsminorGTM or Marketing Partner2026-2027 Associate Partner Sponsor providing tree service.
• Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in workforce development program and Safe Drinking Water Trust legislative initiative (SB 669). Major co-sponsor of water policy advocacy.
• Water FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Water Foundation and US Water Alliance to develop COVID-19 Relief and Recovery principles. Coalition building to secure $2 billion in utility customer assistance.
• US Water AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with 60+ water utilities including LADWP, SFPUC, and Valley Water to develop national water affordability and utility relief principles.
• California African American Water Education Foundation (CAAWEF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner focused on underrepresented communities.
• Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner focused on Latino leadership in water sector.
• Jewish Vocational Services (JVS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner providing job training services.
• California Special Districts Association (CSDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner representing special districts.
• California Water Association (CWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner in water sector collaboration.
• California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner for wastewater sector.
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner and major sponsor of California Water Wall mural project.
• Contra Costa Water DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner.
• BAYWORKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development consortium partner serving as model for regional consortium development.
• IEWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner providing utility training.
• California Nevada Section of American Water Works Association (CA-NV AWWA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development program partner representing water works professionals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Public Power Association: The national trade association representing publicly owned electric utilities in the U.S. APPA is the most direct national-level analog to the electric-utility half of CMUA's mission, with similar advocacy, training, and event-driven service offerings.
• California Association of Sanitation Agencies: California's primary trade association for wastewater agencies. CASA mirrors CMUA's model for the sanitation subset of CMUA's membership and is a workforce development coalition partner, making it a directly comparable advocacy body.
• California Water Association: A California association representing investor-owned and regulated water utilities. CWA addresses similar regulatory and legislative issues as CMUA but from the IOUs' perspective, making it a directly comparable peer addressing the same California policy agenda.
• California Special Districts Association: A California statewide association representing special districts, including many water and wastewater agencies that overlap with CMUA's membership. CSDA is a direct peer in California advocacy and a CMUA coalition partner in workforce development.
• Association of California Water Agencies: The leading California statewide trade association for public water agencies. ACWA is CMUA's closest peer on the water-advocacy side and a frequent coalition partner (e.g., joint workforce development, Safe Drinking Water Trust), making it the most directly comparable association in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• National Rural Water Association: A national nonprofit association representing rural water and wastewater systems. NRWA mirrors CMUA's small-system water advocacy model but operates nationally and focuses on rural communities, positioning it as a broad incumbent peer.
• Water Environment Federation: A global nonprofit providing technical education and advocacy for water quality professionals. WEF parallels CMUA's wastewater member services (training, technical resources, events) at much larger scope, positioning it as a broad incumbent peer.
• National Rural Electric Cooperative Association: The national trade association for rural electric cooperatives. NRECA parallels CMUA's electric-utility advocacy model but serves cooperatives rather than municipal utilities, making it a broad incumbent peer in the public-power space.
• American Water Works Association: The largest international nonprofit association for water professionals. AWWA offers training, standards, and advocacy comparable to CMUA's water-side services, but at much larger scale and broader geographic scope, making it a broad incumbent peer rather than a direct competitor.
• National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners: The association of state public utility commissioners who regulate CMUA's electric members. NARUC occupies the regulator side of CMUA's advocacy interface, making it a broadly comparable peer in the same California regulatory ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cmua_tweets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-municipal-utilities-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 California Municipal Utilities Association