NAICS 926130 Quarterly Industry Report
Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Ot
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 926130Sector: Public Administration (92)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Regulation of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (NAICS 926130) draws on data from the FCC[2], FERC[3], and the SBA[5]. Fair Market Value analysts examine regulatory docket activity, utility rate case data, and commission staffing trends specific to NAICS 926130. Additional data is drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], U.S. Census Bureau[7].. Quarterly updates reflect changes in energy regulation, telecommunications policy, and utility market structure.
Industry Definition & Overview
Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (NAICS 926130) encompasses government establishments primarily engaged in the regulation, licensing, and inspection of utilities including electric power, natural gas, telecommunications, water supply, and cable television. This classification covers the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, state public utility commissions, and local franchise authorities that oversee utility rates, service quality, and market entry.
Federal regulation divides by sector. The Federal Communications Commission[2] regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. Industry Federal Energy Regulatory Commission[3] oversees interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. State public utility commissions, operating in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, regulate retail utility rates, approve infrastructure investments, and enforce service standards for investor-owned utilities within their borders.
Utility regulation employment includes rate analysts, engineers, attorneys, consumer affairs specialists, and administrative law judges. The Census Bureau's ASPEP survey[4] captures utility regulation within government employment data. State public utility commissions employ hundreds to over a thousand staff in large states like California, New York, and Texas. Regulatory proceedings involve rate cases worth billions of dollars, infrastructure approval decisions affecting millions of customers, and market competition issues shaping the future of energy, broadband, and water service delivery across the country.
What's Included in This Industry
- Federal Communications Commission offices
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission offices
- State public utility commissions and regulatory bodies
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission offices
- State telecommunications regulatory offices
- Local cable television franchise authorities
- Water utility regulatory offices
- Pipeline safety and regulation offices
- Renewable energy siting and permitting offices
- Broadband deployment and digital equity offices
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Public Administration | 92 |
| Subsector | Administration of Economic Programs | 926 |
| Industry Group | Administration of Economic Programs | 9261 |
| NAICS Industry | Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities | 92613 |
| National Industry | Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities | 926130 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 926120 | Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs | Transportation regulatory offices that share regulatory methodologies with utility commissions and coordinate on pipeline safety and energy transportation issues |
| 924110 | Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs | Environmental management agencies that regulate utility emissions, water discharges, and waste disposal, creating overlapping compliance requirements for utilities |
| 926110 | Administration of General Economic Programs | General economic program offices that coordinate with utility regulators on energy costs, broadband access, and infrastructure investment affecting economic development |
| 926150 | Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors | Commercial sector regulation offices that share licensing and inspection frameworks with utility regulators on consumer protection and service quality standards |
| 921120 | Legislative Bodies | Legislative bodies that pass utility regulation statutes, set renewable energy mandates, and authorize rate-setting frameworks for public utility commissions |
| 921130 | Public Finance Activities | Public finance offices that manage utility franchise fees, municipal utility revenues, and bond financing for publicly owned utility infrastructure |
SBA Lending Summary
8
Total SBA Loans
$1.1M
Total Loan Volume
$142K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.50%
Average Interest Rate
32
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[1]
Key Insight: The U.S. Small Business Administration[5] does not establish size standards for NAICS 926130 because utility regulatory offices are government establishments. Private firms providing consulting, engineering, or legal services to regulatory bodies are classified under their own NAICS codes. Those firms may qualify for SBA programs including the 7(a) loan program[8] and 504 loan program[9] under their respective industry size standards.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 8 | $1.1M | $142K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of agencies are classified under NAICS 926130?
NAICS 926130 covers government agencies regulating utilities, including the FCC, FERC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, state public utility commissions, and local franchise authorities. The Census Bureau[10] covers regulation of communications, electric, gas, water, and other utility services.
How is utility regulation organized across government levels?
Federal agencies like the FCC and FERC regulate interstate activities. State public utility commissions set retail rates and approve infrastructure in all 50 states. Local governments manage franchise agreements and may operate municipal utilities. Each level addresses different aspects of the same industries.
Does the SBA set a size standard for NAICS 926130?
No. The SBA[11] does not assign size standards to Sector 92 codes because they represent government entities. Private firms serving regulatory commissions use their own NAICS codes for SBA eligibility.
What NAICS codes are closely related to 926130?
Related codes include 926120 (Transportation Programs), 924110 (Environmental Programs), 926110 (Economic Programs), and 926150 (Commercial Regulation). The Census Bureau[12] groups utility regulation under the economic programs subsector.
What private-sector industries commonly serve utility regulators?
Engineering firms (NAICS 541330), law offices (NAICS 541110), management consultants (NAICS 541611), and IT vendors (NAICS 541512) are frequent participants. Economic consulting firms, accounting practices, and energy policy researchers also actively engage in regulatory proceedings.
What activities are included under NAICS 926130?
Can businesses serving utility regulators qualify for SBA loans?
Where are utility regulatory offices concentrated?
The FCC and FERC are headquartered in Washington, D.C. Every state capital houses a public utility commission. Local franchise authorities operate within municipalities. Nuclear Regulatory Commission offices are in Rockville, Maryland, with regional inspection offices near nuclear power plant concentrations.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [2]Federal Communications Commission fcc.gov
- [3]Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ferc.gov
- [4]Census Bureau's ASPEP survey census.gov
- [5]SBA sba.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [8]7(a) loan program sba.gov
- [9]504 loan program sba.gov
- [10]Census Bureau census.gov
- [11]SBA sba.gov
- [12]Census Bureau census.gov
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