NAICS 22 — Utilities
Establishments that provide electric power, natural gas, steam supply, water supply, and sewage removal. The Utilities sector encompasses 13 six-digit NAICS codes used in federal procurement, representing $3,225,002,913 in total federal contract spending. Each code within this sector has its own SBA small business size standard, which determines whether a business qualifies as "small" for set-aside and sole-source contract opportunities in that specific industry.
Understanding Sector 22
NAICS sector 22 is one of 20 industry sectors defined by the North American Industry Classification System. The federal government uses these codes to classify contract requirements, determine small business eligibility, and track procurement spending across industries. When a federal agency issues a solicitation, they assign a NAICS code that best describes the principal purpose of the acquisition — this determines the applicable size standard for small business participation.
The codes below are sorted by total federal spending, with the highest-spend industries at the top. Click any code to view detailed spending data, top contractors, and guidance on competing for contracts in that industry.
Six-Digit Codes in Sector 22
| Code | Industry | Federal Spend |
|---|---|---|
| 221122 | Electric Power Distribution | $1.1B |
| 221310 | Water Supply and Irrigation Systems | $744.0M |
| 221210 | Natural Gas Distribution | $285.1M |
| 221112 | Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation | $273.9M |
| 221118 | Other Electric Power Generation | $239.3M |
| 221320 | Sewage Treatment Facilities | $237.6M |
| 221113 | Nuclear Electric Power Generation | $198.1M |
| 221330 | Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply | $49.3M |
| 221121 | Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control | $37.2M |
| 221114 | Solar Electric Power Generation | $12.5M |
| 221119 | Other Electric Power Generation | $3.1M |
| 221111 | Hydroelectric Power Generation | $1.5M |
| 221115 | Wind Electric Power Generation | $295K |
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What is NAICS sector 22?
NAICS sector 22 covers Utilities. Establishments that provide electric power, natural gas, steam supply, water supply, and sewage removal. It contains 13 six-digit industry codes used in federal procurement.
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How much does the federal government spend in sector 22?
Total federal contract spending across all codes in the Utilities sector is approximately $3,225,002,913. Individual codes within the sector range from the most active at $1.1B to smaller niche markets.
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How do NAICS sectors relate to size standards?
Each six-digit NAICS code has its own SBA size standard — sectors don't have a single standard. Size standards are expressed either as maximum average annual receipts (e.g., $41.5 million) or maximum number of employees (e.g., 500 employees). Click into any six-digit code to see its specific size standard.
Data sourced from USASpending.gov and Census Bureau . Federal contracting data is public domain.