NAICS 221111

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the production‑oriented taxonomy used by U.S. federal statistical agencies to classify business establishments for collecting, analyzing, and publishing economic data. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 and is updated on a five‑year cycle, with revisions including 2022.¹

NAICS 221111 — Hydroelectric Power Generation — covers establishments whose primary activity is operating hydroelectric facilities that use water power to drive turbines and generate electricity supplied to transmission or distribution systems. Transmission system operation is classified under 221121; distribution under 221122.²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 221111 overview
• G2X — NAICS 221121 Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control
• G2X — NAICS 221122 Electric Power Distribution

What this NAICS covers

• Operation of hydroelectric power generation facilities as the primary business activity.²
• Using water power to drive turbines that produce electric energy.²
• Supplying generated electricity to electric power transmission systems.²
• Supplying generated electricity to electric power distribution systems.²
• Hydroelectric plant operations focused on generating, not transmitting or distributing, electricity.²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	221112	Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
NAICS	221121	Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control
PSC	S112	Utilities — Electric

Key exclusions and boundaries

• Transmission system operation and control are classified in 221121; distribution of electricity to end users is classified in 221122.²
• Facilities primarily operating trash incinerators that also generate electricity are not in electric power generation; they are classified in the waste treatment and disposal industry.²

2022 NAICS vintage notes

Census Bureau programs began disseminating data on the 2022 NAICS basis starting with 2022 Economic Census First Look in January 2024, with full adoption across most programs targeted by the end of 2027. The 2022 vintage reflects the latest industry definitions used for federal economic statistics.³

Frequently asked questions

• What activities place an establishment in NAICS 221111?

  Establishments are included when their primary activity is operating hydroelectric facilities that use water power to drive turbines and produce electricity provided to transmission or distribution systems. Activities centered on transmission or distribution belong in 221121 or 221122.²

• Does NAICS 221111 cover pumped‑storage hydroelectric plants?

  The official description covers hydroelectric facilities that generate electricity using water power and supply it to transmission or distribution systems. It does not separately specify pumped‑storage as a distinct inclusion or exclusion. Not specified by official sources.²

• Which PSC codes are commonly used when the government buys electricity related to hydro generation?

  PSC S112 “Utilities — Electric” is typically used for the purchase of electric utility services, including electricity supplied to government facilities. Agencies may use other PSCs for construction, maintenance, or equipment related to power plants, but not for the commodity of retail electricity itself.⁴

• Where do official NAICS descriptions for 221111 reside?

  The Census Bureau provides official industry definitions via the NAICS search tool and 2022 detail pages, including the full description and cross‑references for 221111 and related industries in Sector 22.²

• When did agencies begin using the 2022 NAICS for published data?

  The Census Bureau began releasing statistics based on 2022 NAICS with the 2022 Economic Census in January 2024 and anticipates most programs will adopt 2022 NAICS by the end of 2027.³

Useful resources

• Census — NAICS background and update cycle; replacement of SIC in 1997.¹
• NAICS Sector 22 definitions, including 221111, 221121, and 221122.²
• Census — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and adoption across programs).³
• Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (PSC S112 descriptor and usage context).⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS History: background, SIC replacement in 1997, and five‑year update cycle. https://www.census.gov/naics/history.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS detail for 221111 (Sector 22 Utilities): official description and cross‑references. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=221111&year=2022&details=221111
3. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/classification/naics/2022-naics/implementation.html
4. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual