NAICS 221118

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard for classifying business establishments for federal statistical purposes, maintained by the Office of Management and Budget and revised every five years. The current vintage is 2022 and is used across U.S., Canadian, and Mexican statistical programs to ensure comparability over time and between countries. ¹
NAICS 221118 (Other Electric Power Generation) covers establishments that operate electric power generation facilities using energy sources not otherwise specified in separate NAICS industries (e.g., tidal or other not‑elsewhere‑classified technologies). Generated electricity is provided to transmission or distribution systems, rather than used on-site. ²

See also on G2X:

• NAICS 221118 — Overview
• NAICS 221114 — Solar Electric Power Generation
• NAICS 221121 — Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control

What this NAICS covers

• Operation of electric generation facilities using tidal or similar ocean energy sources. ²
• Generation using unconventional or emerging sources not separately defined under solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydro, fossil, or nuclear categories. ²
• Production of electrical energy that is delivered to electric power transmission systems. ³
• Production of electrical energy that is delivered to electric power distribution systems. ³
• Establishments engaged in power generation where the technology is not classified under NAICS 221114, 221115, 221116, 221117, 221111, 221112, or 221113. ⁴

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	221114	Solar Electric Power Generation
NAICS	221115	Wind Electric Power Generation
NAICS	221121	Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control
PSC	S112	Utilities — Electric

• NAICS titles per Census Bureau materials. ⁵
• PSC title per GSA Product and Service Code Manual. ⁶

Key exclusions and cross-references

• Excludes hydroelectric, fossil fuel, nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass generation, which are classified under NAICS 221111, 221112, 221113, 221114, 221115, 221116, and 221117. ⁴
• Transmission and distribution activities fall under NAICS 221121 and 221122, not 221118. ⁵

2022 NAICS vintage and implementation notes

• Federal economic programs are transitioning publications to the 2022 NAICS vintage; the Census Bureau began releasing 2022‑based industry statistics with the 2022 Economic Census and expects full adoption across programs by the end of 2027 (with limited exceptions). ⁷

Frequently asked questions

• What technologies are included in NAICS 221118?
  Establishments generating electricity from tidal and other sources not otherwise classified fall here. This residual category covers electric power generation technologies outside solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydro, fossil, and nuclear groupings. ²

• How does 221118 differ from 221114, 221115, 221116, and 221117?
  In 2012, NAICS split the prior “Other Electric Power Generation” industry (2007 NAICS 221119) into distinct industries for solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass, leaving 221118 for remaining technologies such as tidal. ⁴

• Does 221118 include transmission or distribution?
  No. Transmission and bulk control are classified under NAICS 221121, and retail distribution is under NAICS 221122. Generation in 221118 feeds into those systems. ⁵

• When did 221118 become a distinct industry?
  The 2012 NAICS revision created 221118 as part of splitting 2007 NAICS 221119 into five industries to reflect growth in renewable and other generation technologies. ⁴

• How often is NAICS updated, and what is the current vintage?
  NAICS is reviewed on a five‑year cycle via the OMB Economic Classification Policy Committee process. The current vintage is 2022, and dissemination on the 2022 basis is being phased in across programs per Census’s published timeline. ⁷

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 221118
• Census: Economic Census guidance — NAICS overview and structure. ³
• Census: “New in 2012” — Utilities sector changes creating NAICS 221114–221118. ⁴
• Census: Energy Awareness — list of electric power generation NAICS codes. ⁵
• Census: 2022 NAICS implementation timeline. ⁷

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — About Industry: NAICS history and update schedule. https://www.census.gov/topics/employment/industry-occupation/about/industry.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — Press release: Renewable electric power generation industries (context for “other” and tidal). https://www.census.gov/newsroom/archives/2014-pr/cb14-204.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Utilities (Sector 22) archived descriptions (generation flowing to transmission or distribution). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect22.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — “New in 2012” NAICS changes (split of 2007 NAICS 221119; creation of 221114–221118). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2012/about/new.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau — Energy Awareness Month (lists NAICS 221111–221118, 221121, 221122). https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/energy-awareness-month.html
6. General Services Administration — Product and Service Code Manual (service code S112 Utilities — Electric). https://www.acquisition.gov/content/psc-manual-april-2022.pdf
7. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (vintage and program timeline). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html