Key takeaways
- APPA's 2026 statistical report counts 1,998 public power utilities serving more than 55 million Americans.
- America's 890 electric cooperatives (830 distribution and 60 generation and transmission) serve an estimated 42 million people in 48 states, based on 2024 data.
- EPA data put the number of US public water systems above 148,000, including about 52,000 community water systems.
- The EIA's utility-level data, association member directories and EPA's drinking water database are the best starting points for a target list.
How many utilities are there?
| Utility type | Count | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Public power utilities | 1,998, serving more than 55 million Americans | APPA 2026 Public Power Statistical Report |
| Electric cooperatives | 890 (830 distribution, 60 generation and transmission), serving about 42 million people in 48 states | NRECA, 2024 data |
| Investor-owned electric utilities | 168, serving 72% of electricity customers | EIA, 2017 data |
| Public water systems | More than 148,000, including about 52,000 community water systems | EPA |
Counts differ between sources because of definitions and data years. For targeting, the point is scale: thousands of separate utilities, most of them small and locally governed.
Where to find electric utility lists
- EIA utility data: the U.S. Energy Information Administration publishes utility-level data from its Form EIA-861 survey, covering investor-owned, public and cooperative utilities, with customers and sales by utility.
- American Public Power Association (APPA): the national association of community-owned electric utilities, with member information and state affiliate associations.
- NRECA: the national association of electric cooperatives, with statewide co-op associations that list their members.
- State utility commissions: list the utilities they regulate, mostly investor-owned, and publish rate cases and resource plans. See our rate case and IRP tracker.
Where to find water and wastewater utility lists
- EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS): lists public water systems by state, with population served and system type.
- State drinking water programs: publish their own system lists and contacts.
- AWWA, AMWA and NACWA: associations for water professionals, large drinking water agencies and clean water utilities, with member directories.
- State Revolving Fund intended use plans: list the systems seeking funding for projects each year. See our utility funding tracker.
Building a utility target list
- Pick your segment: public power, co-ops, investor-owned utilities, or water and wastewater systems.
- Filter by size: customers served or population, matched to where your product fits.
- Add signals: capital plans, rate cases, funding awards and new mandates.
- Find the people: general managers, engineers and operations leads. Association directories and utility websites help.
- Tier the list and focus outreach where fit and timing are strongest. See defining TAM to target.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group has run utility programs that reached thousands of utilities, including 2,500+ utilities contacted and 70 qualified meetings for Siemens. See our utility sales services.
Sources: POWER on APPA's 2026 Public Power Statistical Report; NRECA electric co-op fact sheet; EIA, utility ownership types; Public water system counts citing EPA.