May 7, 2026
Electric Avenue — News Impacting Lighting Markets: May 2026
Record distributor earnings, data center demand and distribution center investments
Welcome to Electric Avenue, where each month we explore the intersections between the electrical industry and our beloved lighting industry.
With a focus on news, trends, and economic factors shaping the landscape of electrical distribution, construction, contracting, and manufacturing, Electric Avenue is your resource for staying informed of some of the more notable electrical industry events that may impact North American lighting markets.
Each month, Electric Avenue delivers important news on macro market conditions and changing business dynamics affecting commercial lighting projects and general lighting "stock & flow" distribution across North America.
The May 2026 Electric Avenue highlights record-setting distributor earnings, major distribution center expansions, a significant buying group restructuring, and key leadership transitions across the electrical industry, alongside construction spending signals and tariff pressures shaping the outlook for the remainder of 2026.
Distributor Acquisition
Winsupply Acquires Texas Waterworks Distributor Rural Pipe & Supply
Not exactly an electrical play, but Winsupply Inc. has acquired Rural Pipe & Supply, a first-generation, family-owned business headquartered in Jasper, Texas, with a second location in Livingston. Founded in 1999 by Tommy and Amanda Shaver, the company supplies waterworks and construction materials — including PVC and HDPE pipe, sewer systems, irrigation products, and fittings — to contractors, municipalities, and residential customers across Southeast Texas. Both founders will remain in leadership roles.
The deal adds 18 employees and marks Winsupply's second acquisition of its current fiscal year, following the February purchase of Central Corp. in Wisconsin.
Electrical Distributor News
Border States Opens Bemidji, Minnesota Branch
Border States recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Bemidji, Minnesota, location at 2323 Cooperative CT NW. The redesigned facility replaces the company's prior Bemidji branch and features an enhanced City Desk experience to better serve construction, industrial, and utility customers. The opening comes in advance of Border States' Upper Midwest Distribution Center in Fargo, North Dakota — a 300,000-plus-square-foot facility expected to open in fall 2026 — which will serve 28 regional locations and is projected to create more than 60 new jobs.
Distributor Wire & Cable Opens 169,000-Square-Foot Houston Hub
Distributor Wire & Cable opened a 169,000-square-foot Cable Distribution Center in Missouri City, Texas — its largest facility to date — on April 9, 2026. The Houston-area hub gives the Denver-based specialty wire and cable master distributor same-day and next-day delivery reach across a 250-mile Gulf Coast radius. The facility stocks VNTC and XLP/PVC tray cable, instrumentation cable, and copper building wire, with cut-to-length services and no cut charges, reel charges, or order minimums. CEO Travis Williams said the expansion is designed to make specialty cable the easiest line on the bill of materials for Gulf Coast electrical distributors.
Van Meter Breaks Ground on Major Cottage Grove Distribution Center Expansion
Van Meter broke ground April 29 on a major expansion of its Cottage Grove, Minnesota, regional distribution center. The project will add 124,000 square feet to the existing facility, bringing the total footprint to 315,000 square feet, and will include implementation of Hai Robotics automation. The Iowa-based, employee-owned electrical and automation distributor currently employs approximately 205 people at the Cottage Grove site, which will consolidate inventory management, order fulfillment, and wire and cable processing under one roof. Construction and automation work are expected to continue through 2027, with a full operational transition planned for 2028.
Winsupply Opens East Jacksonville Location Focused on Fire Protection
tED Magazine reports that Winsupply of East Jacksonville opened on February 1, 2026, adding a sixth Local Company to the distributor's Jacksonville, Florida, market presence. Located at 3251 Newell Blvd. in a 16,250-square-foot facility with a large pipe yard, the branch is led by president Troy Klein, whose family brings more than a century of combined experience in the fire protection industry. The location is the only Winsupply outlet in the market distributing Victaulic and Spears Manufacturing products for fire protection. The broader Winsupply Family of Companies is on pace to exceed $8.4 billion in combined annual sales in 2026.
Van Meter Named a 2026 USA Today Top Workplace
Van Meter has been named a 2026 USA Today Top Workplace, continuing a run of workplace recognition for the Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based, employee-owned electrical and automation distributor. The award is based on employee feedback and reflects the company's culture, values, and associate experience across its Midwest operations.
Sonepar's Lawrence & Hanson Opens Victoria Fulfillment Center
Lawrence & Hanson, a Sonepar company, has officially opened its new Regional Fulfillment Centre (RFC) in Moorabbin, Victoria, Australia. The 12,000-square-meter facility houses more than 15,000 SKUs and is equipped with a Swisslog AutoStore system, enabling same-day or next-day delivery to customers. The investment supports more than 150 Lawrence & Hanson branches nationwide and is part of Sonepar's ongoing supply chain modernization strategy to deliver a seamless omnichannel experience across its global network.
Sonepar Releases 2025 CSR Report, Highlights U.S. Sustainability Progress
Sonepar has released its 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, highlighting measurable progress across sustainability, community investment, and operational responsibility. In the U.S., the company purchased renewable energy certificates covering 100% of electricity used in its branches as of July 2025 and is continuing that commitment through 2026. Capital Electric's Upper Marlboro distribution center — equipped with 5,384 solar panels — generated 1.28 GWh of renewable energy in 2025. Sonepar's Bright Lights Brighter Futures program has now completed 22 LED retrofits for nonprofits, delivering more than $600,000 in products and services since launch. Earth Week 2026's 'Place an order, plant a tree' campaign generated a $14,500 donation to the National Forest Foundation, bringing the six-year partnership's cumulative total to more than 82,000 trees planted.
Sonepar Earns Two Military-Employer Awards
Sonepar has earned two distinct recognitions for its support of the military-connected community: a 5 Star Employer designation in the 2026 VETS Indexes Employer Awards — the program's highest level — and 2026-2027 Vetted Employer status from Vetted Employers LLC. The VETS Indexes award evaluates employers across recruiting, development, retention, veteran-inclusive culture, and military family support. Sonepar has established partnerships with more than 25 military-focused organizations, including Disabled American Veterans, RecruitMilitary, and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and supports veterans internally through its Military and Veterans Employee Resource Group (MERGE).
IMARK Launches Current Distribution Group as New Umbrella Organization
IMARK has announced the launch of Current Distribution Group (CDG), a parent organization bringing its vertical market platforms under a unified structure. Announced April 13, CDG encompasses IMARK Plumbing, IMARK HVAC, Luxury Products Group, Empower Electrical Group, Victory Irrigation, Victory Waterworks, and Victory PVF. Each vertical retains its own identity while gaining shared supplier alignment, programming resources, and cross-industry collaboration. CDG's combined distributor network generates more than $8 billion in annual sales. John Aykroyd has been named president.
AD Reports 16% Q1 Member Sales Growth on Commonwealth Group Addition
Affiliated Distributors (AD) has reported member sales growth of 16% in the first quarter of 2026, driven significantly by its merger with The Commonwealth Group, which closed last year. Same-store sales grew 10%, with the U.S. Electrical and U.S. PVF divisions each posting 13% growth. AD's member count increased by 74 on a net basis during the quarter; members also acquired nine fellow members and 14 companies outside of AD. Chairman and CEO Bill Weisberg credited growth across divisions and the successful Commonwealth integration for the strong start to the year.
Earnings Reports
Graybar Posts Record Net Income in Q1 2026
Graybar reported first-quarter 2026 net sales of $3.3 billion — a 12.4% increase over the same period last year — alongside net income of $141.9 million, up 40.6% year over year. The results mark the highest quarterly net income and second-highest net sales in the company's 100-year history. During the quarter, Graybar also acquired Broken Arrow Electric Supply in Oklahoma, its 20th acquisition over the past decade, and was named to Fortune Magazine's 2026 World's Most Admired Companies list for the 24th consecutive year. Chairman, President and CEO Kathleen M. Mazzarella credited employee dedication and the company's ongoing business transformation for the strong performance.
WESCO Posts Record $6.1 Billion Quarter as Data Centers Surge
WESCO International reported record first-quarter 2026 net sales of $6.1 billion, up 14% year over year — the company's third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. Data center sales of $1.4 billion grew approximately 70% and now represent 24% of total company revenue. Backlog reached a record level, up 22% from the prior year. Organic sales grew 12.3%, with volume gains across all three business segments. Adjusted EBITDA grew 25% and adjusted earnings per diluted share rose more than 50%. Based on the results, management raised its full-year 2026 sales and earnings outlook.
Rexel Returns to All-Region Growth in Q1 for First Time in 11 Quarters
Rexel reported first-quarter 2026 sales of €4.74 billion (approximately $5.1 billion), up 3.4% on a same-day basis — the first quarter in 11 in which all three geographic regions posted positive growth simultaneously. North America led with same-day sales up 5.8%, driven by data centers, broadband infrastructure, and nonresidential markets including hospitals, mining, and water systems. The U.S. segment, roughly 82% of North American revenue, grew 5.1%. North American backlog at end of March reached 2.8 months of sales, up double digits year over year. Rexel confirmed its full-year 2026 guidance.
Executive Moves
AD Names Chris Marlow President of Independent Electrical Supply Division
AD has named Chris Marlow president of its Independent Electrical Supply Division (IESD), effective May 1, 2026. Marlow brings more than 25 years of electrical industry experience, having most recently led U.S. and Latin America installation products sales at ABB. He previously spent three years at Cerrowire and more than 18 years in sales leadership roles at Southwire. Marlow succeeds Karen Baker, who announced her retirement. He will lead the IESD — which represents more than 700 independent electrical distributors — and work alongside AD leadership and the IESD Board to strengthen member engagement and advance competitive strategies.
United Electric Supply Names Buonocore CEO; Sundberg Promoted to EVP Sales
tED Magazine reports that United Electric Supply has named Tony Buonocore as president and CEO, effective May 1, 2026, following the retirement of George Vorwick after 47 years with the company and the electrical industry. Buonocore previously served as president and brings experience across sales, marketing, and field services — including ownership of Westway Electric Supply before it was acquired by United in 2018. In a parallel move, Greg Sundberg has been promoted to executive vice president of Sales. Sundberg has more than 20 years of experience at United and will lead the sales organization with an emphasis on service excellence and customer relationships.
Border States Names Zach Kincaid VP of Procurement
Border States has named Zach Kincaid as vice president of Procurement, succeeding Richelle Bishoff, who has transitioned to VP of Industrial Solutions. Kincaid has been with the Fargo, North Dakota-based distributor for more than 12 years, holding roles in branch and area leadership before serving most recently as VP of Distribution. He began his career at Border States in the Procurement function — a detail that Executive VP of Supply Chain James Sipe described as a full-circle moment. Kincaid was a tED Magazine 30 Under 35 Award recipient in 2016.
What We Are Reading
America's Skilled Trades Shortage Could Cost $1 Trillion a Year
Fortune reports that a new study from JLL projects as many as 2.1 million U.S. skilled trades positions could go unfilled by 2030, with potential economic losses reaching $1 trillion annually. More than one in five construction workers is currently over 55, and electrician demand is forecast to grow 9.5% through 2034 — more than triple the average across all occupations. The report describes the workforce as a “silent army” disappearing faster than it is being replaced, a dynamic that industry leaders including Ford CEO Jim Farley have flagged as a threat to the nation's AI infrastructure ambitions.
Tariff Q&A With NAED Director of Government Relations
tED Magazine reports on a Q&A with Bud DeFlaviis, NAED's director of government relations, examining the practical implications of IEEPA tariffs for electrical distributors. The conversation covers why distributors typically cannot claim tariff refunds directly, why unwinding tariff-driven price increases remains difficult even after rates change, and how distributors can frame that reality for customers. The interview is presented for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
Schneider Electric White Paper: Practical AI for Manufacturers
Schneider Electric's new white paper, Beyond the Hype: Practical AI for Competitive Consumer Goods Manufacturing, outlines how consumer goods manufacturers can use industrial AI to improve efficiency, resiliency, and competitiveness. The paper, developed in collaboration with AVEVA, focuses on applying AI through industrial data, modular automation, electrification, and digital intelligence to support more autonomous operations across food and beverage and life sciences manufacturing.
Economic Factors
ABC Construction Spending: Private Sector Contracts for Fourth Straight Month
Associated Builders and Contractors reports that national nonresidential construction spending was essentially unchanged in January 2026, totaling a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of $1.245 trillion. Private nonresidential spending fell 0.4% — the fourth consecutive monthly contraction and now down 8% from its December 2023 peak — while public construction rose 0.6%. Spending declined in nine of 16 nonresidential subcategories. ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu noted data centers as a rare bright spot, with spending rising 2% in January, while CHIPS Act-driven manufacturing construction continued a steep decline. Basu flagged geopolitical uncertainty and tariff-related cost pressures as additional near-term headwinds.
ABC Construction Backlog: Indicator Rebounds to 8.6 Months in March
Associated Builders and Contractors reports that its Construction Backlog Indicator climbed to 8.6 months in March, up 0.5 months from February and 0.1 months above the year-ago reading, according to an ABC member survey conducted March 23 to April 6. The rebound fully reverses January's four-year low. Contractors with data center work in backlog reported significantly stronger visibility, averaging 10.6 months versus 8.3 months for those without. ABC's Construction Confidence Index for profit margins and staffing both improved in March, with staffing expectations reaching their highest level since April 2022.
Daily Copper Prices
Data source: Yahoo! Finance
Global Container Freight Rates
Above: Container rates from China to West Coast USA. Data source: Freightos
The FBX01 global ocean freight container pricing index tracks the cost of shipping 40-foot containers between major ports in China and East Asia and the West Coast of North America. This index, developed in partnership with the Baltic Exchange, includes key Chinese ports like Shanghai (PVG) and Ningbo (NGB), and U.S. ports such as Los Angeles (LAX) and Chicago (ORD).
FBX1 reflects what shippers typically pay on an all-in basis. Lower numbers often seen online are ocean-only quotes that exclude many real costs and may only be valid for a single sailing.
This trade route is a vital artery for global commerce, facilitating the movement of billions of dollars' worth of goods across the Pacific. Commonly shipped items on this route include electronics, clothing, furniture, toys, and machinery.
