June 3, 2026
Electric Avenue — News Impacting Lighting Markets: June 2026
Distributor expansion, infrastructure spending, and workforce trends drive activity
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 June 2026 Electric Avenue features a wide-ranging look at the business developments shaping today's electrical marketplace. This month's highlights include channel consolidation, distribution center investments, workforce and leadership initiatives, growing attention on AI and supply chain technology, continued data center-driven demand, and economic indicators that may influence lighting project activity in the months ahead.
Distributor Acquisitions
Rexel USA Acquires Revere Electric Supply, Expanding Midwest Footprint
Rexel USA has agreed to acquire Revere Electric Supply, a 107-year-old, ten-location distributor spanning Northern Illinois, Central Illinois, Northwest Indiana, and four Wisconsin markets. The deal fills a conspicuous gap in Rexel’s upper Midwest coverage—the company previously held only two Illinois branches in the region. Seven of Revere’s locations carry authorized Rockwell Automation distributor status, adding industrial automation depth in a manufacturing-heavy corridor. Rexel has committed to retaining the Revere name, leadership team, and operating model.
Graybar Completes Acquisition of Southern California’s American Electric Supply
Graybar has completed its acquisition of American Electric Supply (AES), a single-location distributor in Corona, California serving commercial and industrial customers across Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and San Diego counties. Founded in 1984, AES fills a distribution gap at a critical freeway junction connecting the Inland Empire, Orange County, and greater Los Angeles. AES is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Graybar and will continue to operate under its own name, with President Mike Pratt and the existing team leading the transition.
Electrical Distributor News
Electrical Wholesaling’s 2026 Top 100 Analysis: Industry Projecting 9.5% Growth
Electrical Wholesaling’s 2026 Top 100 analysis finds that the industry’s largest electrical distributors averaged 9.3% revenue growth in 2025 and are projecting 9.5% growth in 2026, driven heavily by data center construction. The 100 largest distributors combined for an estimated $114.3 billion in revenues—roughly 76% of total estimated industry sales. The five largest national chains—Wesco, Sonepar, Graybar, Rexel, and Consolidated Electrical Distributors—account for an estimated 46% of total industry sales. Several smaller distributors posted 2025 gains exceeding 20%, led by Eckart Supply at +55%.
Van Meter Breaks Ground on Major Cottage Grove Distribution Center Expansion
Van Meter, a Midwest-based employee-owned electrical and automation distributor, has broken ground on a 124,000-square-foot expansion of its regional distribution center in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. The multi-year project will bring the facility’s total footprint to 315,000 square feet and incorporate Hai Robotics warehouse automation technology. The expansion will also consolidate the company’s two existing Cottage Grove locations under one roof, combining inventory management, order fulfillment, and wire and cable processing. Construction and automation implementation are expected to run through 2027, with full operational transition in 2028.
Border States Named One of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture and Community
Border States has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging and Community for 2026. The Fargo-based electrical distributor achieved an employee engagement score of 89% in 2025, placing it in the 95th percentile nationally. The designation recognizes companies excelling across 52 drivers of employee satisfaction, including job security, work-life balance, and corporate culture. “At Border States, our culture isn’t a program—it’s how employee-owners show up for one another and for our customers every day,” said Colleen Kozak, EVP Human Resources.
QED Launches Power Forward Scholarship for Electrical Apprentices
Quality Electrical Distribution (QED), a Sonepar company based in Denver, has opened applications for its QED Power Forward Scholarship, which will cover required books for 10 eligible fourth-year Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM) students. The program supports students training to become electricians and reflects QED’s longstanding presence at IECRM dating to the mid-1990s. Applications are due June 30, 2026, and recipients will be notified July 20. “I’m incredibly proud to help launch this scholarship program,” said Sara Cody, QED marketing director.
Revere Electric Supply to Open New 55,000 Sq. Ft. Madison, Wisconsin Facility
Revere Electric Supply, now a Rexel USA company, has announced plans to relocate its Madison, Wisconsin operations to a new 55,000-square-foot facility at 5007 Femrite Drive this summer. The new location more than doubles the footprint of the company’s current Madison branch, which has served customers from the same address since 1985. The facility includes 42,000 square feet of warehouse space plus expanded office space and a dedicated customer training area for vendor-led classes and continuing education. President John Cady called the move a milestone made possible by employee dedication and customer loyalty.
Winsupply Launches ‘Win with Winsupply’ Program Through NASCAR Sponsorship
Winsupply Inc. has announced the ‘Win with Winsupply’ program through a new sponsorship of Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport and driver Andrew Patterson in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Winsupply branding will appear on the No. 32 Chevrolet at six races this season, from Charlotte in May through Homestead-Miami in November. The program gives the company’s network of locally owned distributors access to hospitality at race weekends, including garage tours, driver meet-and-greets, and VIP credentials. Patterson, whose family worked in the plumbing and HVAC trades in the Dayton area, was described by Rob Ferguson, President of the Local Company Group, as “a natural fit.”
Rexel USA Renews and Expands Partnership with Legacy Motor Club for 2027 NASCAR Season
Rexel USA has renewed and expanded its partnership with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season, building on its 2026 debut with the team. Rexel becomes an Official Partner of the club and will serve as primary sponsor on the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE—driven by John Hunter Nemechek—for multiple races, including the August 15 event at Richmond Raceway. The company will also activate within LEGACY’s premium hospitality program throughout the season. “This relationship goes beyond a sticker on the side of a car—this is a partnership,” said Roger Little, CEO, Rexel USA. The club is owned by seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management.
Toronto Lighting Supply Opens New Vaughan, Ontario Location
Electrical Business reports that Toronto Lighting Supply (TLS) held the grand opening of its new Vaughan, Ontario location on April 24. The new branch complements the company’s original Toronto facility and features lighting displays, control solutions, and contractor-focused inventory serving electricians, contractors, designers, and developers across the Greater Toronto Area. The event drew customers, supplier partners, and local officials. TLS said its focus remains on building long-term relationships while providing reliable service, fast turnaround times, and dependable support for electricians and contractors across Ontario.
Graybar Earns US Best Managed Company Designation for Third Consecutive Year
Graybar has been named a 2026 US Best Managed Company, a program sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal recognizing outstanding U.S. private companies. The designation marks the third consecutive year for Graybar, which was evaluated on strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture, and governance and financial performance. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our employees and the strength of our employee ownership culture,” said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman, president and CEO of Graybar.
NAED Urges Amazon to Close Gaps in Electrical Safety Product Oversight
NAED, alongside NEMA and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), has written to Amazon urging the platform to strengthen oversight of safety-critical electrical products sold through its marketplace. In a joint letter to Amazon’s product safety leadership, the organizations raised concerns that circuit breakers, GFCIs, and AFCIs are not currently included in Amazon Seller Central’s Product Compliance List—leaving room for uncertified products to reach consumers. NAED argues the gap creates unfair competition for compliant manufacturers and distributors and elevates risk for contractors and end-users. The effort aligns with the bipartisan SHOP SAFE Act, expected to be introduced later this year.
Rexel CEO Guillaume Texier Elected President of UN Global Compact France Network
tED Magazine reports that Guillaume Texier, CEO of Rexel, has been elected president of the UN Global Compact—France Network, the leading corporate sustainability organization in France with more than 2,300 members. Texier succeeds Florent Menegaux, chairman of Michelin, whose three-year term ended at the organization’s Annual General Meeting in Paris. Rexel also joined the network’s Board of Directors as part of a broader governance renewal that added nine new companies. Texier said his priority will be to amplify sustainable business practices and provide concrete tools to help SMEs and mid-sized companies reduce their environmental footprint.
Executive Moves
United Electric Supply Names Buonocore CEO; Sundberg Elevated to EVP Sales
United Electric Supply Inc. has named Tony Buonocore President and CEO following the retirement of George Vorwick on May 1. Buonocore brings deep experience spanning sales, marketing, and field services, and previously owned Westway Electric Supply, which United acquired in 2018. In a simultaneous move, Greg Sundberg has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Sales, with more than 20 years at the Wilmington, Delaware-based employee-owned distributor. The promotions are part of United’s long-term succession strategy, which the company says reflects its commitment to employee-ownership and internal development.
IDEA Names Industry Veteran Jay Andrews Platform Director for ProjectNexus
IDEA, the industry-owned technology company and leading provider of electrical product data and EDI services, has named Jay Andrews as Platform Director for ProjectNexus, the supply chain visibility solution developed in partnership with NAED and Pull Logic. Andrews brings nearly three decades of electrical industry experience, including co-founding Next Generation Lighting, an independent rep firm in Alpharetta, Georgia, that represented more than 90 manufacturers before its acquisition in early 2026. He also co-founded the American Association of Independent Lighting Agencies. ProjectNexus gives distributors and reps real-time visibility into order status, replacing the manual follow-up that has long burdened operations teams.
What We Are Reading
AI Is Enabling the Next Generation of Distributor Workflows
Electrical Wholesaling contributor Michael Delgado, CEO of Canals, argues that AI is no longer a competitive advantage for distributors but a baseline requirement. Manual quoting, order entry, and PO tracking can no longer keep pace with rising customer expectations and shrinking workforces. AI handles the translation of imprecise customer requests into actionable data, encodes institutional knowledge from retiring employees, and frees sales teams to focus on relationship-driven work.
As AI Slows White-Collar Hiring, Skilled Trades Are Cashing In
CNBC examines the growing divergence between a slowdown in entry-level office hiring and surging demand for electricians, technicians, welders, and other trade workers fueling the physical infrastructure behind the AI economy. Major companies including Ford, Nvidia, and AT&T—which plans to invest $38 billion over five years hiring and training blue-collar front-line workers—are actively recruiting for roles that AI cannot automate. A record number of college graduates enter a market where AI is displacing junior roles, while skilled trade wages have risen 30% since 2022.
Communities Block Data Centers. Big Tech Has Wagered $1 Trillion Otherwise.
Fortune reports that at least 48 data center projects totaling $156 billion were blocked or stalled by local opposition in 2025 alone, with project cancellations jumping from 6 in 2024 to 25 in 2025—and more than 20 additional cancellations in the first quarter of 2026. A recent Gallup survey found 71% of Americans would oppose a data center in their community. Despite this, the top six U.S. hyperscalers are accelerating spending to a projected $785 billion in 2026 and $1 trillion in 2027, according to Moody’s Ratings.
Economic Factors
ABC Construction Spending: Nonresidential Spending Ticks Up on Public Sector Strength
Associated Builders and Contractors reports that national nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in April, reaching a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of $1.250 trillion. Public nonresidential spending rose 0.4%, offsetting a 0.2% decline in private spending. Spending on data centers—tracked within the office category—climbed another 1.9% to a $50.7 billion annualized pace and is up 28.1% over the past year. “Nonresidential construction spending inched higher in April, but that growth was entirely due to a sizable increase in public sector activity,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu, who warned that rising materials prices and sluggishness in many commercial segments may weigh on contractor sentiment ahead.
ABC Construction Backlog: Indicator Climbs to 8.8 Months, a 10-Month High
Associated Builders and Contractors reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.8 months in April—its highest reading since June 2025—up 0.2 months from March. The gains are highly concentrated: contractors with more than $100 million in annual revenue carry backlogs 2.2 months longer than April 2025, driven by booming data center work. All other size categories report smaller backlogs than a year ago. ABC’s Construction Confidence Index also rose across all three components. “Just 1 in 5 expect their profit margins to shrink over the next six months,” noted Chief Economist Anirban Basu, adding that “oil price increases and emerging materials price escalation have not diminished ABC member confidence.”
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.
