Minnesota Board of Electricity Quarterly Update (July 2026)

 

Submitted by Michelle Dreier, Government Affairs and Compliance Consultant

The Minnesota Board of Electricity met on July 14, and while the agenda was shorter than April's meeting, there were still several important updates affecting electrical contractors across the state. From workforce growth and exam performance to enforcement activity and the upcoming adoption of the 2026 National Electrical Code, here's what contractors should know.

Workforce Pulse: Minnesota's Electrical Industry Continues to Grow
The latest licensing data continues to show steady growth across much of Minnesota's electrical workforce.

Minnesota Electrical Workforce Trends

Classification April July   Change  
Licensed Electrical Contractors 2497 2610 +113
Registered Electrical Employers 422 433 +11
Technology Systems Contractors       835 846 +11
Master Electricians 6511 6641 +130
Journeyworkers   12,435     12,516   +81

 

One category worth watching is Registered Unlicensed Electricians, which declined from 16,074 to 15,789. While there could be several reasons for this change, it may indicate that more individuals are advancing into licensed classifications or simply reflect normal workforce movement.

The Board also noted that DLI's contractor totals include out-of-state licensed electrical contractors, so increases don't necessarily represent new Minnesota-based businesses.

  EA Insight
 The continued growth in licensed professionals reinforces what we're hearing from contractors across Minnesota. Demand for skilled electricians remains strong, making apprenticeship, training, and employee retention just as important as recruiting new talent.

More Electricians Are Taking Licensing Exams
 The Board also shared updated year-to-date licensing exam activity. Through mid-July, hundreds of individuals had taken Minnesota’s Master, Journeyworker, and Power Limited Technician examinations.

Year-to-date exam activity through mid-July:

License   Test Takers     Overall Pass Rate  
Master 288 49.3%
Journeyworker 658 44.6%
PLT 151  55.9%

 

The Board reports two different pass-rate statistics. The first reflects every exam attempt, including retakes. The second reflects the percentage of individual test takers who ultimately passed, even if it took more than one attempt. For example:

  • Master: 49.3% of exam attempts passed, while 57% of Master candidates ultimately earned a passing score.
  • Journeyworker: 44.6% of exam attempts passed, while 55% of candidates ultimately passed.
  • Power Limited Technician: 55.9% of exam attempts passed, while 64% of candidates ultimately passed.

  EA Insight
 The number of individuals working toward licensure demonstrates the continued importance of exam preparation and workforce development. These examinations remain challenging, but the higher pass rates by individual test taker show that candidates often succeed even when more than one attempt is required.

Enforcement Snapshot (Year-to-Date)
The Board also shared year-to-date enforcement activity through mid-July. Current totals include:

  • 165 active electrical investigations
  • 71 orders issued in 2026
  • 86 investigations closed in 2026

These figures represent DLI's activity year-to-date, not just activity during the second quarter.

Although the numbers don't necessarily indicate an increase in violations, they illustrate that licensing compliance, permitting requirements, and code enforcement remain active priorities for the Department.

2026 National Electrical Code Adoption is Almost Here The Board confirmed that Minnesota remains on schedule to adopt the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC).

Current timeline:

  • July 27 – Final rule publication anticipated
  • August 3 – 2026 NEC becomes effective
  • August 3 – Enforcement begins
  • Early September (tentatively the first Monday) – Licensing exams transition to the 2026 NEC

DLI recently sent all license holders a .gov email notification announcing the code adoption.

  EA Insight: Start Preparing Now
 The Electrical Association is already teaching 2026 NEC courses and has 2026 NEC continuing education available on our Self-Paced CE platform. Whether you're preparing for your next license renewal, getting ready for an upcoming licensing exam, or simply want to stay ahead of the code changes before enforcement begins on August 3, now is an excellent time to begin your transition.

Permit Activity Remains Flat
The Board also noted that electrical permit activity continues to run approximately 2,000 permits below previous levels.

This mirrors what was reported during the April meeting. The gap has neither widened nor narrowed significantly, so permit activity remains an important trend to watch.

Final Takeaways
While July's meeting was relatively brief, it reinforced several trends shaping Minnesota's electrical industry:

  • The licensed workforce continues to grow.
  • Hundreds of individuals are moving through Minnesota’s licensing examination process.
  • Year-to-date exam pass rates have improved since the April report
  • The 2026 NEC transition is only weeks away.
  • DLI continues to actively monitor licensing compliance and enforcement.

Each quarter, the Electrical Association attends Minnesota Board of Electricity meetings to provide members with a concise summary of industry trends, workforce data, regulatory updates, and the information most relevant to electrical contractors. Our goal is to save you time by highlighting not just what was discussed, but what it means for your business.

Read the BOE Minutes from the April 2026 Meeting:  April 2026 Minutes