It was founded in 1926 and maintains its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, in the Washington metropolitan area.

[7] Its approximately 350[8] member companies[9] manufacture products used in the generation, transmission, distribution, control, and end use of electricity.

These products are used in utility, industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential applications.

The association's Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance (MITA) division represents manufacturers of cutting-edge medical diagnostic imaging equipment including MRI, CT, x-ray, and ultrasound products.

Among its major standards are those for electrical enclosures, motors and magnet wire, AC plugs and receptacles; the NEMA connectors are universal in North America and also used by some other countries.