NGA hosted the 2026 Mutual Aid Summit on July 29–30 at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Nearly 50 utility leaders and emergency response professionals from across the Northeast came together for two days to strengthen the partnerships that help our industry prepare for—and respond to—eevents requiring mutual assistance.

Throughout the summit, participants shared experiences and lessons learned from recent mutual aid events, discussing how mutual aid resources were deployed, the challenges encountered, and opportunities to strengthen future response efforts. NGA also provided updates on integrating mutual aid resources into emergency gas operations, best practices for onboarding mutual aid personnel, and the updated Mutual Aid Agreement and Resource Facilitation Agreement (RFA).

A highlight of the event was the annual mutual aid exercise, where participants worked through realistic emergency scenarios that tested response protocols, communications, and cross-border resource coordination. The exercise concluded with a collaborative debrief to identify operational gaps and reinforce key takeaways. Attendees closed the summit with a roundtable discussion focused on future drills, exercises, and continued collaboration across the region.

Mutual aid is one of the industry's most important tools for ensuring a safe and effective response during major emergencies. By planning together, training together, and sharing lessons learned, utilities strengthen their collective ability to restore service, protect the public, and support one another when it matters most.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Mutual Aid Summit. Your commitment to collaboration helps ensure our region is prepared to respond safely and effectively whenever the need arises.

If you have questions about NGA's Mutual Aid Program, please contact Glenn Meyers at gmeyers@northeastgas.org.