On Wednesday, April 8th, the Eversource Energy team hosted a mutual aid exercise, bringing together participants in a comprehensive Incident Command System (ICS) exercise. The scenario simulated a significant loss of pressure impacting roughly 9,500 customers, requiring coordinated response, resource deployment, and restoration planning.

Importantly, the exercise extended beyond a single operator. Nearly 30 companies participated as responding mutual aid partners, collectively demonstrating the depth and readiness of the region’s support network. A request for 100 external resources to assist with turn-offs and relights was exceeded, with more than 330 resources offered — underscoring the strength and reliability of mutual aid coordination across the Northeast.

Exercises like this are critical. They ensure that when real-world events occur, utilities can seamlessly work together to restore service safely and efficiently. Training in a realistic, high-pressure environment builds the relationships, communication protocols, and operational discipline that mutual aid depends on.

The Northeast Gas Association extends its sincere appreciation to Eversource for hosting this important exercise and for inviting NGA to participate. Opportunities like this provide invaluable insight and reinforce the essential role of mutual aid in maintaining system reliability and serving customers. A special thanks to Mike Shanley, Megan McClintock, and the entire Eversource team for their leadership of this event.

For questions about mutual aid or NGA’s related efforts, please contact Glenn Meyers at gmeyers@northeastgas.org.