The natural gas industry’s long-standing commitment to collaboration and mutual support continues with the release of the updated National Mutual Assistance Agreement. The revised Agreement, released at the end of October, will take effect January 1, 2026, and remain in effect through December 31, 2030. This updated Agreement builds on the existing national mutual assistance framework that utilities across the country have relied on for decades to respond to emergencies safely, efficiently, and effectively.

A Collaborative, Industry-Led Effort

The updated Agreement was developed through a collaborative effort led by the American Gas Association (AGA), with meaningful input from regional trade associations and member companies, including:

• Northeast Gas Association (NGA)
• American Public Gas Association (APGA)
• Southern Gas Association (SGA)
• Midwest Energy Association (MEA)
• Western Energy Institute (WEI)

Together, these Associations worked to ensure the Agreement reflects current operational realities, lessons learned from recent emergency responses, and evolving expectations around information sharing and coordination.

Purpose of the National Mutual Assistance Agreement

The Agreement provides a voluntary, industry-wide framework that allows participating members to request and provide emergency assistance—including materials, services, personnel, supplies, and equipment—when natural gas service has been disrupted and cannot be restored safely or in a timely manner by the affected company alone.

Recognizing that emergency restoration work differs significantly from normal operations—and that any member may at times both request and provide assistance—the Associations developed this Agreement to facilitate mutual aid under clearly defined and consistent terms and conditions.

Key Enhancements in the Updated Agreement

While maintaining the core structure and intent of the existing Agreement, the updated version introduces several important enhancements:

New Confidentiality Section
A key improvement in the updated Agreement is the addition of a comprehensive Confidentiality section, which clearly outlines:

• Confidentiality obligations
• Non-disclosure and use of information
• Confidentiality expectations

This addition reflects the increasing importance of information security and clarity around data sharing during emergency response efforts.

Improved Request for Assistance (RFA) Form
The updated Agreement also includes a new and improved Request for Assistance (RFA) form, designed to be more user-friendly and operationally practical. Enhancements include:

• A clearer, more intuitive structure
• A resource summary workbook

NGA members participated in an exercise using the updated RFA form, providing valuable feedback that helped refine the tool for real-world emergency scenarios.

Preparing for 2026 and Beyond

The updated National Mutual Assistance Agreement reinforces the industry’s shared commitment to safety, reliability, and mutual support during emergencies. Members are encouraged to review the Agreement in advance of its January 1, 2026 effective date and familiarize relevant internal teams with the updated confidentiality provisions and RFA process.

If you have questions about mutual assistance, please contact Glenn Meyers at gmeyers@northeastgas.org. Additionally, if you missed the launch of our recent Mutual Aid playbook, you can learn more about that here: NGA Launched Mutual Aid Playbook