Mutual Aid Coordination
Mutual aid is a process that involves the provision of aid to member utilities for emergency assistance in the form of personnel, supplies and/or equipment.
Operations Emergency Mutual Assistance Plan
For decades, NGA's Operations Emergency Mutual Assistance Plan (Plan) has provided "guidelines to aid in maintaining or restoring gas utility service when such service has been disrupted by acts of the elements, equipment malfunctions, accidents, sabotage, or any other occurrences where the parties deem emergency assistance to be necessary or advisable."
Mutual Aid Plan for Non-Members
In the event that a company which is not a member of the NGA required mutual assistance, the NGA Plan long served as the governing document for the duration of the emergency mutual
assistance, unless a separate, specific agreement for the mutual aid is established between the companies involved.
The Plan has been enacted several times in the last decade, notably in fall 2012 in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, and in fall 2018 in response to the Merrimack Valley, MA incident.
The work continues, regionally and nationally, to improve mutual aid networks.
Expanding National Mutual Aid Program for Natural Gas Utilities
In September 2020, a joint effort by the American Gas Association (AGA), American Public Gas Association (APGA), Northeast Gas Association (NGA), Southern Gas Association (SGA), and the MEA Energy Association was announced, to expand a National Mutual Aid Program to help regions weather disaster. Several of these organizations previously had mutual assistance programs of their own, designed as voluntary offerings for those in need, since the need to restore service can often outpace the capacity of regional resources. The new, nationwide program is designed to allow natural gas utilities from all participating associations to respond to regional emergencies quickly and with
The plan became effective on January 1, 2021
and runs through December 31, 2025.
This national agreement establishes a comprehensive system to provide members with mutual assistance during large scale response to emergency events resulting in large-scale disruption of service due to, for example, storm events, third party damage and supply disruptions.
Participating Members may request and provide emergency assistance in the form of materials, personnel, supplies and/or equipment, to aid in restoring natural gas service when it has been disrupted and cannot be restored in a safe and timely manner by the affected company or companies alone. Because of the significant differences between work performed under normal circumstances and emergency restoration, as well as the fact that each Member may, at any given point, both require as well as render emergency assistance, the Associations developed a voluntary system to help facilitate the provision of mutual aid assistance between their members.
Typically, the Regional Associations will be responsible for interacting with state agencies; and AGA and APGA will be responsible for interacting with federal agencies during a mutual aid scenario.
If regional mutual aid is requested by an NGA, SGA and/or MEA member, the appropriate Association will serve in a primary role to support mutual aid coordination among participants in the National Mutual Assistance Program.
Mutual aid is a program that provides ready and essential support for natural gas utilities in the region. Its overall value is summarized well in this statement by Chris LaRose of Norwich Public Utilities of CT:
"Mutual aid is a critical component in the utility industry, so we're always ready to lend a hand whenever we are able to. In addition to helping people in need, our employees gain important experience whenever we are able to assist another utility."