NEPPA Mutual Aid Program
Members of the Northeast Public Power Association have built a strong and respected reputation for providing prompt and reliable emergency response to their neighbors and colleagues for decades.
As a volunteer-led effort, NEPPA's Mutual Aid Program is a pillar of the organization and is often cited as a key member benefit.
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Click Here to Complete the Request Form
How To Training Guide: Requesting & Assisting Mutual Aid
COVID-19 Protocols for Mutual Aid
How Mutual Aid Works
All members who want to participate in NEPPA's Mutual Aid Program must be a signatory of the Mutual Aid Agreement. NEPPA's service territory is split into five-regions, each with two volunteer Regional Coordinators, responsible for connecting Requesting and Assisting Utilities to fullfill requests.
Not sure if your utility has signed the Agreement? Please contact mutualaid@neppa.org or call the office at (978) 540-2200.
When you need Mutual Aid (i.e. additional restoration crews and/or resources), "Requesting Utilities" complete and submit a simple form online. Requesting Utilities will receive confirmation that their request has been submitted and the Regional Coordinator will contact them directly.
Requesting Mutual Assistance
To request assistance, please follow the "Request Mutual Aid" link under the Mutual Aid tab at neppa.org or click the button below.
Once your request has been submitted, your Regional Coordinator will contact you to verify the details of your request, then issue the call for aid to your Region.
Mutual Aid Regions & Regional Coordinators
NEPPA's successful Mutual Aid Program is achieved through the crucial, volunteer Regional Coordinators.
New England is separated into five-regions, managed by two Regional Coordinators each:
- North (Vermont & New Hampshire)
- Western MA (West of Worcester, MA)
- Northeast MA & ME (Northeast of I-90)
- Southeast MA (East of I-90)
- South (Connecticut & Rhode Island)
Please zoom into the map below to find your utility's Region and Regional Coordinator:
What Does the Regional Coordinator Do?
After receiving a request, the Regional Coordinator verifies the request and initiates the Request for Aid to all public power utilities in their region. Once responses have been submitted, the Regional Coordinator then matches Assisting Utilities to the Requesting (or Host) Utility, and initiates the first communication between Requesting and Assisting Utilities.
During the event, the Regional Coordinator will maintain daily communications with the Host Utility until all crews have been released, and the request has been closed.
What Does the Assisting Utility Do?
Primary and Secondary contacts at each member utility within a Region are notified by call, text and email with a Mutual Aid Request Alert.
If able to provide assistance, you will be prompted to follow a link (sent by email) to complete a simple "Mutual Aid Availability" form.
NOTE: Be sure to provide accurate contact information on this form. These details are crucial for both the Regional Coordinator and Requesting Utility.
Once matched with a Requesting Utility, you will receive an auto-generated email that notifies:
- Your utility has been selected.
- Summary of what you are expected to provide.
- Contact information of the Host Utility.
- Instructions on the next steps including contacting Host Utility for the following:
- Location
- Details
- Required Safety Equipment & PPE
- Contact information of Crews
- Estimated duration of stay
See also: Mutual Aid Agreement - Section 4: Obligations of Assisting Utility (beginning on page 6) for additional information.
What Does the Requesting Utility Do?
In addition to maintaining daily communications with the Regional Coordinator, the Requesting Utility is expected to:
- Provide estimate of type and amount of equipment needed.
- Provide Assisting Utility accurate directions.
- Designate a qualified person to work with each crew of the Assisting Utility
- Provide description of the electrical system operational plan.
- Release all employees of Assisting Utility once asssitance is no longer needed.
- Promptly reimburse expenses incurred by Assisting Utility.
- See Mutual Aid Agreement - Section 1.3: Expenses (beginning on page 1) for details on expenses.
- Provide Meals and Lodging for employees of Assisting Utility.
See also: Mutual Aid Agreement - Section 3: Obligations of Requesting Utility (beginning on page 3) for additional information.
Resources
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NEPPA Mutual Aid Agreement (adopted March 2020)
COVID-19 Protocols for Mutual Aid
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FEMA Equipment Rates |
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APPA (National) Mutual Aid Agreement
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Questions? Please contact mutualaid@neppa.org or call the office at (978) 540-2200.
Under guidance from federal, state, and local authorities, NEPPA has reopened its Headquarters/Training Center. In-house and @Your-Site Training is being held and scheduled in accordance with federal, state, and local guidelines.
All visitors, staff and trainers must follow the established practices and protocols to ensure the safety, health and well-being of the NEPPA community.
Click here for NEPPA's COVID-19 Visitor Policy.
For authorization to enter the Training Center, all visitors must complete this Health Screening Form.
Resources:
Federal Government, CDC
and other Resources
- DOE COVID-19 Energy Sector Response Efforts and FAO's
- Energy.gov Coronavirus Hub
- National Governor's Council
- COVID-19 Essential Services
- Essential Services And Revised Gathering Order
- Assemblage Guidance
- Johns Hopkins Updates
- FERC, NERC Industry Guidance to Ensure Grid Reliability Amid Potential Coronavirus Impacts
- Critical Infrastructure Lifeline Sector Responders - COVID-19 Response
- White House Guidelines, "15 Days to Slow the Spread"
- ESCC Messages and Guide
- DHS: Risk Management for COVID-19
- Defending against COVID-19 Cyber Scams
- Identifying Critical Infrastructure during COVID-19
- CISA
- Monitoring ICS Cyber Operations Tools and Software Exploit Modules to Anticipate Furture Threats
APPA Resources
- ESCC - Assessing and Mitigating the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Resource Guide
- APPA Information COVID-19
- Cybersecurity Concerns during Pandemic Response
FEMA Resources
- FEMA
- Emergency Support Function #14 - Cross Sector Business and Infrastructure
- Emergency Support Function #12 - Energy Annex
State & Local
Resources, by State
NEPPA Resources
Updates from NEPPA
Update March 23, 2020
In response to growing concerns about the containment of the Covid-19 virus, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker issued a stay-at-home advisory for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts earlier today. The advisory takes effect at noon tomorrow and asks all non-essential workers to stay at home. NEPPA recognizes that this will put an even greater strain on our industry as you work to keep the lights on and your services running. Read more
Update March 16, 2020
Given the rapidly changing situation with Covid-19 and in light of the escalating closures and travel restrictions, NEPPA has made the decision to postpone all training through May 1, 2020. This includes training at NEPPA headquarters and all @Your-Site classes. In the event that the pandemic does not unfold in the manner that the government anticipates, we will re-evaluate scheduling @Your-Site sessions prior to May 3rd. Read more
Update March 11, 2020
With the Covid-19 virus beginning to spread in the United States, please know that NEPPA is carefully monitoring the situation. We are continually assessing whether or not to move forward with our upcoming in-house education and training opportunities. We recognize the importance of holding our courses as scheduled, so for the time being, we are planning to proceed with all training sessions. We are establishing some guidelines for our Littleton training facility to help ensure we are doing all that we can to protect students and prevent the disease from spreading. Read more
NEPPA Meetings
Due to the rapidly evolving responses around COVID-19, NEPPA Headquarters/Training Center is closed to the public and all visitors until April 6, 2020 at which time the situation will be reassessed. All in-house and @Your-Site Training has been postponed until May 4, 2020.
At this time, we are still planning to hold the E & O as it is in mid to late May.
NOTE: To encourage some sense of normalcy, connectivity and continued professional development, we encourage you to consider attending the upcoming webinar on April 9th, Taking Care of Business: The Economics of Your Distribution System.
The decision to close the Training Center and postpone training impacts the Metering I Program currently scheduled for April 27 - 28, 2020.
Federal Government
& CDC Resources
- CDC Priority Testing Patients
- COVID-19 Diagnostics
- Critical Workers Implementing Safety Practices
- OSHA Guidance
- Different Masks
- Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected of Confirmed COVID-19
- CDC.gov
- NEPPA COVID-19 Families First & CARES ACT Provisions
- S&G (CARES ACT) Paycheck Protection Program - Small Business Loan Guarantees
- Governor COVID-19 Energy Guidance
- DOE COVID-19 Energy Sector Response Efforts and FAO's
- Energy.gov Coronavirus Hub
- National Governor's Council
- COVID-19 Essential Services
- Essential Services And Revised Gathering Order
- Assemblage Guidance
- Johns Hopkins Updates
- FERC, NERC Industry Guidance to Ensure Grid Reliability Amid Potential Coronavirus Impacts
- FERC 4-2 Press Release Managing Compliance
- FERC 4-2 Press Release Policy Statement and Relief
- Critical Infrastructure Lifeline Sector Responders - COVID-19 Response
- White House Guidelines, "15 Days to Slow the Spread"
- ESCC Messages and Guide
- DHS: Risk Management for COVID-19
- Identifying Critical Infrastructure during COVID-19
CISA & Other Cybersecurity
Resources
- Guidance of the Essential Critical Infrastructure
- Covonavirus-Themed Spam Surged 14,000% in two weeks says IBM
- CISA
- Monitoring ICS Cyber Operations Tools and Software Exploit Modules to Anticipate Furture Threats
- Defending against COVID-19 Cyber Scams
- COVID Cyber Infographic 3.18.20 201
- Deloitte Insight Ransoming Government
- Deloitte Staying safe – sustaining your organizational cyber hygiene amid COVID-19 disruption
APPA Resources
- ESCC Playbook 6.29.2020
- ESCC - Update COVID-19 Resource Guide: Return to Workplace and Communications Updates
- ESCC - COVID-19 Resource Guide Version 7, 4.27.2020
- ESSC - Ensuring Energy Reliability Throughout the COVID-19
- APPA Information COVID-19
- Cybersecurity Concerns during Pandemic Response
- Ernst & Young COVID-19 IFCS Cost Recovery Guide
- Ernst & Young FEMA Split Shift Recovery Cost
FEMA Resources
- COVID-19 Pandemic: Addressing PPE Needs in Non-Healthcare Settings
- FEMA Announces Free Access to Software Solutions and Licensed Datasets to Aid Non-Federal Governmental Entities in Response to COVID-19
- FEMA
- Emergency Support Function #14 - Cross Sector Business and Infrastructure
- Emergency Support Function #12 - Energy Annex
State & Local
Resources, by State
Updates from NEPPA
Under guidance from federal, state, and local authorities, NEPPA has reopened its Headquarters/Training Center. In-house and @Your-Site Training is being held and scheduled in accordance with federal, state, and local guidelines.
All visitors, staff and trainers must follow the established practices and protocols to ensure the safety, health and well-being of the NEPPA community.
Click here for NEPPA's COVID-19 Visitor Policy.
For authorization to enter the Training Center, all visitors must complete this Health Screening Form.
NEPPA Meetings
NEPPA meetings are taking place and we ask you to go to our event calanders for times and dates.
Connecticut
Emergency Operations Centers (EOC):
It is important that utilities understand the process to request materials such as PPE and to get on EOC lists early if you think you need PPE materials. Here is the process for Connecticut:
Connecticut
The Office of Emergency Management provides a coordinated, integrated program for state-wide emergency management and homeland security, including coordination of the state response to emergencies, strategic and operational all-hazards planning; community preparedness; exercise and training; and grants planning and program management.
- Reach out to request help from your town’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) coordinator. Each town should have a coordinator that serves as the main contact between DEMHS and the town. This contact person is typically the police or fire chief.
- If your town cannot assist with your request, then your town’s coordinator must call the DEMHS regional office that you are a part of. Each coordinator should know which region they belong to, below is a picture showing each region and each region contact information.
- If you are unable to figure out who your town’s coordinator is then you may call your DEMHS Regional office or DEMHS headquarters for assistance.
Region 1 – Robert Kenny, DEMHS Region 1 Coordinator, Office: 203-696-2640
Region 2 – Jacob Manke, DEMHS Region 2 Coordinator, Office: 860-685-8105
Region 3 – William Turley, DEMHS Region 3 Coordinator, Office: 860-529-6893
Region 4 – Mike Caplet, Region 4 Coordinator, Office: 860-465-5460
Region 5 – John Field, Region 5 Coordinator, Office: 203-591-3509
https://portal.ct.gov/DEMHS/Emergency-Management/Resources-For-Officials/Regional- Offices
Connecticut Office of Emergency Management Phone: (860) 256-0800
