Background on the Western Region Mutual Assistance Agreement
At an Emergency Response Workshop in Reno, Nevada on October 23, 2002, hosted by the California Utilities Emergency Association (CUEA), the need for an agreement that transcends the boundaries of California was identified. A task force including representatives from Avista Corporation, Intermountain Gas Company, NorthWestern Energy, NW Natural, Portland General Electric, Puget Sound Energy, Sierra Pacific Power/Nevada Power, Southern California Edison Company, Terasen Gas Inc., and The Gas Company was formed, representing WEI member, non-member, electric and gas companies.
This group, using the CUEA Mutual Assistance Agreement as a model, developed the WRMAA. The legal, operations, audit, contracts and emergency preparedness departments of several utilities reviewed the agreement, and it was executed by the signing of two parties on November 14, 2003. The agreement is designed as a tool for all gas and electric utilities throughout the Western United States and Canada.