Mutual Aid

Assistance in Times of Need

Q: What is Mutual Aid?

A: Mutual Aid is a coordinated agreement among electric utilities stating they may be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide personnel, equipment and material assistance during emergencies. This aid arrangement is established regionally so that utilities may request assistance from within their state or region. GRU uses and assists sister utilities from Florida and the Southeastern US Region during emergencies. Assistance is not always limited to those areas as crews can travel from anywhere in the continental US to assist when necessary.

Q: When does GRU request help from other utilities?

A: Mutual aid contacts are made in advance so GRU can determine available resources prior to a potential emergency. As a potential event seems eminent, these utilities are notified of a possible need for assistance to determine potential availability. Once restoration needs are assessed and the amount of mutual aid resources are determine, aid is requested.

Q: Does GRU pay for mutual aid?

A: Yes, mutual aid is an expense incurred by GRU and, as a cost to serve utility, can be passed along to our customers within the cost of doing business. However, to keep restoration costs low, GRU only requests mutual aid as needed rather than request it as a storm is approaching thereby incurring expenses as the crews wait to go into action. If a storm turns not striking GRU's service area making mutual aid unnecessary, then GRU does not incur costs for crews waiting on standby. For this reason, GRU merely ascertain availability of potential crews should aid be necessary. Once aid is determined, then GRU requests specific aid to assist with restoration efforts.