CNG, SCG Strengthen Emergency Preparedness with Annual Response Exercise
Simulated scenarios sharpen teamwork, communication, and crisis management ahead of winter season
ORANGE, Conn. — December 9, 2025 — Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG), subsidiaries of Avangrid, Inc., conducted annual emergency response exercises last week to further prepare for the upcoming winter season. The event was led by Avangrid’s Emergency Management department and in partnership with the Utility Response Training Association (URTA).
“The safety of our communities, customers, and employees is always our highest priority,” said Frank Reynolds, President and CEO of CNG and SCG. “These annual exercises give us the chance to strengthen our emergency response capabilities, ensuring we’re prepared to act quickly and effectively in any situation. By continually modernizing our infrastructure and improving our training and procedures, we can deliver safe, reliable service even during the most challenging events.”
This tabletop exercise used the Incident Command Structure (ICS) to respond to a simulated earthquake scenario and improve procedures. The earthquake simulation was developed in consultation with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a plausible worst-case scenario for the service territories. The SCG and CNG trainings each had a total of 56 participants, including company employees and representatives from the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), and Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC). There were also external participants from the towns and cities within SCG and CNG service territories.
“Exercises like these are vital for strengthening readiness across our teams,” said Jennifer Pearce, Vice President of Integrated Operational Services at Avangrid. “Working through complex scenarios in advance helps us improve coordination, sharpen decision-making, and ensure we can protect our customers and communities when real emergencies occur. The dedication our employees bring to these trainings is what makes our response strong and effective.”
The tabletop exercise used an earthquake scenario to test the companies’ ability to activate emergency personnel, respond to a catastrophic event, coordinate with first responders, and communicate with customers.
Similar exercises are held across Avangrid’s operating companies, demonstrating the importance of strengthening emergency response capabilities and ensuring employees are well-prepared for any emergency situation.
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About CNG: Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG) is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. Established in 1848, CNG operates 2,200 miles of natural gas distribution pipeline, serving approximately 183,000 customers across 26 communities in the greater Hartford-New Britain area, and Greenwich, Connecticut. For more information, visit www.cngcorp.com.
About SCG: The Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG) is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc. Established in 1847, SCG operates approximately 2,500 miles of natural gas distribution pipelines, serving approximately 206,000 customers in the greater New Haven and Bridgeport areas of Connecticut. For more information, visit www.soconngas.com.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation, and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Oregon, including operations in 23 states with approximately $48 billion in assets, and has two primary lines of business: networks and power. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.4 million customers in New York and New England. Through its power generation business, Avangrid owns and operates 80 energy generation facilities across the United States producing 10.5 GW of power for over 3.1 million customers. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens in 2025 for the fifth consecutive year. The company was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2025 for the seventh consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit http://www.avangrid.com.