CUEA recently participated in Southern California Mutual Aid Regional Advisory Committee (MARAC) meetings, representing member utilities and supporting emergency management coordination efforts across the region.
MARAC is a California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) committee structure established under the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). Six MARAC regions operate throughout California, providing a forum for local governments, utilities, special districts, and emergency management professionals to collaborate on preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives.
The committee serves several important functions, including:
• Providing regional input on emergency management policies and procedures
• Sharing emergency management updates and best practices
• Supporting coordination among public and private sector partners
• Recommending improvements to California’s emergency management framework
For utilities, MARAC represents an important opportunity to participate directly in discussions that influence statewide emergency management planning. Utility representatives help ensure operational realities, infrastructure needs, and restoration priorities are considered as policies and procedures evolve.
Through ongoing participation in MARAC meetings, CUEA helps amplify the voice of California’s utility community and strengthens coordination between utilities, emergency managers, and government partners before disasters occur.