Living a culture of compliance and ethics at the ISO
Here at the California Independent System Operator (ISO), we have established a culture of compliance and ethics in everything we do. We understand that there are rules in place to ensure we comply with regulatory standards and continue to operate a reliable, environmentally sustainable, and cost-effective power system. But it is more than that.
Compliance at the ISO
Compliance managers Monika Montez and Eric Olson will tell you for the ISO, compliance and ethics aren’t just about meeting regulatory requirements — they’re about creating an environment where all staff can be the best versions of themselves at work.
“Compliance and ethics to me is doing the right thing every day, in every activity and with every person,” said Montez. “It may not be the easiest thing to do but you know you’re doing it for the right reasons. It is showing the ISO’s best true self consistently to our teammates, regulators, and stakeholders.”
Whether a staff person is working in the control room, drafting policies, or even creating communications, we all build upon the foundation of compliance and ethics to achieve our goals.
“I appreciate a culture that serves a greater good while demonstrating both thoughtfulness and mutual respect,” said Olson. “Compliance and ethics is about putting integrity into practice.”
It isn’t a coincidence that our cultural values begins with integrity. As you can see on our website, our cultural values of Integrity, Resilience, Accountability, Service, and Humility work in concert with the philosophy of compliance and ethics. “We work diligently, ethically and legally and have the professional courage to speak up when we observe variances.” Each ISO employee plays a vital role in upholding these values by committing to them, and keeping a mindset of ethics and compliance in our daily work. It’s what we do.
CAISO’s Compliance and Ethics Week
As an independent system operator, the ISO must comply with rules created and enforced by the agencies that regulate us, which include the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). From effective communications and training, to policies and procedures, the ISO is diligent in maintaining an effective compliance and ethics program.
May 5 through 9 is Compliance and Ethics Week at the ISO. This is an annual staff event that aims to raise awareness and promote our organizational culture of compliance. This year the focus is on the principles of awareness, recognition, and reinforcement. Throughout the week, staff engages with one another in fun ways that underscore compliance and ethics values including interactive learning activities, online quizzes, and informational articles. An internal panel discussion with various regulatory leaders from WECC, NERC, and FERC will up the learning factor for staff.
Compliance and Ethics Week is designed to spark conversations, encourage reflection, and reaffirm our commitment to a workplace where trust and respect thrive. Each activity helps us to live out the idea that ethical behaviors are not just a professional obligation, but a way of life.
The ISO will continue to be that steady, reliable system operator and market manager, and also a resource for industry best practices, as we live our commitment to a culture of compliance and ethics.
