Cal-ISO worker under investigation for breach

Keeping reigns on its employees, the California Independent System Operator is investigating one of its own for leaking confidential information:

The California Independent System Operator declined to say what type of information was involved or how the possible leak was discovered. The agency also declined to release the names of those involved, but said the Cal-ISO employee was placed on leave.

People familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified, said the worker provided power-generation data to a former Cal-ISO employee who works as a consultant in the energy industry. Details of that information or its commercial value couldn't be determined Thursday.

Cal-ISO is "taking immediate actions to identify what information has been disclosed and what data, if any, is confidential," Cal-ISO Chairman Ken Wiseman said in a statement.

Since the Cal-ISO is the clearinghouse for electricity trading in the State, the possibility of an inside mole passing information to power companies who could game the markets would be extremely troubling.