There has been a lot angst, discussion, and Scuttlebutt (Navy term) since NERC levied the largest and most significant CIP regulatory fine. 10M dollars sure got the attention of the energy industry. Since the announcement, I received many calls from the media, regulators, clients and curious industry people seeking my input on the issue.
In response, I have written a short article that summarizes my thoughts and provides four-key principles that will help your organization avoid the same pitfalls outlined in NERC findings and strengthen your Compliance Programs capability for success. I captured these principles during my days as a regulator when I had the golden opportunity to look closely at the success factors of organizations and the dysfunctions that contributed to those who fell short. I have helped clients implement these principles to successfully strengthen and bring value to the Compliance Program.
I hope you find the article of value. You can find the article @ https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6501204399854014465
Earl Shockley
President and CEO of INPOWERD
earl.shockley@INPOWERD.com
Short Bio
Earl W. Shockley is the President and CEO of INPOWERD LLC and one of the electric-utility industry’s most respected authorities on NERC reliability, compliance strategy, and grid-risk governance. With more than 40 years of experience spanning real-time system operations, transmission planning, regulatory oversight, and enterprise risk management, Earl brings rare depth to the technical and institutional challenges facing today’s grid. A former NERC executive and certified auditor, Earl has led or supported over 100 compliance enforcement engagements, including audits, certifications, investigations, and major blackout reviews. His experience includes decades of hands-on system operations and planning, development of national compliance and enforcement frameworks, and direct involvement in interpreting and implementing NERC Reliability Standards across diverse operating environments. Through INPOWERD, Earl helps registered entities build practical, audit-ready compliance programs and internal controls that align regulatory requirements with day-to-day system operations. Drawing on his experience as a former regulator and industry consultant, he focuses on clear accountability, defensible decisions, and sustainable reliability outcomes. His work emphasizes practical execution and disciplined risk management to support a secure and reliable Bulk Power System.
