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Glossary

Alphabetical Listing

#  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z


A

AMR
Automated Meter Reading

ANCILLARY SERVICES
Services that ensure reliability and support the transmission of electricity from generation sites to customer loads. Such services may include: load regulation, spinning reserve, non-spinning reserve


C

Capital cost
The cost of field development and plant construction and the equipment required for industry operations

Carbon dioxide (CO2)
A colorless, odorless, non-poisonous gas that is a normal part of Earth�s atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a product of fossil-fuel combustion as well as other processes. It is considered a greenhouse gas as it traps heat

Climate change
used synonymously with the term �global warming�

Congestion
condition that occurs when insufficient transfer capacity is available to implement all of the preferred schedules for electricity transmission simultaneously.


D

Distributed Generator
A generator that is located close to the particular load that it is intended to serve.

Distribution
delivery of energy to retail customers

Distribution system
portion of the transmission and facilities of an electric system that is dedicated to delivering electric energy to an end-user.

DSM
Demand-Side Management category represents the amount of consumer load reduction at the time of system peak due to utility programs that reduce consumer load during many hours of the year. Examples include utility rebate and shared savings activities for the installation of energy efficient appliances, lighting and electrical machinery, and weatherization materials.


E

Electric generator
A facility that produces only electricity

Electric power
The rate at which electric energy is transferred. Electric power is measured by capacity and is commonly expressed in megawatts (MW).

Electric power grid
A system of synchronized power providers and consumers connected by transmission and distribution lines and operated by one or more control centers. In the continental United States, the electric power grid consists of three systems: the Eastern Interconnect, the Western Interconnect, and the Texas Interconnect.

Electric system reliability
The degree to which the performance of the elements of the electrical system results in power being delivered to consumers within accepted standards and in the amount desired. Reliability encompasses two concepts, adequacy and security.

Electric utility
Any entity that generates, transmits, or distributes electricity and recovers the cost of its generation, transmission or distribution assets and operations, either directly or indirectly, through cost-based rates set by a separate regulatory authority (e.g., State Public Service Commission), or is owned by a governmental unit or the consumers that the entity serves. Examples of these entities include: investorowned entities, public power districts, public utility districts, municipalities, rura


F

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
The Federal agency with jurisdiction over interstate electricity sales, wholesale electric rates, hydroelectric licensing, natural gas pricing, oil pipeline rates, and gas pipeline certification. FERC is an independent regulatory agency within the Department of Energy and is the successor to the Federal Power Commission.

Fuel cell
A device capable of generating an electrical current by converting the chemical energy of a fuel (e.g., hydrogen) directly into electrical energy.


G

Generation
The process of producing electric energy by transforming other forms of energy;

Greenhouse gases
Those gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride, that are transparent to solar (short-wave) radiation but opaque to long-wave (infrared) radiation, thus preventing long-wave radiant energy from leaving Earth�s atmosphere.

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