A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Available Supply Capacity (ASC)
The agreed maximum supply capacity, measured in kVa, which a customer is allowed to take from the distribution system through their connection point. Customers pay a monthly charge for each unit of capacity. The maximum demand should not exceed the ASC.
Annual Agreed Quantity (AAQ)
The annual volume of gas consumed, measured in Kilowatt hours (kWh).
Base Load
The minimum amount of electricity being used during non-operational hours.
Bearish
Believing that market prices are about to fall.
Bullish
Believing that market prices are about to rise.
Bilateral Energy Trading
Trading whereby two parties (for example a generator and a supplier) enter into a contract to deliver electricity at an agreed time in the future.
Calorific Value
The ratio of energy to volume measured in mega joules per cubic meter (MJ/m).
Climate Change Levy (CCL)
A charge introduced by the Government on 1 April 2001 on UK non-domestic fuel. The Government’s aim when introducing the levy was to encourage business to use less energy, and contribute to the reduction of Carbon Dioxide emissions.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
A gas fired power station where the waste heat is used in manufacturing or district heating.
Communication Charge
The monthly fee payable by a customer, which covers the collection of half hourly data by the meter operator. This can be billed direct by the MOP or passed on through the current supplier.
Carbon Trust
An independent not-for-profit company set up by the government with support from business to encourage and promote the development of low carbon technologies. Key to this aim is its support for UK businesses in reducing carbon emissions through funding, supporting technological innovation and by encouraging more efficient working practices.
C02
Carbon Dioxide - A Greenhouse gas.
Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme
A scheme in which greenhouse gas emissions are controlled by setting a cap on total transmissions and allowing the market sectors to reach an economically balanced response via trading of emissions allowances. Allowances are allocated initially, perhaps through a free distribution or through an auction, and the total allocation is adjusted periodically.
CCGT (Combined Cycle Gas Turbine)
A gas fired electricity generation plant.
Climate Change Agreement
An agreement between the Government and a business user, whereby a reduced rate of Climate Change Levy is payable in return for a commitment by the user to achieve certain pre-determind targets for energy usage or carbon emissions.
Climate Change Levy
Climate Change Levy is a levy, which has been applied to the cost of energy consumed for lighting, heating and power by businesses and industry since April 2001. It has been introduced following a legally binding commitment made by the government at Kyoto on 1997 to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Combined Heat & Power (CHP)
CHP is very efficient technology for generating electricity and heat together. A CHP plant is an installation where there is simultaneous generation of usable heat (normally for space heating) and power (usually electricity) in a single process. CHP typically achieves a 35-40% reduction in primary energy useage compared with power stations and heat only boilers.
Climate Change Programme
Published in 2000, it sets out the government and Devolved Administration strategic approach to tackling Climate Change and meeting the UK's Kyoto target of a 12% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2008-2012 and the domestic goal of reducing C02 emissions by 20% by 2010.
DEFRA
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Data Aggregator
The organisation appointed to aggregate the meter-reading data received from the appointed Data Collectors and forward it to suppliers.
Data Collector
The organisation responsible for collecting, processing and validating the meter reading data, who then passes the information to the Data Aggregator.
Demand
The requirement for power.
Demand Site Management
The planning, implementation, and monitoring of activities designed to encourage consumers to modify patterns of electricity usage, including the timing and level of electricity demand.
Distribution System
The local wires, transformers, substations and other equipment used to distribute and deliver energy to consumers.
DUoS (Distribution Use of System)
The charges incurred for distributing electricity across the local area system to the supplied premises.
European Emissions Trading Scheme
The EU ETS is one of the policies being introduced across Europe to tackle emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and combat the serious threat of climate change. The scheme will commence on 1 January 2005. The phase runs from 2005-2007 and the second phase will run from 2008-2012 to coincide with the first Kyoto Commitment Period. Further 5-year periods are expected subsequently.
Energy White Paper
The White Paper is the first comprehensive, forward-looking statement of UK energy policy for over 20 years. The white paper sets four new goals for energy policy: to put ourselves on a path to cut the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by the year 2050, with real progress by 2020, to maintain the reliability of energy supplies, to promote competitive energy markets in the UK and beyond and to ensure that every home is affordably heated.
Firm Gas
Gas supplied to a customer on a guaranteed basis, without interruption.
Forwards Contract
An agreement to buy electricity from another party at a specified time in the future at a specified price with money changing hands at the delivery date.
Fossil Fuel
An energy source formed in the Earths crust from decayed organic material. The common fossil fuels are oil, coal, and natural gas.
Futures Contract
Similar to a forwards contract these are normally trade through an exchange on standard contract terms with profits or losses calculated and paid daily.
Gate Closure
In relation to a settlement period, the time 3.5 hours before the start of that settlement period. It defines the moment when bilateral contracting ends and the Balancing Mechanism for each associated trading period begins.
Generation
This covers the production of electricity at power stations. At present the main fuels used are gas, nuclear and coal, although there is now a growing use of renewable forms of energy, such as wind power, the burning of gas from landfill and waste incineration.
Gigawatt (GW)
A unit of power equal to 1 billion watts; 1 million kilowatts, or 1,000 megawatts.
Gigawatt-hour (GWh)
A unit of energy equal to million kilowatt-hours. 1 GWh is equivalent to the total electricity typically used by 250 homes in one year.
Grid Supply Point
A point of supply from the national transmission system to the local system of the distribution network operator.
Half-Hour Data (HHD)
This is the product of the half-hour data meter. The data is used for invoicing, tendering and reporting purposes.
HV
High Voltage (Normally 11,000 Volts).
Imbalance
A situation where there is a difference between the amount of power produced and the amount of electricity contracted or sold.
IMServ
IMServ are an independent data collector of Half Hourly Data, from whom Broadfern purchase data. IMServ are responsible for checking the accuracy of the data.
Interruptible Gas
Gas supplied to a customer whose site has an alternate fuel source, on the basis that the supply might be interrupted for a specified period.
Interconnector
A connection or link between power systems that enables them to draw on each others' reserve capacity in time of need.
IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention Control)
Regulatory demands on industrial activity throughout the EC are more stringent than ever. The Integrated Pollution and Control (IPPC) directive means companies face new aspects for consideration, controls to put in place and an increase in work required to obtain and comply with environmental permits.
Kilowatt (kW)
A standard unit of electrical power equal to 1,000 watts, or to energy consumption at a rate of 1,000 joules per second.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
A unit of energy consumption. A typical home uses around 3,300 kWh of electricity per annum.
Load
The amount of electric power delivered or required at any specific point or points on an electrical system. The requirement originates at the energy-consuming equipment of the customer.
Load Factor
Measures the relationship between unit consumption and maximum demand and is the percentage capacity utilisation figure of a site's power consumption. To calculate load factor take the total number of units of consumption, divide by the maximum demand, divide by the number of hours in the period, and multiply by 100.
Load Management
The process of shifting the use of electricity from periods of high demand to periods of lower demand, when the cost of electricity is usually lower.
LV
Low Voltage, normally at 240 or 415 Volts.
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)
When natural gas is cooled to a temperature of approximatley -160 degrees at atmospheric pressure, it condenses to a liquid called Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Natural gas is composed primarily of methane (typically at least 90%), but may also contain ethane, propane and heavier hydrocarbons.
Managed Load
The fixed energy base load of the total curve. This can be purchased either all at once or step-by-step.
Maximum Demand
The highest average demand (in kW or kVA) occurring in a half hour period.
Megawatt (MW)
The equivalent to one thousand kilowatts (kW).
Meter Operator (MOP or MO)
The organisation appointed to install and maintain metering equipment.
Meter Point Reference Number
A unique reference number identifying each meter and used in the preparation of supply tenders.
NETA - New Electricity Trading Arrangements
This came into force on the 27th March 2001 and replaced the old ‘electricity pool’. NETA is a new wholesale market, comprising trading between generators and suppliers of electricity in England and Wales. Under NETA, bulk electricity will be traded forward through bi-lateral contracts and on one or more power exchanges. Those trading will include generators, suppliers, traders and customers.
NGC
National Grid Company, the company which runs the England and Wales Balancing Mechanism and transmission system.
OFGEM
Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.
Plant Mothballing
When a plant is not operating because there is no demand for its services the plant is 'mothballed'.
Power Factor
A Power Factor is a measure of how effectively electricity is being used on a site. Certain types of equipment cause poor power factors, which reduces the capacity of the network to supply power. Distribution companies will charge customers for this through reactive power charges.
Regulator
OFGEM is the Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets, regulating the gas and electricity industries in the UK. You can get further information about gas and electricity from Energywatch, the gas and electricity consumer organisation. This is a statutory body representing the interests of gas and electricity consumers in the UK.
Renewable Energy
Energy derived from resources that are regenerative. This includes solar power, wind, wave and tide and hydroelectricity. Wood, straw and waste are often called solid renewable energy, while landfill gas and sewerage gas can be described as gaseous renewable.
Renewable Obligation
The obligation placed on licensed electricity suppliers to deliver a specified amount of their electricity from eligible sources.
Site Survey
A site survey is the process used to obtain a preliminary assesment of energy use. It is carried out on site and usually includes a review of current energy policy, energy managment processes and staff awareness and an inspection of all on-site power services and areas of major energy use.
Sub-Metering
The term often used when a property owner installs a separate meter to monitor the consumption of a utility such as water, gas or electricity.
System Buy Price (SBP)
The price paid in the Balancing Mechanism by a party that requires more energy to meet its contractual commitments. Prices are often volatile and very high.
System Sell Price (SSP)
The price paid in the Balancing Mechanism by a party that has produced more electricity than it had customers to buy. Prices are very volatile and often negative, meaning that a payment would need to be made to dispose of the unwanted electricity produced.
Terawatt-hour (TWh)
The equivalent to one thousand gigawatt hours (GWh).
Therm
This is a unit of measurement for gas. 1 therm is equal to 29.3071kWh.
Transco
UK gas transportation and emergency service.
Transformer
An electrical device for changing the voltage of alternating current.
Transmission
The transfer of electricity at high voltage from the power stations across the UK through wires on pylons to points where it can be distributed to users. This is known as the Grid System and is owned and operated by the National Grid Company (NGC).
TRIAD
Used for the calculation of TUoS Charges, the TRIAD is calculated by looking at the three maximum demand points (in kW) of the supply at half hourly time periods, and then averaging the total. The figures used are usually selected from winter months, and at peak times, as these periods are set to reflect the point at which the highest demand occurs on the National Grid.
TUoS (Transmission Use of System)
The charges incurred for transmitting electricity across the National Grid network from the source of generation to the network of the local distribution company. The level of these charges is usually calculated by applying a rate charge to the TRIAD demand level.
Trade Association
An association of firms that operate in a specific industry.
Top-up Load
This is priced like a normal contract with fixed price all inclusive rate at agreed signing.
UK Kyoto Target
In 1997, representatives from over 170 nations met in Kyoto, Japan to put together a new global treaty - the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - laying down legally binding reductions in greenhouse gas emissions throughout developed countries.