Peak Demand
The maximum load during a specified period of time.
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.
Reactive Charges
Charges applied to a client’s invoice in cases where certain suppliers and distribution companies enforce a penalty for reactive power use.
Real Power
See ‘Active Power’.
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.
Reinforcement
Any alteration to the existing system designed to enable the system to distribute an increased amount of electricity.
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.
SOQ
Supply Offtake (Daily) Quantity measures in kWh.
Spark Spread
The difference between market price and the cost of production.
Standing Charge
A Monthly or quarterly charge levied by the local distribution company.
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.
Substation
Facility equipment that switches, changes, or regulates electric voltage. An electric power station which serves as a control and transfer of power flow, transform voltage levels, and serve as delivery points to industrial customers.
Supply Agreement
A contract between a supplier and the customer to supply electricity at an agreed tariff for an agreed duration of supply contracts are of 12, 18 or 24-month duration but longer and shorter are possible.
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).
The Carbon Trust
The Carbon Trust is an independent, not-for-profit company, which was created by the UK government. The Carbon Trust helps business and the public sector cut carbon emissions, and supports the development of low carbon technologies.
Therm
This is a unit of measurement for gas. 1 therm is equal to 29.3071kWh.
Top-up Load
This is priced like a normal contract with fixed price all inclusive rate at agreed signing.
Trade Association
An association of firms that operate in a specific industry.
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.
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.
Voltage Transformer
A device that reduces (or increases) the supply voltage for example a 11000/415 Volt transformer would convert volt supply to 415 volt supply.