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Electricity Glossary of Terms

COMPETITIVE POWER SUPPLIERS
Companies that sell power – also called electricity providers, electricity suppliers, power generators or energy marketers. Your power is delivered by the local electric utility/distribution company (DISCO).

DEREGULATION
Opening a market to competition, whose prices and practices were formerly fully regulated by government.

FERC (FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION)
The federal agency that regulates interstate energy transmission, sales, etc.

GENERATION
The process of changing other forms of energy, such as fossil fuels, nuclear or renewable energy, into electricity.

KILOWATT-HOUR (kWh)
The standard unit of measurement for electricity. 1 kWh = 1,000 watt hours. For example, one 100-watt light bulb used for 10 continuous hours consumes one kilowatt-hour (1,000 watt-hours) of electricity.

LINE LOSS
Describes the effect by which a measurable percentage of electricity is lost or unaccounted for as it traverses power lines before it is delivered to the end consumer.

MEGAWATT (MW)
One million watts.

PEAK DEMAND
The maximum power load during a specified period of time.

POWER
Electricity is commonly referred to as power.

PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION (PUC)
The state agency that typically regulates the sale of electric and natural gas utilities.

RENEWABLE ENERGY
Power that is produced with environmentally-clean power sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric.

TARIFF
A document, approved by the responsible regulatory agency, listing the terms and conditions, including a schedule of prices, under which utility services will be provided.

TRANSMISSION
The delivery of electricity from a generator to a local electric utility/distribution company (DISCO) over.

UTILITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY (UDC)
The company that delivers power to your home or business, also known as your local electric utility/distribution company.

WATT
The electrical unit of power. The rate of energy transfer equivalent to 1 ampere flowing under a pressure of 1 volt at unity power factor.

WATTHOUR (wh)
An electrical energy unit of measure equal to 1 watt of power supplied to, or taken from, an electric circuit steadily for 1 hour.

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