| A |
|
Account Number |
A number created to be used for billing purposes for each site. Each number is unique and is associated with the bill payee. |
Accounting Period |
The month that data is process through the company's accounting system. |
Actual Usage Cost ($/MWh) |
Usage cost is calculated from Usage MWh divided by Usage Charge. This
cost represents your average cost for energy consumed. This number is
comparable to Pool Price, in that Pool Price represents a flat load
profile cost. |
Address |
The mailing address of the payee. |
Administration Charge |
A monthly charge levied to recover a Wire Service Providers and/or retailers and/or billing
agents costs for customer service, billing, communication and in some cases, other charges related
to management of the energy supply portfolio such as risk, pool trading charges, etc. |
ADOE |
Alberta Department of Energy. |
AE |
ATCO Electric Limited. |
AECL |
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. |
AESO |
Alberta Electric System Operator - A statutory corporation governed by an independent Board of Directors appointed by the Alberta Minister of Energy, whose major functions are to:
- Operate the power pool in a manner that promotes the fair, efficient and openly competitive exchange of electric energy in Alberta ;
- Determine the order of dispatch of electric energy and ancillary services in Alberta;
- Carry out financial settlement for all electric energy exchanged through the power pool at the pool price;
- Provide system access to the transmission system and to prepare a tariff or transmission services;
Manage and recover the costs of transmission line losses and for the provision of ancillary services ;
- Direct the safe, reliable and economic operation of the interconnected electric system;
- Assess current and future needs of market participants and plan the capability of the transmission system;
- Make arrangements for expansion and enhancement of the transmission system to meet those needs; and to
- Regulate and administer load settlement.
|
AEUB |
Alberta Energy and Utilities Board
- a regulatory body with the responsibility to oversee the economic,
orderly and efficient development and operation, in the public interest, of hydro energy and the generation
and transmission of electric energy in Alberta. |
Affiliated Power Producer |
A company that generates power and is affiliated with a utility. |
AFREA |
Alberta Federation of Rural Electrification Associations - Provides a voice for Rural Electrification Association (REA) members. |
Aggregation |
A collection of particulars into a whole mass or sum; total; combined. |
AGS |
Alberta Government Services - responsible for the Fair Trading Act and the direct marketing of
electricity and natural gas, administers a variety of consumer protections statutes and programs. |
AIES |
Alberta Interconnected Electrical System. |
Allocatd Losses |
Energy losses are usually allocated to customer groups based on
allocations determined from distribution loss studies. |
Alternating Current (AC) |
A current that flows alternately in one direction and then in the reverse direction. In North America, the standard
for alternating current is 60 complete cycles each second. Such electricity is said to have a frequency of 60 hertz.
Alternating current is used in power systems because it can be transmitted and distributed more economically than direct
current. |
Ampere |
Unit of electric current that is equivalent to the steady current produced by one volt applied across a resistance
of one ohm. |
Ancillary Services |
See Operating Reserves. |
ARUA |
Alberta Rural Utility Association - The goal of the ARUA is to work together with combined efforts to ensure the
government receives a clear message from rural Alberta regarding common issues that affect our utilities and other matters
affecting rural utility systems and their consumers. ARUA is an alliance of the
Federation of Alberta Gas Co-ops Ltd., the
Alberta Federation of Rural Electrification Associations, Alberta Federation of Rural Water Co-operatives Ltd.,
Gas Alberta Inc., Prairie Power Ltd., the
Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties. Collectively, these organizations
represent approximately 500,000 rural Albertans. |
Average Load |
Average load is the average daily consumption rate. |
Average Published Pool Price ($/MWh) |
Hourly energy prices posted by the AESO. |
| B |
|
Balancing Pool |
The Balancing Pool plays a prominent role in managing the Power Purchase Arrangements of several major power plants. Primary roles:
- To manage the financial accounts arising from the transition to a competitive generation market on behalf of electricity consumers, and
- To meet any obligations and responsibilities associated with both sold and unsold Power Purchase Arrangements (PPAs).
|
Base Energy Charge Difference |
The difference between the total load from the Power Pool and the total
load from the LSA. |
Base Load |
The minimum continuous load over a given period of time. Base load generating stations
operate essentially at full output whenever possible. |
Base Price ($/MWh) |
The contracted price of the first hedge (7x24) used as a base when
combined with another hedge to create minimum exposure to the market. |
BCN |
Breaker Change Notification (exclusive to ATCO). |
Bilateral Transactions |
An electric energy supply arrangement, the terms of which, including price,
are negotiated between an energy retailer and a consumer. |
Bill End Date |
Production period end date. The standard Date format has been defined as: YYYYMMDDHHMISS. |
Bill Start Date |
Production period start date. The standard Date format has been defined as: YYYYMMDDHHMISS. |
Billed Demand |
The greater of metered demand for current billing period, a peak demand set in a previous month or the contract minimum demand. |
Binding Day-Ahead Market |
A market in which title to the electric energy transfers from the seller to the buyer one day prior to physical deliver and the transaction is binding on both parties. |
Block Price ($/MWh) |
The contracted price of the second hedge (7x16) used additionally with a base hedge to create minimum exposure to the market. |
British Thermal Unit (Btu) |
A unit of heat. The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. |
Budgeted usage (kwh) |
Site id specific consumption estimate, can be set by Retailer/Customer. |
Bulk Electricity |
Large amounts of electric power at transmission voltages, generally to run industrial plants and operations. |
Bundling Electricity |
Combining the costs of generation, transmission and distribution and other services into a single rate charged to the retail customer. |
Business Day |
A business day is any day other than Saturday or a holiday as defined in the Interpretation Act. |
Business Function ID |
DE - Default Retailer; LR - Supplier of Last Resort; RE - Competitive Retailer; RR - Regulated Rate Option Retailer; SR - Self Retailer. |
| C |
|
Capacity |
The maximum sustainable amount of electric energy that can be carried
or delivered at any instant; measured in Watts. A term that can be applied
to a transmission system or to a piece of equipment such as a generating
unit, electric service or appliance. |
Capacity Factor |
For any equipment, the ratio of the average load during a defined time period to the rated capacity.
|
CEA |
Canadian Electricity Association. |
Code of Conduct Regulation |
The Regulation governing the relationship between a Wire Owner and its affiliated retailer and the release
and exchange of customer information. The Code seeks to ensure that: retailers and consumers have equal access
to regulated services; that the Wire Owner protects the confidentiality of consumers information; that Retailers
have equal access to information disclosed by Wire Owners; and that consumers are dealt with fairly.
|
Cogeneration |
The simultaneous production of thermal (steam) and electric energy; the electric energy used for industrial
plant use and/or sale and the heat for buildings and industrial processes. |
Congestion |
Congestion occurs when the transmission system cannot accommodate all transactions that would normally occur
among consumer based on merit order dispatch due to physical or engineering limitations. The physical limitations
are determined by the physical capacities of the transmission components. The engineering limitations are expressed
through the application of accepted reliability operating criteria.
|
Consumer Utilities Advocate |
Alberta's Office of the Utilities Consumer Advocate established to help monitor and protect the interests of
Alberta 's residential, farm and small business consumers of electricity and natural gas as we all adjust to the
changes arising from Alberta 's restructured energy marketplace. The primary goals of the UCA are:
- To help consumers help themselves;
- To inform and empower them in Alberta 's restructured energy markets; and
- To facilitate their representation at regulatory hearings and other proceedings.
|
Consumption |
The consumption has four components: 1. LSA consumption (metered,
profiled and estimated consumption) 2. Loss consumption 3. WSP
consumption (adjustments to match WSI) 4. UFE consumption Charges are
calculated for each component for a site using the hourly pool price.
This process is repeated for each hour in the billing month for a site.
The RISS charges are compared to the Pool statement. Any differences are
allocated back to the sites based on consumption. Charges for GST, Spot
Trading, Uplift and Rebate are allocated back to the sites based on
consumption. |
Consumption (kWh) Status |
Describes the type of Meter Reading. |
Contact Name |
An individual’s name that may be contacted regarding the account. |
Contract Adjustment |
A contract adjustment is the net amount of the Energy Contract and of
the sale back of any unused energy from the Energy Contract at the
hourly pool price. |
Contract Unit of Measure (UOM) |
Contract unit of measure, could be: DOLR - Dollar, KW - Kilowatt, KWH - Kilowatt hour. |
Conventional Generation |
Electricity that is produced at a generating station where the prime movers are driven by gases or steam produced by burning fossil fuels. |
CSE |
Cumulative Switch Estimate. |
Current |
The flow of electricity in a conductor. Current is measured in amperes. |
Current Balance |
The cost for supplying the capacity (demand) and electrical energy(consumption) for the billing period. |
Current Demand |
Metered demand for current billing period. |
Current Meter Dial Reading |
The current dial reading taken from the meter. |
Current Reading Datetime |
Date and time of the current reading. The standard Date format has been defined as: YYYYMMDDHHMMSS. |
Customer Choice |
The ability of a consumer to choose a retailer and switch from one retailer to another. |
| D |
|
Daily Consumption Meter (DCM) |
Daily cumulative meter consumption to Retailers and Settlement. |
Daily Interval Meter Readings (DIM) |
Daily Interval Meter Readings to Retailers and Settlement. |
Daily Load Chart |
Load is a general term referring to size and represents average
consumption rate (units are MW). Daily average load is calculated by
total daily consumption divided by 24 hour period. The Daily Load chart
shows what your consumption trend has been over the past couple of
months. The peak/min trend lines mark out the band of variability of the
load on a daily basis. |
Daily Load Factor Chart |
Load factor is the ratio of average load divided by max load. Load
factor represents how consistently close to full load equipment is
being operated at. A load factor that falls under 75% mean a large
site has dropped in load that day. |
Daylight Savings Time |
Times refer to times on the prevailing clock, standard or daylight time
depending on the season. Clock adjustments for daylight savings follow
the standard used by the Pool. Specifically, at the time of the
springtime change, the hour ending 2AM does not exist. Hour ending 3AM
follows hour ending 1AM. At the time of the fall time change, hour
ending 2AM occurs twice, with the second denoted by an asterisk (*). For
transactions using this convention, an "Hour Ending" field will exist
that contains an asterisk following the hour 02 value (i.e. 02*). |
DC |
Direct Connect. |
DCM |
Daily Cumulative Meter (DCM) load represent smaller sites that have
cumulative meters (less than 500 KW). Cumulative meters do not have
time of use measurement. Hourly profile is calculated during the load
settlement process. See Benchmark Report for profile classes. |
DCM |
Daily Cumulative Meter read. |
DEC |
De-Energize Completion. |
De-energized Site |
A connected site that is not currently consuming power. |
DEF |
De-Energize Failure. |
Delta Usage (kwh) |
Budget usage - Actual usage ("0" if no budget value provided). |
Demand |
The rate of consumption over time to reach maximum load. |
Demand (kVA) Status |
Describes the type of Meter Reading. |
Demand (kVAh) Status |
Describes the type of Meter Reading. |
Demand (kVAR)Status |
Describes the type of Meter Reading. |
Demand (kVARh) Status |
Describes the type of Meter Reading. |
Demand (kW) Status |
Describes the type of Meter Reading. |
Demand Charge |
The component of a two-part price for electricity that is based on a customer's highest power
demand reached in a specified period, usually a month, regardless of the quantity of energy used
e.g., $2.00 per kilowatt per month). The other component of the two-part price is the energy charge. |
Demand Sales |
A producer agrees to make generating capacity available to a buyer when it is called upon or 'demanded'. |
DER |
De-Energize Request. |
DFO |
Distribution Facility Owner. |
DG |
Distribution Connected Generator, means a generating unit that is interconnected with an electric distribution system. |
Difference |
A differencing settlement system is one that calculates settlement only for those customers who choose a new supplier. |
DIM |
Daily Interval Meter Readings sent every 15 minutes to Retailers and Settlement. |
Direct Current |
(DC) Current that flows continuously in the same direction (as opposed to alternating current).
The current supplied from a battery is direct current. |
Distribution (Electric Distribution System) |
The plant, works equipment, systems and services necessary to distribute electric energy in a
service area at a voltage of 25,000 volts or less. |
Dispatch |
A direction from the AESO to a pool participant to cause, permit or alter the exchange of
electric energy or ancillary services. |
Distribution Access Service |
The service required to transport electric energy by means of an electric distribution system to
customers or from distributed generation to the interconnected electric system. |
Distributed Generation |
A generating unit that is interconnected with an electric energy distribution system. |
DRA |
Deposit Reserve Account (also referred to as a Deposit Account or Deposit Reserve)
Funds generally used for capital system upgrades and improvements. |
DSN |
De-Select Notification. |
DSO |
Distribution System Operator. A contractor authorized by the wire owner of an electric distribution
system to perform certain operating and maintenance functions on behalf of the Wires Owner. |
DSR |
De-Select Request. This is a transaction that is sent by the retailer to
the LSA to notify of a site that is going to be de-enrolled. |
DT |
Distribution Tariff. The rates and the terms and conditions that a distribution facility owner
charges for providing service to its customers. |
