Glossary of Terms
Trading Practices Guidelines.
Electricity flows from the generators through the wires to consumers. Wires have a small level of resistance that works against the flow of the electric current. The grid consumes a small amount of the power in overcoming this resistance and the power consumed in this way is referred to as losses. (AESO web site definition)
The committee accountable to the AESO with membership made up of transmission facility owners, charged with the on-going review and upgrading of all operating standards and guidelines for coordinated operation of the transmission system.
The wires and other facilities for the transportation of electric energy at greater than 25,000 volts and generally over longer distances. (also Transmission Facility)
A turbine converts the mechanical energy inherent in the linear flow of a fluid (liquid or gas) to rotational mechanical energy that, if coupled to an electric generator, can be used to produce electric energy. Sometimes the coupling of a turbine to an electric generator is done through a direct shaft, but often, especially in the case of modern wind turbines, it is done through a gearbox.
Established to help monitor and protect the interests of Alberta's residential, farm and small business consumers of electricity and natural gas as well as adjust to the changes arising from Alberta's restructured marketplace. The primary goals of the UCA are: to help consumers help themselves; to inform and empower consumers; to facilitate representation at regulatory hearings and other proceedings.
The difference between: a) the distribution system total load for the hour, and b) the sum of the allocated hourly loads at the customers' meters, plus their allocated losses.
A bill that provides a breakdown of the various cost elements included in a customer bill, such as generation (electric energy costs), transmission, distribution, retail charges and other service charges identified by the regulator.
Regulated and non-regulated entities that participate in the electricity business and provides consumers with electric energy and electric energy services.
Unit of electric potential difference and electromotive force equal to the difference of potential between two points in a conducting wire carrying a constant current of one ampere when the electric energy dissipated between those two points is equal to one watt and equivalent to the potential difference across a resistance of one ohm when one ampere is flowing through it.
Electric potential expressed in volts.
The basis unit used to measure electricity, power equal to the work done at the rate of one joule per second (1/746th of a horse power).
The transmission of electric energy generated by one party to another using the transmission system of a third party.
Ability of wholesale customers to access electric energy supplies directly from the grid.
A market in which electric energy is sold to market participants for resale to end-users.
The owner of a regulated electricity distribution system or electricity transmission system wires and related facilities.
A body given the authority to operate certain functions relating to operating and maintenance (O & M) of an electric distribution system for a Wire Owner (WO) and as defined within the Electric Utilities Act (EUA).
