Control Energy Costs Glossary
Below we have a list of glossary of terms that we might use in some of our documentation.
Availability Charge
Availability charges are based on an agreed level of capacity with the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and should be set at just above the anticipated maximum demand.
Baseload
The load continuously supplied or consumed by an electricity system over a period of time.
BUOS
Balancing use of system charges are levied by NGT via the supply bill to cover the costs of balancing the National Grid.
Climate Change Levy (CCL)
Tax introduced in April 2001 designed to provide an incentive to meet the UK’s environmental commitments made at the Kyoto Conference. Levy is based on the amount of energy supplied to an end-user. Certain intensive energy using sectors have been granted discounts of 80% from the levy rates in return for reaching agreed emissions reduction targets. The levy is intended to be fiscally neutral and only applies to the industrial and commercial sector, not to domestic sector.
Combined Heat & Power (CHP)
CHP, or cogeneration, simultaneously generates useable heat and power in a single process, often installed on the site of industrial plant.
COP 3
Code of practice 3 meter – 1MW+ Sites, measuring electricity consumption at half-hourly intervals.
COP 5
Code of practice 5 meter - up to 1MW sites, measuring electricity consumption at half- hourly intervals.
Core MPAN
MPAN bottom line - indicates the distributor identifier, unique reference number and check digit.
Daily Metered (DM)
A gas supplies point whose consumption is measured each day by means of a data logger.
Daily Metered Customer (DMC)
An interruptible gas supply point or a gas supply point with an annual consumption greater than 58,600,000kWh which is individually nominated each day by a shipper.
Data Aggregator
The organisation appointed to aggregate electricity meter- reading data received from Data Collectors to forward to suppliers.
Data Collector
The organisation responsible for collecting, processing and validating the meter- reading data, which is then passed on to the data aggregator.
Data Logger
Device fitted to a meter, which can record, store and transmit readings and measurements.
Distribution Losses
Charges relating to electrical losses which occur as electricity is transmitted through the lines of the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO).
DUOS
Distribution Use of Systems – charge levied by a DNO for the transmission of electricity through its local network
EHV
Extra High Voltage.
ELEXON
ELEXON is the Balancing and Settlement Code Company – procuring and providing services to administer and implement the balancing and settlement rules. Signatories to the BSC contribute to the costs of ELEXON. Elexon charges are levied to recover the costs of running ELEXON.
Embedded Generation
Electricity generation by plant, which has been, connected to the distribution network of a Distribution Network Operator, rather than directly to the NGT’s transmission systems.
Emission Allowance
Typically, emissions reduction schemes set a cap for total emissions for each participant over a period and allocate each participant tradable unit, called emissions allowances, up to the cap. Participants buy and sell emissions allowances and at the end of the period must hold allowances or credits equal to their actual emissions to be in compliance.
Emissions Cap
The limit on emissions, in emission trading schemes, applicable to a participant over a period of time used to allocate emissions allowances.
Emission Credit
Countries and Companies can earn tradable emissions credits by undertaking projects that reduce emissions over and above what would occur in a business as usual scenario.
Emissions Trading
Countries and companies can trade emissions allowances and emissions credits.
Firm Gas
A guaranteed supply of natural gas that will not be subject to interruption.
Fossil Fuel
Coal, natural gas n fuels derived from petroleum are known as fossil fuels.
Fossil Fuel Levy (FFL)
Government tax collected by electricity suppliers to fund the decommissioning of Nuclear Reactors. Although active, the levy is currently set at zero.
GSP
Grid Supply Point – point between Transmission and distribution systems where responsibility for electricity supply transfers from NGC to the local REC.
GW
Gigawatt = 1,000MW or 1,000,000 kw
HH (Half Hourly)
Electricity supply taking more than 100kW maximum demand. These sites are fitted with electronic metering, connected to a communications device, which is downloaded remotely on a daily basis by the appointed Data Collector, to record electricity consumption for every half – hour period. MPAN has a profile class of 00.
HH Data
Half-Hourly data – electricity consumption data recorded every half-hour and collected by the metering system.
HV
High Voltage – supply voltage above 1000 volts (1kV)
Interconnector
Gas pipeline linking the UK and the continent.
Interruptible Gas
Gas supply that may be interrupted by Transco or supplier to assist in maintaining the Transmission/Distribution system, allowing supplies to firm gas consumers when there is a constraint on the system. Customers with an interruptible gas supply need to have an alternative power supply to switch to should an interruption to the gas supply occur.
KVA
Kilovolt-Ampere – a unit of electricity incorporating the reactive power component.
KW
Kilowatt – metric unit of power.
KWH
Kilowatt-hour – a measure of electricity consumed in an hour.
Line Loss Factor
Indicator, within MPAN, of distribution line loss for a meter point.
Load Factor
Ratio between average usage and maximum demand - Load Factor is calculated by the formula:
Load Factor = (total Units / (no. Of Hours x Maximum Demand) x 100%
The higher the load factor, the flatter a customers load shape is.
LV
Low Voltage - supply voltage below 1000volts.
Maximum Demand
The highest average demand occurring in a half hour period. Maximum demand tariffs comprise: a) fixed monthly charge: b) an availability charge per kVA of the highest demand expected: c) a price per unit for day and night units: d) a maximum demand charge based on the measured maximum number of units used in one half hour period in the month.
Meter Operation Agreement
Agreement between the customer and the nominated meter operator.
MIC
Maximum Import Capacity.
MEC
Maximum Export Capacity.
MOP
Meter Operator- the organisation appointed to install and maintain metering equipment.
MPAN
Meter Point Administration Number – unique number assigned to electricity meter by host REC under PRS (2-tier number printed on electricity invoices preceded by an S – top line referred to as Supplementary, bottom line as core). Also known as Supply Number.
MPAS
Meter Point Administration System- An MPAS holds data necessary to facilitate supply by any electricity supplier to all premises connected to the distribution system. The MPAS includes an enquiry service that provides relevant data to customers or electricity suppliers.
MPRN
Meter Point Reference Number- Gas meter reference number.
MW
Megawatt- 1,000kW
National Transmission System (NTS)
The high-pressure network of pipes that transports gas between the terminals, storage facilities and Local Distribution Zones for local distributions.
NATURAL GAS
Mixture of naturally occurring gasses found either in isolation or in underground reservoirs.
Network Code
Legal framework that defines the rights and obligations of Transco and gas Shippers/suppliers.
NGT
National Grid Transco - The Principle Network operator of national electricity grid and gas networks i.e. England and Wales.
NHH (Non-Half Hourly)
Commercial electricity supply consuming less than 100kW maximum demand. These are normally hand-held/ visually read by a Meter Reader on a Monthly or Quarterly basis. MPAN has a profile class of 03 to 08.
Nominated Consumption
Annual quantity of gas nominated by the customer as their annual estimated consumption requirement.
Non-Daily Metered (NDM)
Gas supply point whose meter is not fitted with a data logger and is read monthly, six monthly or at longer intervals.
OFGEM
Office of Gas and Electricity Markets- authority regulating the gas and electricity industries in Great Britain.
PGT
Public Gas Transporters- licensed gas pipeline operators.
Power Factor
The proportion of total energy supplied to a site, which is actually converted into useful energy output, as opposed to the wasted reactive power.
Profile Class
Profile allocated by MPAS to an electricity supply - first two numbers in MPAN top line (Supplementary Number):
00 Half hourly-metered supply
01 & 02 Domestic supplies
03 & 04 Non-Half Hourly supply, billed on a quarterly basis
05-08 Non-Half Hourly supply, profile according to load factor, billed on a monthly basis.
Reactive Power Charge (kVArh)
Charge for reactive energy if the average power factor falls below preset level, normally 0.9.
Renewable Energy
Generation of electricity from infinite resources, e.g. wind power or hydro-electricity.
Renewables Obligation (RO)
An obligation on electricity suppliers to source a specified percentage of the total electricity supplied to their customers in Great Britain is from eligible renewable sources evidenced by Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC).
Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC)
Tradable certificates issued to generators for each whole megawatt- hour of electricity generated from eligible renewable sources. ROCs can be converted into emissions allowances in the UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (UKETS).
Settlement Charge
A flat fee to cover the collection of second tier data by IMServ (data collection service).
Shipper
An organisation that contracts with Transco for the use of Network Code transportation and storage services.
Shipper Nominated Interruptible
A gas supply that can be interrupted by its shipper to enable the Shipper to balance its supply and demand.
Standing Charge
A charge designed to average over and recover from all customers on each tariff the elements of cost, which are independent of usage; these include the costs associated with metering, billing and customer services.
Supply Point
Outlet of the gas Transporters metering facility at the customers premises.
Take-Or-Pay
A contract whereby a customer must pay for a specific quantity of gas irrespective of usage.
Tariff
Published standard charges applied to utility supplies that are not on a negotiated contract.
Therm
Imperial unit measurement of heat: 1 Therm = 100,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) = 29.3071kWh.
Transco
Transco provide gas transportation, metering and meter reading services throughout Great Britain for companies the supply for operational reasons.
Tramision Losses
Charges relating to electrical losses, which occur as power is transmitted via National Grid.
Transportation Charge
The charges associated with transporting gas from the beach to the meter point. Prices are based on a distance related tariff system and vary demanding on interruptible and firm supply.
TRIAD
The three half-hourly periods in the year with peak electricity consumption, with each period at least 10 days apart, used to calculate the Transmission Charge for the MGC system.
TUOS
Transmission Use of System- charges levied by the NGT for the transmission of electricity through the National Grid.
TW
Terawatt = 1,000GW