Electric competition refers to markets where the consumers have a choice
of which company will sell them their electric supply. Allowing two or
more entities to sell similar goods and services in the same market.
Non-renewable fuels such as coal, oil, nuclear and gas, are referred
to as traditional power.
The opportunity for customers to select their electric supplier from
more than one supplier.
The process of changing the laws and regulations of a state
to allow customer choice.
In New York State, suppliers are required to provide a “label” which
shows an electricity service provider's generation type in a standardized
format. The label may also include prices, terms of contracts with
customers, air emissions and labor practices.
Part of the delivery service provided by utilities, it is the
low voltage system of power lines, poles, substations and transformers,
directly connected to homes and businesses.
The Economic
attributes include the impact on the local and regional economy. This
includes the development of local jobs and businesses, as well as reductions
in the costs of having a secure domestic supply of electricity.
Literally refers to Energy Service Companies, an ESCO sells electric
supply in the retail market. The utility continues to operate and
maintain its system, read the meter, and deliver the electricity
to your home or business.
The entity that owns and/or operates facilities for the generation,
transmission, and/or distribution of electricity.
This is facility that is generating electricity from renewable
resources.
The environmental
attributes include the cost benefit associated with the construction
and operation of specific type of electric generation facility. In
a discussion of Green Power or renewable energy, their environmental
attributes might include the benefits of such things as emissions offsets
or avoidance.
A product that reflects 1) a greater proportion of renewable
energy and 2) lower emissions per kilowatt-hour of SOx, NOx, and greenhouse
gases than is generally available in the transmission grid.
Using natural gas, oil, coal, or petroleum coke or other petroleum-based
fuels for the generation of electricity.
The percentage of each fuel type used by an ESCO to generate
electricity.
This is the act of converting various forms of energy into
electricity such as oil, gas, sunlight, or wind.
Global warming is the rise in the earth's temperature resulting
from an increase in heat-trapping gases (mainly carbon dioxide and
methane) in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels used in the production of
electricity contribute to two-thirds of these gases found in the atmosphere.
A seller of renewable energy.
The grid is a term used to describe the network of wires and cables,
which transport electricity from a power plant to your home.
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the standard unit of measure for electricity.
One kilowatt-hour is equal to 1,000 watt-hours.
Methane gas that is created by the natural decomposition of solid waste
at a Landfill site.
The use of LFG to generate electricity.
One thousand kilowatts, or 1 million watts; standard measure
of electric power plant generating capacity.
One thousand kilowatt-hours or 1 million watt-hours.
The splitting of the uranium atoms to generate electricity.
Uranium is mined, processed to increase the amount of fissionable material,
and made into fuel rods, which are then placed in nuclear reactors.
As the uranium atoms split inside the reactor, they generate heat,
which is converted to steam and used to generate electricity.
Electricity service available to consumers who choose not to
select an alternative electricity service provider. This is also referred
to as the “P.O.L.R.”
The generation of electricity from solar, wind, geothermal,
blomass and hydroelectric sources. A resource is renewable if it is
naturally replenished. Renewable generation sources have lower environmental
impacts than traditional non-renewables sources.
The series of events whereby a vertically integrated monopoly electricity
territory controlled by a single utility is opened up to competition.
The geographical territory served by a utility.
The concept of
social attributes includes the health and quality of life. This also
refers to social equity considerations related to the location and
siting of power plants, specifically with respect to the affect on
residential landowners.
The mix of fuel sources used in generating electricity in the state
or region.
A term referring to the bundle of attributes associated with
electricity, except the actual electrical energy itself, associated
with the generation of electricity at a renewable energy facility.
A renewable energy “tag” and a REC are the equivalent of
a TRC.
The high voltage lines that are the conduit to move energy from power
plants to the utilities for ultimate delivery to customers.
