Glossary
California Energy Commission Glossary of Terms
This list is an open data focused subset of the California Energy Commission's full glossary: http://www.energy.ca.gov/glossary/
ArcGIS
ArcGIS provides contextual tools for mapping and spatial reasoning so you can explore data and share location-based insights.
Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP)
Created by Assembly Bill 118 (Nunez, Chapter 750, Statutes of 2007), the program with an annual budget of about $100 million supports projects that develop and improve alternative and renewable low-carbon fuels, improve alternative and renewable fuels for existing and developing engine technologies, expand transit and transportation infrastructures, and establishing workforce training programs, conduct public education and promotion, and create technology centers, among other tasks.
Biomass
Energy resources derived from organic matter. These include wood, agricultural waste and other living-cell material that can be burned to produce heat energy. They also include algae, sewage and other organic substances that may be used to make energy through chemical processes.
California Energy Commission
The state agency established by the Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act in 1974 (Public Resources Code, Sections 25000 et seq.) responsible for energy policy.
CALISO
California independent system operator
Capacity
The amount of electric power for which a generating unit, generating station, or other electrical apparatus is rated either by the user or manufacturer. The term is also used for the total volume of natural gas that can flow through a pipeline over a given amount of time, considering such factors as compression and pipeline size.
Circuit
One complete run of a set of electric conductors from a power source to various electrical devices (appliances, lights, etc.) and back to the same power source.
Climate Zone
A geographical area is the state that has particular weather patterns. These zones are used to determine the type of building standards that are required by law.
Coal
Black or brown rock, formed under pressure from organic fossils in prehistoric times, that is mined and burned to produce heat energy.
Cogeneration
Cogeneration means the sequential use of energy for the production of electrical and useful thermal energy.
Combined Cycle Plant
An electric generating station that uses waste heat from its gas turbines to produce steam for conventional steam turbines.
CSV
Comma-separated values
Demand
The rate at which energy is delivered to loads and scheduling points by generation, transmission or distribution facilities.
Department of Energy
The federal department established by the Department of Energy Organization Act to consolidate the major federal energy functions into one cabinet-level department that would formulate a comprehensive, balanced national energy policy. DOE's main headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
Direct Current (DC)
Electricity that flows continuously in the same direction.
Distribution
The delivery of electricity to the retail customer's home or business through low voltage distribution lines.
EIA
Energy Information Administration
Electric Generator
A device that converts a heat, chemical or mechanical energy into electricity.
Electric Service Area
Any contiguous geographic area serviced by the same electric utility.
Electric Substation
A facility that steps up or steps down the voltage in utility power lines. Voltage is stepped up where power is sent through long-distance transmission lines. It is stepped down where the power is to enter local distribution lines.
Electric Utility
Any person or state agency with a monopoly franchise (including any municipality), which sells electric energy to end-use customers; this term includes the Tennessee valley Authority, but does not include other Federal power marketing agency.
Electric Vehicle (EV)
A vehicle powered by electricity, usually provided by batteries but may also be provided by photovoltaic (solar) cells or a fuel cell.
Electricity
A property of the basic particles of matter. A form of energy having magnetic, radiant and chemical effects. Electric current is created by a flow of charged particles (electrons).
Energy
The capacity for doing work. Forms of energy include: thermal, mechanical, electrical and chemical. Energy may be transformed from one form into another.
Fuel
A substance that can be used to produce heat.
Fuel Cell
A device or an electrochemical engine with no moving parts that converts the chemical energy of a fuel, such as hydrogen, and an oxidant, such as oxygen, directly into electricity. The principal components of a fuel cell are catalytically activated electrodes for the fuel (anode) and the oxidant (cathode) and an electrolyte to conduct ions between the two electrodes, thus producing electricity.
FGDC
Federal Geographic Data Committee
Gas
Gaseous fuel (usually natural gas) that is burned to produce heat energy. The word also is used, colloquially, to refer to gasoline.
Gasoline
A light petroleum product obtained by refining oil, and used as motor vehicle fuel.
Gas Utility
Any person engaged in, or authorized to engage in, distributing or transporting natural gas, including, but not limited to, any such person who is subject to the regulation of the Public Utilities Commission.
Generating Station
A power plant.
Geothermal Energy
Natural heat from within the earth, captured for production of electric power, space heating or industrial steam.
Gigawatt (GW)
One thousand megawatts (1,000 MW) or, one million kilowatts (1,000,000 kW) or one billion watts (1,000,000,000 watts) of electricity. One gigawatt is enough to supply the electric demand of about one million average California homes.
Gigawatt-Hour (GWH)
One million kilowatt-hours of electric power. California's electric utilities generated a total of about 302,072 gigawatt-hours in 2007.
GIS
Geographic information system
Greenhouse Gas
Any gas that absorbs infra-red radiation in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O3), perfluorinated carbons (PFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Hydroelectric Power
Electricity produced by falling water that turns a turbine generator. Also referred to as HYDRO.
IEPR
Integrated Energy Policy Report
Internal Combustion Engine
An engine in which fuel is burned inside the engine. A car's gasoline engine or rotary engine is an example of an internal combustion engine. It differs from engines having an external furnace, such as a steam engine.
IOU
An investor owned utility. A company, owned by stockholders for profit, that provides utility services. A designation used to differentiate a utility owned and operated for the benefit of shareholders from municipally owned and operated utilities and rural electric cooperatives.
Kilovolt
One-thousand volts (1,000). Distribution lines in residential areas usually are 12 kV (12,000 volts).
Kilowatt
One thousand (1,000) watts. A unit of measure of the amount of electricity needed to operate given equipment. On a hot summer afternoon a typical home, with central air conditioning and other equipment in use, might have a demand of four kW each hour.
Kilowatt-Hour
The most commonly-used unit of measure telling the amount of electricity consumed over time. It means one kilowatt of electricity supplied for one hour. In 1989, a typical California household consumes 534 kWh in an average month.
LADWP
The acronym for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power an electric, municipal utility serving the greater Los Angeles, California, region.
Landfill Gas
Gas generated by the natural degrading and decomposition of municipal solid waste by anaerobic microorganisms in sanitary landfills. The gases produced, carbon dioxide and methane, can be collected by a series of low-level pressure wells and can be processed into a medium Btu gas that can be burned to generate steam or electricity.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Natural gas that has been condensed to a liquid, typically by cryogenically cooling the gas to minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit (below zero).
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
A mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons, mainly propane and butane that change into liquid form under moderate pressure. LPG or propane is commonly used as a fuel for rural homes for space and water heating, as a fuel for barbecues and recreational vehicles, and as a transportation fuel. It is normally created as a by-product of petroleum refining and from natural gas production.
Megawatt
One-thousand kilowatts (1,000 kW) or one million (1,000,000) watts. One megawatt is enough electrical capacity to power 1,000 average California homes. (Assuming a loading factor of 0.5 and an average California home having a 2-kilowatt peak capacity.)
Municipal Electric Utility
A power utility system owned and operated by a local jurisdiction.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
Locally collected garbage, which can be processed and burned to produce energy.
Natural Gas
Hydrocarbon gas found in the earth, composed of methane, ethane, butane, propane and other gases.
Natural Gas Vehicle
Vehicles that are powered by compressed or liquefied natural gas.
Natural Gasoline
A mixture of liquids extracted from natural gas and suitable for blending with ordinary oil-derived gasoline.
Peaker
A nickname for a power generating station that is normally used to produce extra electricity during peak load times.
PG&E
The acronym for Pacific Gas and Electric Company an electric and natural gas utility serving the central and northern California region.
Photovoltaic Cell
A semiconductor that converts light directly into electricity.
POU
Public owned utility
Power
Electricity for use as energy.
Power Authorities
Quasi-governmental agencies that perform all or some of the functions of a public utility.
Power Plant
A central station generating facility that produces energy.
Primary Fuel
Fuel consumed in the original production of energy, before conversion takes place.
Prime Mover
The engine, turbine, water wheel, or similar machine that drives an electric generator; or, for reporting purposes, a device that converts energy to electricity directly (e.g., photovoltaic solar and fuel cells).
QFER
Quarterly Fuel and Energy Report
SCE
The acronym for Southern California Edison Company an electric utility serving the southern California region.
SDG&E
The acronym for San Diego Gas & Electric an electric and natural gas utility serving the San Diego, California, region.
Secondary Energy/Non-Firm Energy
Electricity that is not required to be delivered or to be taken under the terms of an electric purchase contract.
SMUD
The acronym for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, an electric utility serving the greater Sacramento, California, region.
Solar Cell
A photovoltaic cell that can convert light directly into electricity. A typical solar cell uses semiconductors made from silicon.
Solar Energy
Heat and light radiated from the sun.
Solar Thermal Power Plant
Means a thermal power plant in which 75 percent or more of the total energy output is from solar energy and the use of backup fuels, such as oil, natural gas, and coal, does not, in the aggregate, exceed 25 percent of the total energy input of the facility during any calendar year period.
Solar Thermal
The process of concentrating sunlight on a relatively small area to create the high temperatures needs to vaporize water or other fluids to drive a turbine for generation of electric power.
Steam Turbine
A device that converts high-pressure steam, produced in a boiler, into mechanical energy that can then be used to produce electricity by forcing blades in a cylinder to rotate and turn a generator shaft.
Thermal Power Plant
Any stationary or floating electrical generating facility using any source of thermal energy, with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts or more, and any facilities appurtenant thereto. Exploratory, development, and production wells, resource transmission lines, and other related facilities used in connection with a geothermal exploratory project or a geothermal field development project are not appurtenant facilities for the purposes of this division. Thermal power plant does not include any wind, hydroelectric, or solar photovoltaic electrical generating facility.
Transmission
Transporting bulk power over long distances.
Turbine Generator
A device that uses steam, heated gases, water flow or wind to cause spinning motion that activates electromagnetic forces and generates electricity.
Utility
A regulated entity which exhibits the characteristics of a natural monopoly. For the purposes of electric industry restructuring, "utility" refers to the regulated, vertically-integrated electric company. "Transmission utility" refers to the regulated owner/operator of the transmission system only. "Distribution utility" refers to the regulated owner/operator of the distribution system which serves retail customers.
Watt
A unit of measure of electric power at a point in time, as capacity or demand. One watt of power maintained over time is equal to one joule per second. Some Christmas tree lights use one watt. The Watt is named after Scottish inventor James Watt and is capitalized when shortened to w and used with other abbreviations, as in kWh.
Watt-Hour
One watt of power expended for one hour. One thousandth of a kilowatt-hour.
Wind Turbine
Wind energy conversion device that produces electricity; typically, three blades rotating about a horizontal axis and positioned up-wind of the supporting tower.