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Customer Choice Information |
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Consumer's Dictionary for Electric Competition Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
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Affiliate A company that is controlled by another or that has the same owner as another company. Distribution The local wires, transformers, substations and other equipment used to distribute and deliver electricity to end-use consumers from the high-voltage transmission lines. Electric Distribution Company (EDC) The company that owns the power lines and equipment necessary to deliver purchased electricity to the customer. Energy Conservation To reduce or manage energy consumption in a cost-effective manner. Generation Production of electricity from a power plant. Kilowatt (kW) (1) A measure of demand for power during a preset time--minutes, hours, days, months; (2) 1,000 watts--Ten 100 watt light bulbs use one kW of electric power. Kilowatt-hour (kWh) The basic unit of electric energy for which most customers are charged. The amount of electricity used by ten 100 watt light bulbs left on for one hour. Consumers are usually charged for electricity in cents per kilowatt-hour. Off-Peak/On-Peak Blocks of time when energy demand and price is low (off-peak) or high (on-peak). Reliability The providing of adequate and dependable generation, transmission and distribution service. Renewables Includes technologies such as solar photovoltaic energy, solar thermal energy, wind power, low head hydro power, geothermal energy, landfill and mine based methane gas, energy from waste and sustainable biomass energy. Restructuring The reorganization of traditional monopoly electric service to allow operations and charges to be separated or "unbundled" into generation, transmission, distribution and other services. This will permit customers to buy generation services from competing suppliers. Stranded investments or stranded costs A utility investment, such as in facility and equipment, that is not supported by market prices. Supplier (Electricity Supplier) A person or corporation, generator, broker, marketer, aggregator or any other entity, that sells electricity to customers, using the transmission or distribution facilities of an electric distribution company (EDC). Transition Charge A charge on every customer's bill designed to recover an electric utility's transition or stranded costs as determined by the Public Utility Commission. Transmission Interconnecting electric lines which move high voltage electricity from where it is produced to the point of distribution to customers. Universal Service Policies, protections and services that help low-income customers maintain electric service. |
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