Glossary of Terms

 

  Term   Description  
  Absorption chiller   Absorption chillers use heat instead of mechanical energy to provide cooling. Therefore can be coupled with a Cogeneration Unit to provide Trigeneration.  
  Action Energy   Now known as the Carbon Trust  
  Annual Agreed Quantity (AAQ)   The annual volume of gas consumed at a site, measured in Kilowatt hours (kWh).  
  Available Supply Capacity (ASC)   The contracted maximum supply capacity which is measured in kVa, which a customer is allowed to use. Customers normally pay a monthly charge for the unit of capacity. The Maximum Demand should not exceed the ASC  
  Base Load   The amount of energy or water being consumed during non operational hours  
  Calorific Value (CV)   The amount of energy per volume of gas, oil or other combustible material. This is measured in mega joules per cubic meter (MJ/m).  
  Carbon Credits   Carbon credits are created when a project reduces or avoids the emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The carbon credits are measured against a baseline.  
  Carbon Trading   The UK Emissions Trading Scheme, launched in April 2002, is the world's first economy-wide national-level greenhouse gas trading scheme. Emissions trading is designed to allow businesses to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases in the most ec  
  Carbon Trust   The Carbon Trust works with UK business and public sector to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, and reduce climate change. An independent, not-for-profit company set up and funded by the government to help the UK meet its international climate change obligations; the Carbon Trust creates practical solutions to help businesses cut their emissions, bringing both business and environmental benefits.  
  CCL Discount   Where an organisation is making savings of energy or carbon against targets, the Climate Change Levy Discount scheme results in a discount of up to 80% on the CCL.  
  Climate Change Agreement   An agreement between the Government and a business user, whereby a reduced rate of Climate Change Levy is payable in return for a commitment by the energy user to achieve certain pre-determined targets for energy usage or carbon emissions.  
  Climate Change Levy (CCL)   A charge introduced by the Government on 1 April 2001 on UK non-domestic fuel. The aim of the levy was to reduce energy and emissions.  
  Degree days   A measure of how cold (or hot) the weather has been (relative to a stated base temperature) measured over a regular monitoring interval, usually weekly or monthly.  
  Distribution Use of System (DUoS)   This charge is incurred for distributing electricity across the local area system to the supplied premises.  
  HH   Half hourly electricity metering. These are sites that take more than 100 kW.  
  League table   A report consisting of a list of items ranked in order of significance, for example according to the gross quantity or cost of energy used. Overspend league table: a list of consumption streams ranked in descending order of the apparent excess cost relative to a computed target.  
  Meter Operator (MOP or MO)   The company appointed to install and maintain metering equipment.  
  Meter Point Administration Number (MPAN)   An MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) is a unique number to the property. It is found on the electricity bill issued by your supplier. This is sometimes called a Supply Number but it should not be confused by your customer reference number. The full MPAN is 21 digits in length. The core part of this number is 13 digits and includes the Distributor ID (2 digits), Meter Point ID Number (11 digits).  
  Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN)   Each property in the UK that has a mains gas supply has an MPRN and in some circumstances more than one MPRN. The MPRN is unique to the property and does not change if you change supplier or even if you move. Sometimes the MPRN is referred to as a M Number or Meter Point Reference Number. An MPRN should be printed on a gas bill.  
  Non Half Hourly (NHH)   Non half hourly electricity metering. These are sites that take less than 100kW.  
  Power Factor   The power factor of an AC electric power system is defined as the ratio of the real power to the apparent power, and is a number between 0 and 1 (frequently expressed as a percentage, e.g. 0.5 pf = 50% pf). Real power is the capacity of the circuit for performing work in a particular time. Apparent power is the product of the current and voltage of the circuit. Due to energy stored in the load and returned to the source, or due to a non-linear load that distorts the wave shape of the current drawn from the source, the apparent power can be greater than the real power. Low-power-factor loads increase losses in a power distribution system and result in increased energy costs.  
  Transmission Use of System (TUoS)   This charge is incurred for transmitting electricity across the National Grid network from the source of generation to the network of the local distribution company. The level of these charges is usually calculated by applying a rate charge to the TRIAD demand level.  
  TRIAD   Used for the calculation of TUoS Charges, the TRIAD is calculated by looking at the three maximum demand points (in kW) of the supply at half hourly time periods, and then averaging the total. The figures used are usually selected from winter months, and at peak times, as these periods are set to reflect the point at which the highest demand occurs on the National Grid.