A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Note: See Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for terms such as wind farm, wind power, renewable energy.
Availability: The actual time a power generating unit is capable of providing service, if needed..
Average annual energy: The total energy generated annually by a power station, on average over many years of operation, measured in gigawatt-hours (GWh).
Capacity (electric): The maximum power that can be produced or delivered under specified conditions by a generator or system, measured on an instantaneous basis, usually expressed in megawatts (MW).
Capacity factor: Ratio of average generation to the maximum generation capability of an electric generating unit, expressed as a percentage.
Connection: The physical junction (e.g. transmission lines, transformers, switch gear, etc.) between two electric systems permitting the transfer of electric energy.
Demand (electric): The rate at which electric energy is delivered by a system at a given instant or on average over a designated period, usually expressed in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts (MW).
Distributed generation: Electricity generating capacity which is located close to the customers it serves.
Distribution (electrical): The system of lines, transformers and switches that connect the transmission network and customer load. The circulation of electricity to ultimate use points such as homes and businesses.
Environmental Assessment (EA): A professional assessment of a project’s potential impacts on the local environment, following guidelines set out in provincial and federal government regulations.
Generation: The process of producing electric energy by transforming or connecting other forms of energy such as blowing wind, shining sunlight or falling water.
Gigawatt (GW): One billion watts, or one million kilowatts.
Gigawatt-hour (GWh): One million kilowatt-hours.
Green power: Electricity generation considered to be less intrusive environmentally than traditional generation. Green power sources include wind, water, landfill gas, solar, and others.
Greenfield development: Development of a new power generating facility.
Grid: A synchronized transmission network that delivers electricity from generating stations to local distributors and other large users at high voltage.
Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO): The non-profit regulated corporation overseeing operation of the Ontario wholesale electricity market.
Independent Power Producer (IPP): A private company that produces electric power, other than an electricity utility. Brookfield Power Inc. is an IPP.
Installed capacity: The measure of a power station’s electric generating capacity at full production, usually measured in megawatts (MW).
Kilowatt (kW): A unit of electrical power equal to one thousand watts.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh): The amount of electricity a power plant generates or a customer uses over a period of time is measured in kilowatt-hours, unit of electrical energy equivalent to one kilowatt of power used for one hour. One kilowatt-hour is equal to 1,000 watt-hours, equivalent to the energy consumed by a 100-watt light bulb burning for 10 hours. An average household will use 800 to 1300 kWh per month depending upon geographical area.
Megawatt (MW): A unit of electrical production capacity. One million watts or one thousand kilowatts.
Megawatt-hour (MWh): One million watt-hours of electric energy. A unit of electrical energy which equals one megawatt of power used for one hour.
Ontario Energy Board (OEB): A regulatory tribunal that has oversight of electricity matters in the province of Ontario and also provides advice on energy matters referred to it by the Government of Ontario.
Ontario Power Authority (OPA): The power authority that oversees the provision of long-term adequacy of electricity supply with power system planning, generation development, conservation and electricity sector development for new generation.
Power: A term usually meant to imply both capacity and energy.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): A long-term off-take contract from a large customer to buy the electricity generated by a power plant; it governs the terms of supply and purchase price.
Renewable resource: A power source that is continuously or cyclically renewed by nature, i.e. solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass or similar sources of energy.
Terawatt hours (TWh): One thousand Gigawatt hours.
Transmission: The network of high voltage wires, transformers and switches used to move electrical power from generators to the distribution system. Also utilized to interconnect utility systems and independent power producers together into a synchronized network. Transmission is considered to end when the energy is transformed for distribution to the consumer.
Transmission grid: An interconnected system of electric transmission lines and associated equipment for the transfer of electric energy between points of supply and points of demand.
Turbine: A machine for generating rotary mechanical power from the energy of a stream of fuel (such as wind, water, natural gas or steam), converting the kinetic energy of the fuel to mechanical energy; rotary turbines drive generators to produce electricity.
Watt: A scientific unit of measurement of electrical power used to describe the rate of energy consumption of an electrical appliance. One watt is the power equal to one joule of energy per second; 750 watts is equivalent to one horsepower. Watts equal voltage times amperage.
Watt-hour: The basic unit of measurement for consumption of electric energy; equal to the wattage multiplied by the time in hours; the quantity of electrical energy used or produced when one watt is used for one hour.
Wholesale market: The market in which electricity is sold to directly connected customers, wholesalers, retailers and distributors who in turn sell to retail or end-user customers.