A Glossary of Energy Terms

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A Glossary of Energy Terms

ACES – American Clean Energy and Security Act (Waxman-Markey bill currently before Congress)

CTL – Coal to Liquids

EIS – Environmental Impact Statement

FERC (pronounced "FERK") – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Intertie – A transmission line that connects two electrical control areas.

IPL – International Power Line

IRP – Integrated Resource Plan

ISO – Independent System Operator

MATL (pronounced "MAT-ul") – Montana Alberta Tie Line: Proposed 230 kV AC line that would run from Great Falls, Montana, to Lethbridge, Alberta. Being developed by Tonbridge Power Inc. of Toronto, Ontario.

MEPA – Montana Environmental Policy Act

MFSA – Montana Major Facility Siting Act

MISO – Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator: An independent system operator and the regional transmission organization that provides open-access transmission service and monitors the high voltage transmission system throughout the Midwest United States (including Eastern Montana) and Manitoba, Canada.

Montana Wind Power Variability Study: Conducted by GENIVAR Consultants Limited Partnership, sponsored by NWE. Purpose was to, “simulate and assess wind power variability for various development scenarios in Montana and their impact on our electric system operation. The results include a projection of expected wind power variability resulting from various growth scenarios of the Montana wind energy industry; a demonstration of the effect on wind variability resulting from various regional dispersion scenarios; and an assessment of the impact on electric system reliability of these scenarios.” (Source: GENIVAR Consultants Limited Partnership)

MSTI (pronounced "MIS-tee") - Mountain States Transmission Intertie: Proposed 500 kV AC line that would run from Townsend, Montana, to Twin Falls, Idaho. Being developed by NorthWestern Energy of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

NARUC – National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners: An association representing the state public service commissioners who regulate essential utility services throughout the country.

Native Load – In-state energy customers

NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act

Open Season – Open Season on transmission lines allows “potential customers to reserve capacity on proposed transmission lines using a FERC approved methodology to ensure fairness and non-discriminatory access. The results of an Open Season are used to ensure that the transmission facility is built to meet the demand and to ensure that the final project will have the revenues necessary to support the investment.” (Source: NorthWestern Energy Press Release)

PNWER – Pacific NorthWest Economic Region: A regional planning and facilitation organization established in 1991 to deal with transboundary policy and planning in the Pacific Northwest. PNWER consists of the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska; the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia; and the Yukon Territory.

Rate Base – The value of assets and property upon which a utility is permitted to earn a specific rate of return.

RPS – Renewable Portfolio Standards: Require utilities to purchase a certain amount of electricity from renewable sources by a certain date. Montana's RPS is 15% by 2015. California's RPS is 30% by 202. The United States' RPS is 25% by 2025.

RTO – Regional Transmission Organization

Utility Line vs. Merchant Line: “A merchant power transmission line is different from a traditional utility-built, rate-based line. It is like a toll highway in that the line is constructed entirely with private funds and only the users pay for it. It sells capacity, or space on the line, at market rates to shippers wanting to move power.” (Source MATL Website)

Voltage vs. Current (Transmission Capacity): Voltage is the rate at which energy is drawn from a source that produces a flow from a circuit (similar to water pressure). Current is the rate at which electricity flows through the line.

WAPA (pronounced "WOP-uh") – Western Area Power Administration (U.S. Department of Energy)

WECC – Western Electricity Coordinating Council: Responsible for coordinating and promoting bulk electric system reliability in the Western Interconnection.

Western Climate Initiative: A collaboration of independent jurisdictions who “commit to work together to identify, evaluate and implement policies to tackle climate change at a regional level.” Montana is a WCI Partner.

WREZ – Western Renewable Energy Zones: A joint initiative of the Western Governors’ Association and U.S. Department of Energy which seeks to identify those areas in the West with vast renewable resources to expedite the development and delivery of renewable energy to where it is needed.