Glossary

E3's analysis often employs a variety of concepts and terms that are specific to our work. While we make every effort to define these terms as they arise, we provide this list as a reference. You may also find these online resources of use:

Energy Vortex Dictionary

Online Unit Conversion

Financial Glossary

Deferral benefit.  This method looks at the impact of DG on EUE and EEN to determine how long the T&D capacity projects can be deferred without degrading reliability below the level that customers would have likely experienced under the original T&D plan.

DSM     Demand Side Management

EEN       Energy over Normal. EEN is the amount of energy that exceeds the Normal limit.  The Normal limit is used for planning studies of the normal circuit configuration, and offers the advantage of not requiring specification of all relevant contingency configurations.

EUE        Expected Unserved Energy. Used to indicate reliability impacts in terms of incremental change of EUE. EUE is the amount of load that would have to disconnected (shed load) to avoid damage to the power delivery system.  UE occurs when loads exceed the emergency ratings of equipment, and are generally evaluated under one or more contingency configurations. 

MNDC    Maximum Net Dependable Capacity

NCA        Non Construction Alternative

PCT         Participant Cost Test

RIM         Ratepayer Impact Measure

RORB     Return on Rate Base

SCT     Societal Cost Test. The SCT is similar to the TRC, but also includes externality (non-monetized) costs and benefits.  These are typically environmental benefits such as cleaner air and water.

TRC     Total Resource Cost Test. Measures the net benefit of a DSM program. from a perspective that includes both the ‘participants’ in the energy efficiency program, as well as the ‘non-participants’ who are not involved in the program.

UE     Unserved Energy

VOS     Value-of-Service. VOS varies by customer class.

VRI     Value of a reliability improvement