Glossary of Terms

Electricity Industry Terms

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) - Also known as a compact fluorescent light, a CFL uses less power and has a longer rated life than incandescent lamps.

Demand Side Management - A term for the electricity industry's efforts to reduce total demand for electricity, as well as shift demand from peak periods to other times of the day, thereby reducing the need for new power plants and transmission lines and reducing the size of integrated electricity systems.

Distribution - The delivery of electricity to homes and businesses within local areas using relatively low-voltage power lines. Distributors carry electricity from substations to distribution transformers, which further reduce or step down the voltage for supply to local customers.

Distributed Generation - Distributed energy generation, (also known as micro-generation) is smaller scale power generation, typically between 3 kW to 10,000 kW, which makes use of locally produced power generation technologies such as solar photo-voltaic systems, micro wind turbines and combined cycle natural gas turbines as alternatives to large-scale conventional coal-fired plants.

EasyMax®  - Launched in 2005 by ENMAX Energy, the EasyMax® program offers residential and small business customers competitive electricity rates, without complex contracts or cancellation penalties.*

* You can choose any retailer listed at www.ucahelps.gov.ab.ca or call the UCA at 310-4822. Electricity delivery to your home or business isn't affected by your choice of retailer.

Electrical Load - The power demand on an electrical circuit.

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)  - Electromagnetic fields are invisible lines of force surrounding any wire or device that uses electricity. They are created whenever electricity flows through a wire eg. overhead power lines, electric appliances, or electrical cords or wiring. Because these fields are found wherever there is electricity, we are continually exposed to them.

Electric fields are produced by voltage, which can best be compared to the pressure of water in a pipe. They are measured in kilovolts per meter (kV/m). There are electric fields whenever voltage is present. Electric fields are present whenever an appliance is plugged in, even if it is turned off. The higher the voltage, the higher the electric fields.

Magnetic fields are produced by electrical current, which is comparable to the quantity of water flowing through a pipe, and are measured in microtesla (uT) or milligauss (mG). They are only present when power is flowing through a wire – such as when an appliance is turned on. The more current flowing through a wire, the higher the magnetic field.

While electric fields are easily shielded or weakened by conducting objects (ie; trees, buildings, and human skin), magnetic fields are not. However, both electric and magnetic fields weaken with increasing distance from the source.

Energy Efficiency - Using less energy to achieve the equivalent amount of energy service.

The ENERGY STAR® Initiative in Canada - An internationally recognized symbol and standard for identifying products delivering premium energy efficiency without compromising performance.

Formula-Based Regulation (FBR) - An electricity rate-setting mechanism that provides incentives for achieving higher levels of efficiency and productivity, to a certain threshold, through lower customer prices. ENMAX Power was the first electric utility to introduce an application and receive approval to implement FBR in Alberta.

Generation - The production of electricity at generating stations or via distributed generation using fossil fuels, hydro, wind, solar, or other resources (e.g. biomass, plasma arc technology).

Gigajoule (GJ) - A gigajoule is equivalent to one billion joules and is a term used in the energy industry, particularly when referring to the heating potential and/or volume of natural gas.

Gigawatt (GW) - A gigawatt is equivalent to one billion watts.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) - HVAC is an industry acronym describing heating, ventilation and air conditioning services, all which involve mechanical systems promoting comfortable indoor air quality.

Megawatt (MW) - One megawatt is equivalent to one million watts and is a measurement used by the utility industry to evaluate the productive capacity of electrical generators. (One watt is equal to one joule of energy per second.)

Megawatt Hour (MWh) - A megawatt hour is equivalent to 1,000 kilowatts of electricity used continuously for a one-hour period.

ISO Standard - The International Organization for Standardization is a non-governmental organization, which is the world's largest developer and publisher of international standards.

Kilovolt Transmission Lines - Transmission lines designed to carry high voltage electricity. A kilovolt is equivalent to one thousand volts of electricity.

Kilowatt (kW) - A kilowatt is equivalent to one thousand watts.

Kilowatt Hours (kWh) - A kilowatt hour is equivalent to one thousand watt hours of electricity and is the most commonly used billing unit by utilities who deliver electricity to consumers.

Micro-Generation - See Distributed Generation.

Micro-Wind Turbines - Micro-wind turbines are small scale turbines that convert wind energy into electricity in DC (direct current) form. An inverter is used to transform DC output into AC (alternating current) form for regular residential and commercial use.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) - A group of chemical compounds formerly used as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment. Production of equipment with these chemicals was banned in the early 1980s as they were found to bioaccumulate and are toxic in high concentrations.

Power Dispatched - Power transported from a generating station to its intended destination.

Power Purchase Arrangements (PPAs) - Long-term contract-like instruments under which the rights to the output from some large generating units in Alberta were transferred from the plant owner to another party that purchased that right, such as ENMAX, in return for a formula-based revenue stream. ENMAX obtains most of the electricity we sell to customers through the Keephills and Battle River PPAs.

Peaking Facility - A power generation facility designed to supplement generation capacity during periods of high electrical demand.

Run-of-River - Run-of-river uses the natural flow of a river to produce electricity and has no large scale dam or reservoir.

Solar Hot Water - Solar thermal technology which converts solar energy into heated water that can be used for domestic use or space heating.

Solar Photo-Voltaic Panels System - Solar Photo-voltaic (PV) panels are panels that convert the sun’s energy into electricity. There are different types of PV panels, differentiated largely by the manufacturing process, materials used and end function.

System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) - SAIFI is the average number of power service interruptions greater than or equal to one minute that a customer experiences over the course of a year.

System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) - SAIDI is the average duration of a power service interruption that a customer experiences over the course of a year.

Tonne - A unit of mass equivalent to 1,000 kilograms.

Transmission - The transfer of electricity from generating stations to substations in local areas using large, high-voltage power lines.

Environmental Terms

Alberta Specified Gas Emitters Regulation (SGER) - The Alberta government's Specified Gas Emitters Regulation came into effect on July 1, 2007. It requires all facilities that emit direct GHG emissions equal to or exceeding 100,000 tonnes of CO2e per year on or after 2003 to submit a Baseline Emissions Intensity
Application and annual compliance reports verifying their GHG emissions.

Starting in July 2007, all existing plants emitting over 100,000 tonnes of CO2e must reduce emissions intensity by 12% below a baseline which is calculated from and an average of 2003 to 2005. For new plants, emission reduction targets increase over time depending on the date of commissioning to a maximum of 12% by the ninth year of plant operation.

Biomass - Carbon-based biological material including wood, waste, landfill gases and alcohol fuels. Biomass is increasingly being used to generate renewable energy.

Biophysical Impact Assessment - The study of a proposed development area, which identifies its natural features including wildlife habitat and vegetation, examines the risk of impacting these areas due to the proposed development, and provides a plan for mitigation of these potential impacts.

Cap and Trade System - Cap and Trade is a market-based approach for achieving emissions reductions. A cap or limit is set on emissions and the emissions generator (power plant owner) is given the option to trade any credits earned by emitting under the legislated cap or to buy offset credits in order to emit more than the limit. The overall goal of a cap and trade system is to place a value on carbon and encourage industry to transition to less GHG-intensive forms of energy use, transportation and manufacturing processes.

Carbon Offsets - Carbon offsets are the reductions, removals or avoidance of emissions of greenhouse gases, measured in CO2e, into the atmosphere from business as usual conditions. The reductions should be real, permanent, measurable, and unique. These offsets are quantified in metric tonne: one metric tonne of GHG reduction creates one tonne of carbon offset.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - Carbon dioxide is generated primarily as a by-product of fossil fuel combustion, during organic decomposition, and during respiration. In its gaseous form, CO2 is a colourless, odourless, incombustible gas. CO2 is a greenhouse gas and in the atmosphere can contribute to climate change. Coal-fired power generation emits over two times the amount of CO2e as gas-fired generation.

Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (CO2e) - Carbon dioxide equivalents is the unit of measurement used to show the global warming potential (GWP) of each greenhouse gas. Because carbon dioxide has the lowest GWP, it is used as the reference against which all other greenhouse gases are measured.

Ecological Footprint - The extent of human activity on the Earth's ecosystems.

Emissions - The release of gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the combustion of fossil fuels and other industrial processes.

Emissions Intensity - The amount of emissions generated by a specific activity normalized by unit of production, typically by megawatt in power production.

Environmental Remediation - The removal of pollution or contaminants from soil or surface or ground water.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) - The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a network-based organization that has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework.

Greenhouse gas effect - The process where heat that is emitted back by the Earth, is trapped in the lower atmosphere and thereby keeps the average global surface temperature at about 14 degrees Celsius - about 33 degrees Celsius warmer than if there were no greenhouse gases at all. The greenhouse gas effect is what makes life possible on Earth.

Any imbalance in the concentration of these heat trapping greenhouse house gases can alter the climatic conditions and result in dangerous consequences of climate change.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) - These are the gases in the atmosphere (naturally occurring or anthropogenic) that absorb the reflected heat from Earth and warm the planet. There are six GHGs that are identified by the scientists. These are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and sulphur hexafloride (SF6).

Nitrogen Oxides - Nitrogen oxides are chemical compounds of oxygen and nitrogen and are produced during the combustion of fossil fuels, particularly at high temperatures and contribute to ground-level ozone.

Particulate Emissions - Particulate emissions are emissions which contain small particulates of solids and liquids that are produced from fossil-fuel combustion. These particles are typically 2.5 to 10 micrometres in size and can present a health hazard if inhaled.

Low Tillage - An agriculture practice where soil disturbance is kept to a minimum by avoiding tilling of the land, thereby reducing GHG emissions. ENMAX Energy has a long-term agreement in place to purchase carbon credits from an agri-business which aggregates carbon offset credits from Alberta farmers.

Parts Per Million (ppm) - A scientific measurement that is used to report minute concentrations of a substance.

Synergy Group - Synergy Alberta is a not-for-profit organization in Alberta that has developed the synergy group model to enable members of communities to have more meaningful, ongoing participation in development decisions that directly affect them.

Sulphur Dioxide - Sulphur dioxide is a gas which is a by-product of combusting fossil fuels that contain sulphur, such as coal or sour natural gas. SO2 is a primary cause of acid rain. ENMAX's gas-fired generation plants do not emit SO2.

Human Resources Terms

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) - represents 600,000 working men and women across Canada in health care, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, public utilities, transportation, emergency services and airlines.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) - represents approximately 725,000 members who work in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government.

Employee Turnover Rate - a measure of the loss of employees that creates job openings which may need to be filled.

Key Performance Indicators (KPI) -  performance targets which are set annually by ENMAX executive and management. ENMAX employee compensation is linked to the achievement of these performance targets.

Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) -  the number of lost-time injuries or illnesses that occur during a calendar year for every 200,000 hours worked.

Lost Time Injury Severity Rate (LTISR) - a measure of the severity of injuries and is based on the number of days lost to injury.

Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) - the total number of recordable injuries that occur during a calendar year for every 200,000 hours worked, not just those that result in lost time.

General Terms

Stakeholders - ENMAX stakeholders include: customers; First Nations; residents; landowners and businesses impacted by capital projects; government; community associations; business associations; synergy groups; non-governmental organizations (NGOs); special interest groups; and industry members.

Corporate Responsibility - Also known as corporate social responsibility, this is a commitment to behave ethically, operate transparently, provide our products and services in a manner that mitigates environmental impacts and promotes the public good.