TalkPower Energy Academy Glossary
Can't find what you're looking for? Use our glossary to understand the technical jargon and head to the lessons that will delve deeper into these topics.
A - C
Assistance for Areas with High Electricity Distribution (AAHEDC)
Assistance for Areas with High Electricity Distribution, or AAHEDC, covers the cost of distributing power to remote areas. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Balancing Services Use of System (BSUoS)
Balancing Services Use of System, or BSUoS, covers the cost of balancing supply with demand, which keeps the whole UK electricity network stable and reliable. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Biomass energy
Biomass energy is the conversion of solid fuel made from plant materials into electricity. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
Budgeting
We’ll let you know what you can do to get your best electricity price. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 3: When to buy, how long for, and setting your electricity budget.
Buying options
There are a range of buying options available to businesses when buying energy. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 1: What are the different buying options? If you want to know more about your options in terms of length of contract, take a look at Module 2: Buy, Lesson 3: When to buy, how long for, and setting your electricity budget.
Capacity Market Supplier Charge
The Capacity Market Supplier Charge covers your business’ contribution to the Capacity Market scheme. This is a scheme that ensures there are enough generators to cover the amount of energy the UK needs. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Contracts for Difference
Contracts for Difference is a scheme set up to support large generators investing in low carbon technology, giving them a guaranteed price for the energy they produce. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
D - F
Distribution loss (D-loss)
Distribution loss, or D-loss, covers the cost of energy that’s lost when travelling through the distribution network. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Distribution Network Operator (DNO)
A distribution network operator (DNO) is the company that owns and operates the power lines and infrastructure that connect the electricity network to sites. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 3: How to arrange a new connection.
Distribution Use of System (DUoS)
Distribution Use of System, or DUoS, is how businesses pay towards the cables and substations that take power from the national network through their local area and to their sites. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Energy sources
There is a range of different energy sources you can choose from when buying your energy. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
Elexon
Elexon is an administrator to make sure the energy system runs as it should. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Energy Intensive Industry Exemption (EII)
Energy Intensive Industry Exemption, or EII, is an exemption from RO, CfD and FiT for industries that use a high amount of energy. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Feed in Tariff
The Feed in Tariff is a scheme to encourage homes and small businesses to install their own renewable energy. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Fixed price contracts
There are a range of buying options available to businesses when buying energy, including fixing certain costs. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 1: What are the different buying options?
Flexible energy buying
There are a range of buying options available to businesses when buying energy, including buying more flexibly. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 1: What are the different buying options?
Fossil fuels
The common fossil fuels are oil, coal, and natural gas. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
G - I
Geothermal energy
Geothermal energy harnesses the natural heat below the earth’s surface. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
Hydro energy
Hydro power is energy generated from water. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
J - L
M - O
Market Insight
EDF’s Market Insight portal gives you the latest power, gas, oil, coal and other costs driving your electricity prices, with analysis from our expert energy traders. Find out more about how you can use Market Insight to support your energy buying in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 3: When to buy, how long for, and setting your electricity budget.
Meter Operator (MOP)
A meter operator (MOP) is an organisation responsible for installing and maintaining electricity meters. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 3: How to arrange a new connection.
Monitor report
EDF’s quarterly Monitor Report keeps you up to date with the largest non-energy costs. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 3: When to buy, how long for, and setting your electricity budget.
New electricity connections
Find out how to get a new electricity supply connection set up in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 3: How to arrange a new connection.
Non-energy costs
Non-energy costs pay for the cost of transporting energy as well as providing support for government initiatives and interventions in the energy industry. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Nuclear energy
Nuclear power is the most affordable, zero carbon energy source currently available to the UK. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
P - R
Power Purchase Agreements (PPA)
A Power Purchase Agreement is a contract between a party that generates electricity and one which is looking to purchase electricity. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
Renewable energy
A renewable energy source means energy that is sustainable, there are several different renewable energy technologies available in the UK. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
Renewable Obligation
The Renewable Obligation is designed to support the development of renewable energy. It encourages generators to build more renewable technology to grow the UK’s supply of low carbon energy. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
S - V
Solar energy
Sunlight is one of our planet’s most abundant and freely available energy resources. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
Supply and demand
When the amount of energy the country is producing easily meets the amount we need, it effects the price of energy. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 1: Understanding the wholesale energy market.
Tidal energy
Tidal energy is a form of hydro energy that uses twice-daily tidal currents to drive turbine generators. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?
Transmission loss (T-loss)
Transmission loss, or T-loss, covers the cost of energy that’s lost when travelling through the transmission network. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
Transmission Network Use of System (TNUoS)
Transmission Network Use of System, or TNUoS, covers the cost of installing and maintaining powerlines that get electricity from where it’s generated to each region of the country. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 2: Non-energy costs explained.
W - Z
Wholesale power market
The wholesale power market is where electricity is traded. Find out more in Module 1: Plan, Lesson 1: Understanding the wholesale energy market. If you want to know more about tracking the wholesale power market, take a look at Module 2: Buy, Lesson 3: When to buy, how long for, and setting your electricity budget.
Wind energy
Wind is a plentiful source of clean energy. Find out more in Module 2: Buy, Lesson 2: What energy source is right for you?