A load management technique that involves moving electricity consumption from peak to off-peak periods to balance supply and demand.

Geographic network areas within the UK gas distribution system, extending from the National Transmission System to end-user supply points across a defined region. There are approximately 13 LDZs in Great Britain, each managed by a Gas Distribution Network (GDN) operator responsible for maintaining and operating the local gas infrastructure serving industrial, commercial, and domestic customers.

Low Voltage (LV) refers to electricity distributed at 230V (single-phase) or 400V (three-phase) in the UK distribution network, representing the final voltage level before consumption.

Electricity supplied to our homes from the National Grid.

Maximum Demand is the highest peak of usage (kWH) in any Half Hour during a calendar month or between two meter readings measured in either kW or kVA. This value is multiplied by 2 to give the MD on an hourly basis.

A megawatt-hour is a unit of energy equal to one megawatt of power sustained for one hour. It measures the total amount of electricity used or generated over time and is widely used for billing, settlement, and energy reporting purposes.

A megawatt is a unit of power equal to one million watts. It represents the rate at which electricity is generated or consumed at a specific moment in time and is commonly used to describe the capacity of power stations or electrical demand levels.

The party responsible for managing and maintaining metering assets on behalf of an electricity customer or supplier. The MAM oversees meter installations, replacements, and ongoing maintenance, acting as the primary point of contact for all metering-related activities at a meter point. They coordinate meter works, ensure compliance with industry standards, and maintain records of meter assets within their managed portfolio.

The party responsible for the ongoing provision and maintenance of the meter installation at a specific meter point. The MAP owns or leases the metering equipment and ensures it remains compliant with industry standards, working alongside the Meter Asset Manager (MAM) and Meter Operator (MOp) to maintain accurate metering for settlement purposes.

A unique 21-digit reference number used to identify every electricity supply point in Great Britain. In the I&C sector, the MPAN is essential for supply contracts, switching suppliers, and managing Half Hourly (HH) or Non-Half Hourly (NHH) metered sites. The MPAN consists of a top line identifying the distribution network and meter operator, and a bottom line containing the unique supply point identifier.

The unique identifier stamped on the front of an electricity or gas meter, used to identify that specific meter in industry systems and databases. This number is essential for meter administration, data collection, and billing processes. The MSN changes when a meter is exchanged or replaced, requiring updates to supply and metering records.

The small-scale generation of energy, for example solar panels or domestic wind turbines. These are often referred to as generation from renewable sources at a domestic or small community level. Million Cubic Meters (MCM) 1 MCM is approximately 360,000 therms. MWh Mega Watt hour, one thousand kWh. A 1MW power-generating unit running for 1 hour produces 1 MWh of electrical energy. National Balancing Point (NBP) The point where wholesale gas is traded within the UK.

The National Grid owns the main transmission systems and is responsible for transmitting the electricity from the generator to the local RECs area. All electricity generated in mainland UK is put into the National Grid before fed into distribution networks.

The state achieved when the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced equals the amount removed from the atmosphere, resulting in no net increase in atmospheric carbon. Reaching Net Zero involves reducing energy consumption, transitioning to renewable electricity sources, improving operational efficiency, and offsetting remaining emissions through verified carbon removal schemes.

All charges on an energy bill beyond the wholesale price of electricity or gas, including network charges (DUoS, TNUoS), capacity charges, environmental levies (CCL, Renewables Obligation), and other pass-through costs. For large commercial consumers, non-commodity costs often constitute 50% or more of total energy expenditure.

Electricity meters that measure and record consumption data at intervals longer than 30 minutes.

A method of electricity generation that uses heat produced by controlled atomic fission reactions in nuclear reactors. Nuclear power produces negligible carbon emissions during operation, making it a significant component of low-carbon electricity supply in the UK grid.

An emissions reduction, commonly resulting from a project undertaken in the developing world, which has been sold to compensate for emissions elsewhere. Offsets are commonly used to net off corporate emissions so that an organisation can claim to be carbon neutral.

Gas consumed by a site or customer. Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The energy regulator for the electricity and gas markets in Great Britain.

Non-energy costs that electricity suppliers incur from third parties and pass directly to customers without markup. These charges include TNUoS, DUoS, BSUoS charges, Capacity Market charges, and various industry levies. They cover the costs of network infrastructure, system balancing, and government policy obligations, and typically appear as separate line items on commercial energy bills.

The maximum amount of electrical power required by an consumer from the grid during a specified period, typically measured in kW or MW. Managing peak demand is critical for commercial operations as it directly impacts capacity charges, DUoS red band rates, and Triad charges for HH metered sites. Organisations can reduce costs through demand-side response strategies, load shifting, and on-site generation during peak periods.

A measure of the efficiency of electricity usage on a site, representing the ratio of real power to apparent power in an electrical system. Certain types of equipment, particularly inductive loads, can cause poor power factor which reduces the network's capacity to supply power effectively.

Electrical wires that carry electricity from the point of generation to the point of use.

A contract between an electricity seller and an electricity buyer which typically specifies the terms, conditions and pricing for selling renewable energy.

Profile risk refers to the potential financial risk for renewable energy plants where fluctuations in energy output lead to lower prices during times of high production.

A large metal tower that carries very high voltage power lines.

Profiles SAP term. Daily data such as reads, energy volume are stored in profiles against devices. Profiles are also used to store data for the Demand Estimation processes. Proteus Application The application used by G4S for communication of the daily read work list PRSM Performance Relevant Supply.

The Regulator in the UK energy sector is Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets), the independent authority responsible for overseeing and enforcing standards across gas and electricity markets. Ofgem protects consumer interests, promotes competition, regulates network operators, and ensures compliance with licensing and market conduct rules.

The risk of financial or operational impacts arising from changes in laws, regulations or policies. For renewables, this could include new taxes or fees on renewable energy generation, equipment or consumption which would make projects less financially viable.

Renewable Electricity is generated from unlimited and naturally replenished renewable sources, such as the sun (solar), wind, tides (hydro), the Earths crust (geothermal), or organic matter (biomass).

Energy generated from naturally replenishing resources such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. For customers, renewable energy is increasingly procured through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), renewable tariffs, or on-site generation to meet sustainability targets, reduce carbon exposure, and manage long-term price volatility in the energy market.

Tradable instruments that represent the environmental attributes of renewable electricity generation, also known as Green Certificates or Guarantees of Origin (GoOs) in European markets. Each REC typically represents one megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable energy generated and fed into the grid. RECs provide a mechanism to claim renewable energy usage, meet sustainability targets, and support renewable generation projects.

Certificates that provide evidence to consumers that a given share or quantity of gas has been produced from renewable sources, similar to REGOs for electricity. RGGOs are issued when one kWh of green gas is injected into the grid. Each contains information about how, when and where that kWH of green gas was produced.

Electricity produced from renewable energy sources that are naturally replenished and will not be depleted, including solar, wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal, and biomass. Renewable generation refers to both grid-supplied renewable electricity and on-site generation systems installed at commercial or industrial facilities. Businesses may procure renewable generation through PPAs, REGOs, or direct investment in generation assets.

ROCs are certificates issued to accredited renewable generating station operators for the eligible renewable electricity they generate. They demonstrate compliance with the Renewable Obligation (RO) scheme in the UK.

A UK government scheme that requires licensed electricity suppliers to source a specified proportion of their electricity from accredited renewable sources.

The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change adopted at COP21. Science-based targets are greenhouse gas emission reduction goals set by companies as part of their strategy to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources owned or controlled by an organisation, such as on-site fuel combustion or non-electric company vehicles.

Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with the generation of purchased electricity, heat or steam consumed by an organisation. For example, the emissions caused when generating the electricity your organisation uses in its buildings.

All other indirect greenhouse gas emissions that are not produced by your company and not the results of activities from assets owned or controlled by you. This could include emissions associated with purchased goods, transportation or investments.

An advanced metering device that automatically records electricity consumption data at half-hourly (HH) or more frequent intervals and transmits this information digitally to both the supplier and customer. Smart meters enable accurate capacity charge management, Triad avoidance strategies, detailed consumption analysis for procurement optimisation, and precise invoicing based on actual usage rather than estimates.

Electricity from sunlight.

A marketplace where electricity and energy commodities are traded for immediate or near-immediate delivery and payment, typically within the same day or next day.

The current price to buy or sell electricity in the spot market for immediate payment and delivery at any given time.

Is a daily or monthly charge to contribute towards installation, maintenance and administration costs for the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO).

Relationship between electricity produced and needed and its effect on price.

The real-time wholesale market price of electricity at a specific point in time, determined by the balance of supply and demand within the power system. System Price is critical for understanding imbalance charges, settlement prices, and the cost of energy purchased through spot or balancing mechanisms. It fluctuates continuously based on generation availability, demand levels, and grid constraints

The pricing framework used by energy suppliers to charge for electricity consumption. Ranging from simple single-rate pricing to complex multi-rated Seasonal Time of Day (TOU) tariffs where prices change multiple times daily based on demand periods. These structures reflect wholesale market costs and network charges, enabling businesses to understand and optimise their energy expenditure.

A Third-Party Intermediary (TPI) is an organisation or person that helps small businesses manage their energy requirements or buy energy. TPIs include energy brokers, switching websites and companies that offer support in the energy buying process.

Hydro energy using tidal currents to drive turbines.

An electrical device that changes the voltage of alternating current, either stepping up or stepping down voltage levels to facilitate efficient electricity transmission and distribution. Transformers are critical infrastructure at customer sites, converting high voltage electricity from the distribution network to usable low voltage supplies, or vice versa for embedded generation. Transformer ownership (DNO versus customer) can significantly impact DUoS charges and metering arrangements.

The transfer of electricity at high voltage from the power stations across the UK through wires on pylons to points where it can be distributed to users. This is known as the Grid System and is owned and operated by the National Grid Company (NGC).

The National Grid's fee which covers the cost of installing and maintaining the electricity transmission network in England, Wales, Scotland and Offshore.

These are the top three half-hourly peaks of national energy demand on the grid. These are taken during the Triad season which is November to February whilst energy demand is likely to be at its highest.

The price of electricity per unit of consumption is typically expressed in pence per kilowatt-hour (p/kWh) for electricity or pence per therm (p/therm) for gas. This price includes the wholesale price, infrastructure costs and the cost of delivering electricity or gas.

A unit used to measure the electromotive force of an electric current.

Weather affects renewable energy output, creating uncertainty in producers' ability to meet predicted volumes and satisfy contracts. Volume risk is the long-term difference between expected and annual production.

The marketplace where electricity and gas are traded between generators, suppliers, and large consumers before delivery to end-users. Understanding wholesale markets is crucial as contract pricing, hedging strategies, and flexible procurement options are directly influenced by wholesale market prices, which fluctuate based on supply, demand, and various market factors.

The market price at which energy suppliers purchase electricity and gas from generators, traders, and wholesale markets. Wholesale energy price represent a significant component of the total energy price and fluctuate based on supply, demand, generation costs, and market conditions. Understanding wholesale price movements is essential for commercial procurement strategies and contract negotiations.

W is the symbol for a watt, the way we measure power. It indicates the amount of energy that an item needs to function the rate at which energy is consumed over a unit of time.