Glossary

The customer's legal right as stipulated in his or her contract to utilize energy systems as a method of transferring energy to a home or business. (Source: Choose Energy )

This refers to water pollution that results when sulfur-bearing minerals associated with coal are exposed to air and water and form sulfuric acid and ferrous sulfate. The ferrous sulfate can further react to form ferric hydroxide, or yellow boy, a yellow-orange iron precipitate found in streams and rivers polluted by acid mine drainage. (Source: EIA)

Also called acid precipitation or acid deposition, acid rain is precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids formed primarily by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. It can be wet precipitation (rain, snow, or fog) or dry precipitation (absorbed gaseous and particulate matter, aerosol particles or dust). Acid rain has a pH below 5.6. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6, which is slightly acidic. The term pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity and ranges from 0 to 14. A pH measurement of 7 is regarded as neutral. Measurements below 7 indicate increased acidity, while those above indicate increased alkalinity. (Source: EIA)

All transfers of ownership of foreign crude oil to a firm, irrespective of the terms of that transfer. Acquisitions thus include all purchases and exchange receipts as well as any and all foreign crude acquired under reciprocal buy-sell agreements or acquired as a result of a buy-back or other preferential agreement with a host government. (Source: EIA)

The procurement of the legal right to explore for and produce discovered minerals, if any, within a specific area; that legal right may be obtained by mineral lease, concession, or purchase of land and mineral rights or of mineral rights alone. (Source: EIA)

Direct and indirect costs incurred to acquire legal rights to extract natural resources. Direct costs include costs incurred to obtain options to lease or purchase mineral rights and costs incurred for the actual leasing (e.g., lease bonuses) or purchasing of the rights. Indirect costs include such costs as brokers' commissions and expenses; abstract and recording fees; filing and patenting fees; and costs for legal examination of title and documents. (Source: EIA)

The component of electric power that performs work, typically measured in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts(MW). Also known as "real power." The terms "active" or "real" are used to modify the base term "power" to differentiate it from Reactive Power. See Power, Reactive Power, Apparent Power (Source: EIA)

As an energy source, energy from the sun collected and stored using mechanical pumps or fans to circulate heat-laden fluids or air between solar collectors and a building. (Source: EIA)

The actual reduction in annual peak load (measured in kilowatts) achieved by customers that participate in a utility demand-side management (DSM) program. It reflects the changes in the demand for electricity resulting from a utility DSM program that is in effect at the same time the utility experiences its annual peak load, as opposed to the installed peak load reduction capability (i.e., potential peak reduction). It should account for the regular cycling of energy efficient units during the period of annual peak load. (Source: EIA)

Planting of new forests on lands that have not been recently forested. (Source: EIA)

American Gas Association (Source: EIA)

Agglomeration describes the caking properties of coal. Agglomerating character is determined by examination and testing of the residue when a small powdered sample is heated to 950 degrees Centigrade under specific conditions. If the sample is "agglomerating," the residue will be coherent, show swelling or cell structure, and be capable of supporting a 500-gram weight without pulverizing. (Source: EIA)

A broker who acts on behalf of a group of customers to negotiate a bulk energy rate from an energy supplier. (Source: Choose Energy)

An electric current that reverses its direction at regularly recurring intervals. (Source: EIA)

A lease granted to a mining company to produce coal from land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans, Native American tribes, and Alaska Natives in exchange for royalties and other revenues. (Source: EIA)

Advanced Metering Infrastructure is a term denoting electricity meters that measure and record usage data at a minimum, in hourly intervals, and provide usage data to both consumers and energy companies at least once daily. (Source: EIA)

An alloy of silica and hydrogen, with a disordered, noncrystalline internal atomic arrangement, that can be deposited in thin-film layers (a few micrometers in thickness) by a number of deposition methods to produce thin-film photovoltaic cells on glass, metal, or plastic substrates. (Source: EIA)

The unit of measurement of electrical current produced in a circuit by 1 volt acting through a resistance of 1 Ohm. (Source: EIA)

The measure of the flow of current over one hour. (Source: Choose Energy)

Automated Meter Reading is a term denoting electricity meters that collect data for billing purposes only and transmit this data one way, usually from the customer to the distribution utility. (Source: EIA)

Decomposition in the absence of oxygen, as in an anaerobic lagoon or digester, which produces CO2 and CH4. (Source: EIA)

A liquid-based organic waste management installation characterized by waste residing in water at a depth of at least 6 feet for periods of 30 to 200 days. (Source: EIA)

The angle between the direct impact of the sun’s rays and the surface of the solar panel. To get the maximum amount of solar energy, you want the panel to be perpendicular to the sun’s rays. Your solar installer will angle the solar panels to get the maximum amount of energy efficiency. (Source: Choose Energy)

American National Standards Institute (Source: EIA)

The highest rank of coal; used primarily for residential and commercial space heating. It is a hard, brittle, and black lustrous coal, often referred to as hard coal, containing a high percentage of fixed carbon and a low percentage of volatile matter. The moisture content of fresh-mined anthracite generally is less than 15 percent. The heat content of anthracite ranges from 22 to 28 million Btu per ton on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis. The heat content of anthracite coal consumed in the United States averages 25 million Btu per ton, on the as-received basis (i.e., containing both inherent moisture and mineral matter). Note (Source: EIA)

Made or generated by a human or caused by human activity. The term is used in the context of global climate change to refer to gaseous emissions that are the result of human activities, as well as other potentially climate-altering activities, such as deforestation. (Source: EIA)

A material applied to the surface of a solar panel that reduces light reflection to increase light transmission. (Source: Choose Energy)

The American Petroleum Institute, a trade association. (Source: EIA)

American Petroleum Institute measure of specific gravity of crude oil or condensate in degrees. An arbitrary scale expressing the gravity or density of liquid petroleum products. The measuring scale is calibrated in terms of degrees API; it is calculated as follows (Source: EIA)

Coal production plus imports of coal, coke, and briquets minus exports of coal, coke, and briquets plus or minus stock changes. Note (Source: EIA)

The total of an individual nation's dry natural gas production plus imports less exports. (Source: EIA)

The product of the voltage (in volts) and the current (in amperes). It comprises both active and reactive power. It is measured in "volt-amperes" and often expressed in "kilovolt-amperes" (kVA) or "megavolt-amperes" (MVA). See Power, Reactive Power, Real Power. (Source: EIA)

A ratings system established by the U.S. Department of Energy to determine how efficiently appliances convert energy sources to useful energy. (Source: Choose Energy)

Hydrocarbons characterized by unsaturated ring structures of carbon atoms. Commercial petroleum aromatics are benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX). (Source: EIA)

Several solar panels that are connected together in a single system. (Source: Choose Energy)

A group of naturally occurring minerals that separate into long, thin fibers. Asbestos was used for many years to insulate and fireproof buildings. In the 1989 CBECS, information on asbestos in buildings was collected (Section R of the Buildings Questionnaire) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Asbestos treatment methods include removal, encapsulation or sealing, and enclosure behind a permanent barrier. (Source: EIA)

Impurities consisting of silica, iron, alumina, and other noncombustible matter that are contained in coal. Ash increases the weight of coal, adds to the cost of handling, and can affect its burning characteristics Ash content is measured as a percent by weight of coal on an "as received" or a "dry" (moisture-free, usually part of a laboratory analysis) basis. (Source: EIA)

American Society for Testing and Materials (Source: EIA)

A surface mine in which the coal bed is removed by means of a large diameter drill. Usually operated only when the overburden becomes too thick for economical strip mining. (Source: EIA)

A generator at the electric plant site that provides power for the operation of the electrical generating equipment itself, including related demands such as plant lighting, during periods when the electric plant is not operating and power is unavailable from the grid. A black start generator used to start main central station generators is considered to be an auxiliary generator. (Source: EIA)

The ratio of the total production at a mining operation to the total number of production days worked at the operation. (Source: EIA)

The ratio of the total value of the coal produced at the mine to the total production tonnage. (Source: EIA)

The ratio, for a specified time period, of the total value of the open market sales of coal produced at the mine to the value of the total open market sales tonnage. (Source: EIA)

The percentage of coal that can be recovered from known coal reserves at reporting mines, weight averaged for all mines in the reported geographic area. (Source: EIA)

The average revenue per kilowatthour of electricity sold by sector (residential, commercial, industrial, or other) and geographic area (State, Census division, and national) is calculated by dividing the total monthly revenue by the corresponding total monthly sales for each sector and geographic area. (Source: EIA)

A complex mixture of relatively volatile hydrocarbons with or without small quantities of additives, blended to form a fuel suitable for use in aviation reciprocating engines. Fuel specifications are provided in ASTM Specification D 910 and Military Specification MIL-G-5572. Note (Source: EIA)

A generator that is used only for test purposes, or in the event of an emergency, such as a shortage of power needed to meet customer load requirements. (Source: EIA)

Electric energy supplied by a utility to replace power and energy lost during an unscheduled equipment outage. (Source: EIA)

A unit of volume equal to 42 U.S. gallons. (Source: EIA)

The maximum number of barrels of input that a distillation facility can process within a 24-hour period when running at full capacity under optimal crude and product slate conditions with no allowance for downtime. (Source: EIA)

The quantity of natural gas needed to maintain adequate reservoir pressures and deliverability rates throughout the withdrawal season. Base gas usually is not withdrawn and remains in the reservoir. All natural gas native to a depleted reservoir is included in the base gas volume. (Source: EIA)

The customer's legal right as stipulated in his or her contract to utilize energy systems as a method of transferring energy to a home or business. (Source: Choose Energy )

This refers to water pollution that results when sulfur-bearing minerals associated with coal are exposed to air and water and form sulfuric acid and ferrous sulfate. The ferrous sulfate can further react to form ferric hydroxide, or yellow boy, a yellow-orange iron precipitate found in streams and rivers polluted by acid mine drainage. (Source: EIA)

Also called acid precipitation or acid deposition, acid rain is precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids formed primarily by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. It can be wet precipitation (rain, snow, or fog) or dry precipitation (absorbed gaseous and particulate matter, aerosol particles or dust). Acid rain has a pH below 5.6. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6, which is slightly acidic. The term pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity and ranges from 0 to 14. A pH measurement of 7 is regarded as neutral. Measurements below 7 indicate increased acidity, while those above indicate increased alkalinity. (Source: EIA)

All transfers of ownership of foreign crude oil to a firm, irrespective of the terms of that transfer. Acquisitions thus include all purchases and exchange receipts as well as any and all foreign crude acquired under reciprocal buy-sell agreements or acquired as a result of a buy-back or other preferential agreement with a host government. (Source: EIA)

The procurement of the legal right to explore for and produce discovered minerals, if any, within a specific area; that legal right may be obtained by mineral lease, concession, or purchase of land and mineral rights or of mineral rights alone. (Source: EIA)

Direct and indirect costs incurred to acquire legal rights to extract natural resources. Direct costs include costs incurred to obtain options to lease or purchase mineral rights and costs incurred for the actual leasing (e.g., lease bonuses) or purchasing of the rights. Indirect costs include such costs as brokers' commissions and expenses; abstract and recording fees; filing and patenting fees; and costs for legal examination of title and documents. (Source: EIA)

The component of electric power that performs work, typically measured in kilowatts (kW) or megawatts(MW). Also known as "real power." The terms "active" or "real" are used to modify the base term "power" to differentiate it from Reactive Power. See Power, Reactive Power, Apparent Power (Source: EIA)

As an energy source, energy from the sun collected and stored using mechanical pumps or fans to circulate heat-laden fluids or air between solar collectors and a building. (Source: EIA)

The actual reduction in annual peak load (measured in kilowatts) achieved by customers that participate in a utility demand-side management (DSM) program. It reflects the changes in the demand for electricity resulting from a utility DSM program that is in effect at the same time the utility experiences its annual peak load, as opposed to the installed peak load reduction capability (i.e., potential peak reduction). It should account for the regular cycling of energy efficient units during the period of annual peak load. (Source: EIA)

Planting of new forests on lands that have not been recently forested. (Source: EIA)

American Gas Association (Source: EIA)

Agglomeration describes the caking properties of coal. Agglomerating character is determined by examination and testing of the residue when a small powdered sample is heated to 950 degrees Centigrade under specific conditions. If the sample is "agglomerating," the residue will be coherent, show swelling or cell structure, and be capable of supporting a 500-gram weight without pulverizing. (Source: EIA)

A broker who acts on behalf of a group of customers to negotiate a bulk energy rate from an energy supplier. (Source: Choose Energy)

An electric current that reverses its direction at regularly recurring intervals. (Source: EIA)

A lease granted to a mining company to produce coal from land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans, Native American tribes, and Alaska Natives in exchange for royalties and other revenues. (Source: EIA)

Advanced Metering Infrastructure is a term denoting electricity meters that measure and record usage data at a minimum, in hourly intervals, and provide usage data to both consumers and energy companies at least once daily. (Source: EIA)

An alloy of silica and hydrogen, with a disordered, noncrystalline internal atomic arrangement, that can be deposited in thin-film layers (a few micrometers in thickness) by a number of deposition methods to produce thin-film photovoltaic cells on glass, metal, or plastic substrates. (Source: EIA)

The unit of measurement of electrical current produced in a circuit by 1 volt acting through a resistance of 1 Ohm. (Source: EIA)

The measure of the flow of current over one hour. (Source: Choose Energy)

Automated Meter Reading is a term denoting electricity meters that collect data for billing purposes only and transmit this data one way, usually from the customer to the distribution utility. (Source: EIA)

Decomposition in the absence of oxygen, as in an anaerobic lagoon or digester, which produces CO2 and CH4. (Source: EIA)

A liquid-based organic waste management installation characterized by waste residing in water at a depth of at least 6 feet for periods of 30 to 200 days. (Source: EIA)

The angle between the direct impact of the sun’s rays and the surface of the solar panel. To get the maximum amount of solar energy, you want the panel to be perpendicular to the sun’s rays. Your solar installer will angle the solar panels to get the maximum amount of energy efficiency. (Source: Choose Energy)

American National Standards Institute (Source: EIA)

The highest rank of coal; used primarily for residential and commercial space heating. It is a hard, brittle, and black lustrous coal, often referred to as hard coal, containing a high percentage of fixed carbon and a low percentage of volatile matter. The moisture content of fresh-mined anthracite generally is less than 15 percent. The heat content of anthracite ranges from 22 to 28 million Btu per ton on a moist, mineral-matter-free basis. The heat content of anthracite coal consumed in the United States averages 25 million Btu per ton, on the as-received basis (i.e., containing both inherent moisture and mineral matter). Note (Source: EIA)

Made or generated by a human or caused by human activity. The term is used in the context of global climate change to refer to gaseous emissions that are the result of human activities, as well as other potentially climate-altering activities, such as deforestation. (Source: EIA)

A material applied to the surface of a solar panel that reduces light reflection to increase light transmission. (Source: Choose Energy)

The American Petroleum Institute, a trade association. (Source: EIA)

American Petroleum Institute measure of specific gravity of crude oil or condensate in degrees. An arbitrary scale expressing the gravity or density of liquid petroleum products. The measuring scale is calibrated in terms of degrees API; it is calculated as follows (Source: EIA)

Coal production plus imports of coal, coke, and briquets minus exports of coal, coke, and briquets plus or minus stock changes. Note (Source: EIA)

The total of an individual nation's dry natural gas production plus imports less exports. (Source: EIA)

The product of the voltage (in volts) and the current (in amperes). It comprises both active and reactive power. It is measured in "volt-amperes" and often expressed in "kilovolt-amperes" (kVA) or "megavolt-amperes" (MVA). See Power, Reactive Power, Real Power. (Source: EIA)

A ratings system established by the U.S. Department of Energy to determine how efficiently appliances convert energy sources to useful energy. (Source: Choose Energy)

Hydrocarbons characterized by unsaturated ring structures of carbon atoms. Commercial petroleum aromatics are benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX). (Source: EIA)

Several solar panels that are connected together in a single system. (Source: Choose Energy)

A group of naturally occurring minerals that separate into long, thin fibers. Asbestos was used for many years to insulate and fireproof buildings. In the 1989 CBECS, information on asbestos in buildings was collected (Section R of the Buildings Questionnaire) for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Asbestos treatment methods include removal, encapsulation or sealing, and enclosure behind a permanent barrier. (Source: EIA)

Impurities consisting of silica, iron, alumina, and other noncombustible matter that are contained in coal. Ash increases the weight of coal, adds to the cost of handling, and can affect its burning characteristics Ash content is measured as a percent by weight of coal on an "as received" or a "dry" (moisture-free, usually part of a laboratory analysis) basis. (Source: EIA)

American Society for Testing and Materials (Source: EIA)

A surface mine in which the coal bed is removed by means of a large diameter drill. Usually operated only when the overburden becomes too thick for economical strip mining. (Source: EIA)

A generator at the electric plant site that provides power for the operation of the electrical generating equipment itself, including related demands such as plant lighting, during periods when the electric plant is not operating and power is unavailable from the grid. A black start generator used to start main central station generators is considered to be an auxiliary generator. (Source: EIA)

The ratio of the total production at a mining operation to the total number of production days worked at the operation. (Source: EIA)

The ratio of the total value of the coal produced at the mine to the total production tonnage. (Source: EIA)

The ratio, for a specified time period, of the total value of the open market sales of coal produced at the mine to the value of the total open market sales tonnage. (Source: EIA)

The percentage of coal that can be recovered from known coal reserves at reporting mines, weight averaged for all mines in the reported geographic area. (Source: EIA)

The average revenue per kilowatthour of electricity sold by sector (residential, commercial, industrial, or other) and geographic area (State, Census division, and national) is calculated by dividing the total monthly revenue by the corresponding total monthly sales for each sector and geographic area. (Source: EIA)

A complex mixture of relatively volatile hydrocarbons with or without small quantities of additives, blended to form a fuel suitable for use in aviation reciprocating engines. Fuel specifications are provided in ASTM Specification D 910 and Military Specification MIL-G-5572. Note (Source: EIA)

A generator that is used only for test purposes, or in the event of an emergency, such as a shortage of power needed to meet customer load requirements. (Source: EIA)

Electric energy supplied by a utility to replace power and energy lost during an unscheduled equipment outage. (Source: EIA)

A unit of volume equal to 42 U.S. gallons. (Source: EIA)