Glossary of Terms
The words below are defined for the reader as they are used in this EIS.
A list of acronyms and abbreviations begins on page 7-9.
aMW
- (see Average megawatts)
Acquisition -
The gain of a power resource, including demand-side and supply-side categories, in the form of energy or capacity. The term is commonly used by BPA to distinguish acquisition from ownership of a project and its facilities, from which BPA is prohibited by law.
Agreement -
The proposed new Surplus Firm Capacity Sale Agreement (see Appendix A) between the Bonneville Power Administration and PacifiCorp.
Air basins
- Defined areas which generally confine the air-borne pollutants produced within them. Air pollutants tend to circulate and mix together within a basin.
Ambient air -
The air surrounding a particular spot, such as a power plant.
Annual average megawatts
- A unit of energy output over a year equivalent to the energy produced by the continuous operation of 1 megawatt of capacity over a period of 1 year (equivalent to 8,760,000 kilowatthours).
Availability factor
- Ratio of the amount of time a resource is capable of providing service to the amount of time the resource is actually in service over a given period.
Average megawatts (aMW)
- The average amount of energy (number of megawatts) supplied or demanded over a specified period of time.
Baseload
- In a demand sense, a load that varies only slightly in level over a specified time period. In a supply sense, a plant that operates most efficiently at a relatively constant level of generation.
cfs
- (see Cubic feet per second)
Calendar week
- The week beginning at 0001 on Sunday, and ending at 2400 hours on the following Saturday.
Capacity
- The amount of power that can be produced by a generator or carried by a transmission facility at any instant. Also, the service whereby one utility delivers firm peaking energy during another utility's period of peak usage with return made during the second utility's offpeak periods; compensation for this service may be with money, energy, or other services.
Capacity/energy exchange
- A transaction in which one utility provides another with capacity service in exchange for additional amounts of firm energy (exchange energy) usually during off-peak hours or money under specified conditions.
Capital costs
- The costs to construct a power plant, including the costs of materials, permits, and interest on borrowing.
Contract demand
- The maximum rate of delivery in any hour, in megawatts, for surplus firm capacity.
Contract year -
The period September 1, 1994 , through June 30, 1995, and thereafter each 12 months beginning July 1, or such other 12-month period as may be adopted as a contract year under the Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement, as it may be amended or replaced.
Cost-effective
- An acceptable level of cost for a measure or a resource that meets or reduces electrical power demand by consumers. A resource or measure is cost-effective if its estimated incremental system cost is no greater than that of the least-cost similarly reliable and available alternative or combination of alternatives.
Critical period
- The portion of the historical stream flow of record for the Columbia River system during which the least amount of electrical energy can be generated by drafting the reservoirs according to seasonal power demands. Critical period is a fundamental planning concept used to determine annual firm energy load carrying capability for the hydro system.
Critical period average energy generation
- The average amount of energy projected to be generated during a period (which can vary in length depending on the purpose of the planning) of extremely low streamflow. Used as a basis for resource planning.
Cultural resources
- The nonrenewable evidence of human occupation or activity as seen in any district, site, building, structure, artifact, ruin, object, work of art, architecture, or natural feature that was important in human history at the national, state, or local level.
Demand
- The level of electric energy, in kilowatts or megawatts, that is needed at any given time.
Demand-side management
- Strategies for reducing, redistributing, shifting, or shaping electrical loads, with an emphasis toward reducing or leveling load peaks. These strategies can be accomplished by influencing when and how customers use electricity. Examples include conservation measures, rate incentives for shifting peak loads, and energy storage schemes.
Dispatch
- The monitoring and regulation of an electrical system to provide coordination; or the sequence by which electrical generating resources are called upon to generate power to serve changing amounts of load.
Displacement
- The substitution of less-expensive energy (usually hydroelectric energy transmitted from the Pacific Northwest or Canada) for more expensive thermal energy produced in California. Such displacement means that the thermal plants may reduce or shut down their production, saving money and often reducing air pollution as well.
Endangered
- A plant or animal species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range because its habitat is threatened with destruction, drastic modification, or severe curtailment, or because of overexploitation, disease, predation, or other factors; federally endangered species are officially designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and published in the Federal Register.
Energy
- The ability to produce electrical power over a period of time--expressed in kilowatthours.
Energy conservation
- Any reduction in electric power consumption, from what it would otherwise have been, as a result of increases in the efficiency of energy use, production, or distribution.
Energy surplus
- A condition in which a utility system can supply more energy than is demanded; the energy may be nonfirm, due to water conditions, or firm, due to excess generating capability.
Exchange energy
- Under a capacity/energy exchange contract, the energy that must be generated or purchased by a utility as compensation for capacity service that was provided by another utility.
Export sales
- The sales of electricity from one region to another.
Extraregional
- Any entity or place not within the Pacific Northwest.
FCRPS
- (see Federal Columbia River Power System)
FEIS -
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS)
- The hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River financed by the U.S. Treasury, which operate as a coordinated generation system, and for which BPA serves as the power marketer.
Firm
- In the power industry, guaranteed or assured. May refer to a guaranteed supply of power, to guaranteed access to a means to transmit power, or, with reference to loads, to guaranteed service for a defined need. Usually defined for a given period of time.
Fossil fuel
- A combustible, carbonaceous material formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. Common fossil fuels include coal, natural gas, and derivatives of petroleum such as fuel oil and gasoline.
Heavy load hours (HLH)
- The period from 0700 hours through 2200 hours on any day Monday through Saturday.
Hydroelectric
- With reference to a power system, the production of electric power through use of the gravitational force of falling water.
ISW -
(See Inland Southwest)
Inland Southwest -
For this EIS, the States of Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.
Intertie
- A transmission line or system of lines permitting a flow of energy between major power systems. BPA has several interties, both AC and DC, connecting the Pacific Northwest to the Southwest, Canada, and Montana.
Investor-owned utility (IOU)
- A privately owned utility whose programs are financed by private (nongovernment) investors in the utility's stocks and bonds. (In contrast to publicly owned utilities.)
Kilowatthour (kWh)
- The common unit of electric energy equal to 1 kilowatt of power supplied to or taken from an electric circuit for 1 hour. A kilowatt equals 1,000 watts.
Light load hours (LLH)
- Those hours that are not heavy load hours.
Load
- The amount of electric power or energy delivered or required at any specified point or points on a system. Load originates primarily at the energy-consuming equipment of the customers.
Load growth
- Increase in demand for electricity.
Load management
- Methods or programs used by utilities or building and facility managers to reduce, reshape, or redistribute electrical loads.
Load/resource balance
- The point at which the demand for electricity matches or balances the amount and type of resources available to serve that demand.
Load shape
- The profile of a building or facility's kilowatt demand over time, usually over the hours of the day, which can be derived from metered data. Typically, utility system load shapes peak during the day and are reduced at night. Different types of businesses, industrial operations, and residential users show markedly different load shapes.
Long-Term Intertie Access Policy (LTIAP)
- The policy developed by BPA to allocate use of the Federal portion of the Intertie for the long term, an indefinite period that would at least encompass long-term power sales (up to 20 years) and long-term transmission contracts.
Low water years
- Years in which less water than usual is received in a river system producing power from water flow. This is usually a consequence of reduced rain/snowfall over the fall and winter months.
MW
- (see Megawatt)
Megawatt (MW)
- A megawatt is 1 million watts, an electrical unit of power.
Near term
- In general, the immediate future--a period of time usually less than 3 years.
Nonfirm energy sales
- Sales of electricity that are not guaranteed, but are interruptible under specified conditions.
Nonfirm energy
- Energy produced by the hydropower system that is available when water conditions are better than critical period water flows and after reservoir refill is assured. Nonfirm energy is available in varying amounts depending upon season and weather conditions. Nonfirm energy is made available or supplied by BPA to a purchaser under an arrangement that does not have the guaranteed continuous availability of firm power. (See "Critical Period.")
Off-peak hours
- Period of relatively low system demand for electrical energy, as specified by the supplier (such as the middle of the night).
Operating year
- The 12-month period from September 1 through August 31.
PF rate
- (see Priority Firm rate)
PNW
- (see Pacific Northwest)
Pacific Northwest (PNW)
- According to the 1980 Northwest Power Act, the Pacific Northwest comprises Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana west of the Continental Divide, as well as portions of Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming that are within the Columbia-Snake River Basin. The Pacific Northwest also includes any contiguous areas not more than 75 miles from the region defined above that are part of the service area of rural electric cooperative customers served by BPA on the effective date of the Act whose distribution system serves both within and without the region.
Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement (PNCA)
- An agreement between Federal and non-Federal owners of hydropower generation on the Columbia River system. This agreement governs the seasonal release of stored water to obtain the maximum usable energy, subject to other uses.
Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act
- In December, 1980, Congress passed this Act, Public Law 96-501 (referred to as the Northwest Power Act). This Act authorized the four Pacific Northwest States--Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington--to enter into an interstate compact for the purpose of long-range planning and protection of shared resources. As a result of the Act, each of the four States passed enabling legislation to create the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Council in April 1981.
Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Council (Council)
- A council established by the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act in 1981 made up of two voting representatives from each Northwest State--Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The Council is charged with planning for power resources and enhancement of fish and wildlife resources in the region.
Pacific Northwest Power Act
- (see Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act)
Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC)
- A voluntary association of consumer and investor-owned utilities and BPA's direct service industries in the Pacific Northwest. Its primary role is to represent its members and their interests in pending legislation and regulating the formation of power planning policy.
Pacific Southwest -
For this EIS, the States of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.
Peak energy
- The amount of energy (in megawatthours) used during a peak load period.
Peak loads
- The maximum electrical demand for power in a stated period of time. It may be the maximum instantaneous load or the maximum average load within a designated interval of the stated period of time.
Peaking energy
- The electric energy associated with the delivery of surplus firm capacity.
Peaking replacement energy
- An amount of energy equal to the peaking energy which is obligated to be returned to Bonneville.
Point(s) of delivery (POD)
- The point(s) of interconnection between Bonneville's and a customer utility's systems.
Power Plan
- A 20-year power plan developed by the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Council. In the Plan, the Council proposed a comprehensive set of actions and projects to be undertaken to assure the region of adequate power resources, giving due consideration to conservation and fish and wildlife needs.
Preference customers
- One of the regional publicly owned or cooperative utilities, who sell retail electricity, and Federal agency end-users to whom BPA markets power. Preference status is accorded by prior Congressional act.
Priority Firm (PF) rate
- The priority firm (PF) rate schedule is for sale of firm power to be used within the Pacific Northwest by public bodies, cooperatives, Federal agencies, and IOUs participating in the residential and small farm exchange under Section 5(c) of the Northwest Power Act.
Regional
- Referring to the characteristics of an area, as opposed to those of a surrounding or adjacent area. Generally used in this EIS to distinguish between the Pacific Northwest and Canada or California or the Inland Southwest. (see Extraregional)
Renewable resource
- A resource that uses solar, wind, water (hydro), geothermal, biomass, or similar sources of energy, and is used either for electric power generation or for reducing the electric power requirements of a customer.
Reserve margins
- For a power plant or transmission facility, extra capacity above the amount projected to be needed, to allow for unanticipated demand for power, equipment failure, or other unforeseen events.
Resource mix
- The different types of resources used to generate power (e.g., hydroelectric, thermal, etc.) within a given area or for a given utility.
Resource schedule
- The planned schedule of when and what resources will be available in the future to serve load in a given area or of a given utility.
Resource supply curves
- A traditional economic tool used to depict or forecast the amount of a product available across a range of prices.
Return energy
- The energy that is returned to BPA, equalling the amount of energy previously delivered, under the terms of BPA's capacity sales.
Scoping
- The definition of the range of issues requiring examination in studying the environmental effects of a proposed action. Scoping generally takes place through public consultation with interested individuals and groups, as well as with agencies with jurisdictions over parts of the project area or resources in that area. Scoping is mandated by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations.
Secondary power
- The excess above firm power to be furnished to a customer when, as, and if available.
Secondary sales
- Surplus power, both firm and nonfirm, in the Pacific Northwest that is available for sale.
Sector
- A large group of energy users with similar types of conservation or generation opportunities. Sectors include residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural.
Shaping
- The scheduling and operation of generating resources to meet load of changing levels. Load shaping on a hydro system usually involves the adjustment of storage releases so that generation and load are continuously in balance.
Short-term sales
- Sales made for a relatively short period of time.
Spot market
- A market for electricity characterized by negotiation, almost solely on the basis of price, for relatively short-term sales.
Storage reservoirs
- Reservoirs maintained behind dams for the purpose of retaining excess water readily available during springtime flows as snow melts. Retained water is then released, as necessary, during periods of lower flow in order to maintain necessary levels of power production. (Water may also be released for other purposes, such as navigation, irrigation, and maintenance of life support for fish.)
Surplus capacity
- Amount of electrical capacity above the amount needed to meet the current load requirements of BPA customers.
Surplus energy
- Generally energy generated that is beyond the immediate needs of the producing system. Specifically for BPA, firm or nonfirm electric energy generated at Federal hydroelectric projects which would otherwise be wasted if there was not a market for the energy.
Surplus firm energy
- Energy that can be generated and guaranteed to be provided, but is excess to demand.
Surplus firm power
- Power that can be provided on a guaranteed basis, that is excess to system demand, and that can be provided in an agreed upon shape.
Surplus nonfirm energy
- An excess of interruptible energy that is available due to water conditions better than critical.
Surplus peaking capacity
- Electric peaking capacity for which there is no demand in the Pacific Northwest at the rate established for the disposition of such capacity.
System Operation Review (SOR)
- A public involvement process conducted by three Federal agencies--BPA, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Corps of Engineers--who are concerned with the operation and use of the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS). Key events affecting the outcome of the SOR are the pending expiration in 2003 of the Coordination Agreement among U.S. parties who operate the U.S. dams in the FCRPS, and the end of sale period of the Canadian Entitlement, which is part of the Columbia River Treaty that allocated Canada's firm power benefits from the Treaty to the U.S.
Thermal resources
- Generating plants which convert heat energy into electric energy. Coal, oil, and gas-fired power plants and nuclear power plants are common thermal resources.
Workday
- For power scheduling purposes, each day that both Bonneville and a customer utility observe as a regular day of work.
ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS
aMW |
Average megawatts |
BPA |
Bonneville Power Administration |
C |
Celsius |
CCCT |
Combined cycle combustion turbine |
CEC |
California Energy Commission |
CT |
Combustion turbine |
DOE |
Department of Energy |
DSI |
Direct Service Industry |
EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency |
FCRPS |
Federal Columbia River Power System |
FERC |
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission |
FY |
Fiscal year |
HLH |
Heavy load hours |
IOU |
Investor-owned utilities |
ISW |
Inland Southwest |
kWh |
Kilowatthour |
LLH |
Light load hours |
MMBtu |
Million British thermal units |
MW |
Megawatt |
MWh |
Megawatt-hour |
NEPA |
National Environmental Policy Act |
Northwest Power Act |
Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and |
Conservation Act | |
O&M |
Operating and maintenance |
ODEQ |
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality |
OY |
Operating year |
PF |
Priority Firm |
PNCA |
Pacific Northwest Coordination Agreement |
PNUCC |
Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee |
PNW |
Pacific Northwest |
POD |
Point of Delivery |
PP&L |
Pacific Power and Light Company |
PSW |
Pacific Southwest |
Project Act |
Bonneville Project Act of 1937 |
SCT |
Simple Cycle Turbine |
SOR |
System Operation Review |
SOS |
System Operating Strategy |
TSP |
Total suspended particulates |