| Backbone
| A larger transmission line that carries data gathered from smaller lines that interconnect with it. |
| Baseband
| A network that provides a single channel for communications across a physical medium (cable). Only one device at a time can transmit. |
| Broadband
| A network using cabling that is divided into several different channels, each having a unique carrier frequency. Allows for multiple transmissions at a time (such as cable TV). |
| Client/Server
| Client/Server describes the relationship between two computer programs in which one program, the client, makes a service request from another program, the server, which fulfills the request. |
| Demand Leveling
| Shifting the operation of loads or processes to keep the demand level at a normal range, to avoid creating a demand spike. |
| Demand Spikes
| When the demand for power exceeds the normal level of demand within the utility system. |
| Distributed Generation
| Using a generator as a power source to supply a facility’s load during a utility requested energy reduction period. Also known as Load Sharing. |
| DSL
| Digital Subscriber Line — Newer technology than ISDN allowing for faster transmission of data in a digital (rather than analog) format. |
| Genset
| Industry term describing a facility’s entire generating equipment set. |
| HVAC
| Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning. |
| IEEE
| Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. |
| Interruptible Rate
| A lower rate for allowing the utility to interrupt a block of power to the customer during excessive demand. |
| ISDN
| Integrated Services Digital Network — a dedicated line is used to access the network and transmit data at 128 Kbps (thousands bits per second). |
| ISO
| International Standards Organization. |
| Load Profile
| Chart showing the quantity of energy used over a certain time period (day, week, month, etc.). |
| PCMCIA
| Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association —an industry group promoting standards for credit card-size memory or I/O devices that fit into a personal computer, usually a notebook or laptop computer. |
| Peak Demand
| The largest energy reading detected within a certain time period for a month. It represents the amount of generation capacity a utility must have to service their customers. |
| RS-232
| Recommended Standard-232 is an interface for connecting serial devices usually with 9-pin or 25-pin standard connectors. Limited to 50-foot distances in most cases. |
| RS-422
| Recommended Standard-422, like RS-232, only can handle faster data transmissions for up to 4000-foot distances. |
| RS-485
| Recommended Standard-485, will support 32 drivers and receivers for bi-directional, half-duplex, multi-drop communication for up to 4000-foot distances. |
| Sag
| A decrease in RMS voltage lasting from ½ cycles to a few seconds. |
| Side Secondary Wireway
| Allows users to install control wire without having to remove the breaker from the cell, and isolates the user from live areas of the breaker itself. |
| Swell
| An increase in RMS voltage lasting from ½ cycles to a few seconds. |
| TCP/IP
| Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Handles the sizing of data and proper addressing for transmission across the Internet. |
| Transmission Voltage
| The voltage as supplied by the utility without transformers to lower the voltage for customer usage. |
