Alliance Glossary of Terms

Demand Side Management (DSM) – Includes a variety of techniques, such as weatherization of homes and installation of energy-efficient household appliances, that allow a utility to meet consumer demand for electricity by decreasing demand rather than by constructing new generating units.

Docket – A formal register of the parties to and proceedings of a legal case.  A docket before a regulatory body consists of, among other things, all the comments, testimony, briefs, or findings of intervenors and regulatory consultants in a particular case.

Energy Smart – A city-wide residential energy efficiency program passed by the New Orleans City Council in 2008.

Entergy – The utility company that supplies electricity and gas service to a number of states, including much of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.  Entergy Corporation has five wholly owned subsidiaries, each of which supplies electricity and gas to a specific geographic region: Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Mississippi and Entergy Arkansas.

Feed-In Tariff (FiT) – Requires electric utilities to purchase renewable energy from third-party generators at a government-determined rate.

Green Collar – A term used to describe industries with a net environmental benefit and the jobs that these industries create.

Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) – A method of utility planning that requires utilities to evaluate supply- and demand-side management options on an equal footing and to meet customer demand using the least-cost alternative. 

Photovoltaic (PV) – A solar electricity generation device, often used as part of a roof-top panel for residential solar installations.

Public Utility – a business enterprise, as a public-service corporation, performing an essential public service and regulated by the federal, state, or local government.  In Louisiana, public utilities are monopolies whose rates and profits are regulated by the LPSC and New Orleans City Council Utility Committee.

Ratepayer – Any customer of a utility, including commercial and industrial customers; any person or organization which pays a utility bill.

Regulation – Government oversight of industry practice, especially for essential goods and services.  Most electric utilities are monopolies with a guaranteed opportunity to earn a fair rate of return.  Regulation in the electricity market supplants the lack of competition for this essential service.

Renewable Portfolio Standard – A policy which mandates utilities purchase a set percentage of their power from renewable sources, such as wind, solar and biomass.  These percentages typically increase from year to year.  Currently 27 states have implemented renewable portfolio standards.

Smart Grid – A variety of technologies that allow real-time interaction and response between a utility and its customers, affording greater energy efficiency by allowing both utilities and consumers to more closely monitor energy consumption.

Solar Thermal – A device to heat water using the sun’s energy.  Typically solar thermal systems do not generate electricity.