Meterpedia Glossary
1. AMI
Advanced Metering Infrastructure: The communications hardware and software and associated system and data management software that creates a network between advanced meters and utility business systems which allows collection and distribution of information to customers and other parties such as competitive retail suppliers, in addition to the utility itself.
2. AMM
Automated Meter Management - alternative to AMI. Refers to systems that measure, collect and analyse energy usage, from advanced devices such as electricity meters, gas meters, and/or water meters, through various communication media on request or on a pre-defined schedule. This infrastructure includes hardware, software, communications, customer associated systems and meter data management software.
3. AMR
Automated Meter Reading - typically a one way communicating metering system.
4. AMS
Advanced Metering System - another term for Advanced Metering Infrastructure
5. CEER
Council of European Regulators
6. DCSK
Differential Code Shift Keying - a form of modulation used for PLC communications
7. DRAM
Demand Response and Advanced Metering Coalition - the previous name of the DRSG - the Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition
8. DSM
Demand Side Management
9. DSO
Distribution Service Operator - the electricity network company
10. ESCO
Energy Service Company
11. EU
European Union
12. FERC
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission - US Government Department
13. HV
High Voltage - refers to voltage levels above 35 kV up to and including 230 kV, ref IEC.
14. ICT
Information and Communication Technology
15. IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission
16. IEEE
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers or IEEE - http://www.ieee.org/ - is an international non-profit, professional organization for the advancement of technology related to electricity. It has the most members of any technical professional organization in the world, with more than 365,000 members in around 150 countries - from Wikipedia
17. IETF
The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) develops and promotes Internet standards - http://www.ietf.org/
18. IP
Internet Protocol - The Internet Protocol (IP) is a protocol used for communicating data across a packet-switched internetwork using the Internet Protocol Suite, also referred to as TCP/IP - from Wikipedia
19. LV
Low Voltage - refers to voltage levels up to and including 1 kV, ref IEC
20. MDMS
Meter Data Management System
21. MV
Medium Voltage; refers to voltage levels above 1 kV up to and including 35 kV, ref IEC
22. OFDM
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing - a type of modulation used in PLC communications
23. PLC
Power line communication (PLC), also called power line carrier, mains communication, power line telecom (PLT), or power line networking (PLN), are terms describing several different systems for using electric power lines to carry radio signals for communication purposes.
24. PUC
Public Utility Commission - a generic term for energy regulation in the US
25. SCADA
Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. The term is used differently in North America from the rest of the world: * In North America; SCADA refers to a large-scale, distributed measurement and control system. * In the rest of the world; SCADA is any system that performs Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition, independent of its size or geographical distribution. SCADA systems are typically used to perform data collection and control at the supervisory level. Some SCADA systems only monitor without doing control, these systems are still referred to as SCADA systems.
26. Smart Grid
Combines traditional power hardware with sensing and monitoring technology, information technology, and communications to enhance electrical grid performance and support additional services to consumers. (from Wikipedia) The Smart Grid is an electricity transmission and distribution network with a parallel communications network and digital meters, sensors, and controllers that enables utilities to use renewable energy sources and reduce outages while empowering consumers with pricing choices, detailed information, and automated appliances to save money, energy, and carbon emissions. (from Smart Grid Watch)
27. Telematics
The term telematics is used in a number of ways, but for smart metering it means "The integrated use of telecommunications and informatics, also known as ICT (Information and Communications Technology). More specifically it is the science of sending, receiving and storing information via telecommunication devices." (from Wikipedia)
28. ToU
Time of Use - a method for metering and billing tariffs where the price of energy varies by defined times of the day
29. TSO
Transmission System Operator - the operator that transmits electrical power from generation plants to the regional or local electricity distribution network operators.
30. UHVAC
Ultra High Voltage Alternating Current
31. Water meter
an instrument for recording the quantity of water passing through a particular outlet
