Glossary
Energy glossary
747 definitions · page 13 of 13.
- VAPOR BARRIER
- A material with a permeance of one perm or less which provides resistance to the transmission of water vapor. [See California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Section 2-5302]
- VAV System (Variable Air Volume System)
- A mechanical HVAC system capable of serving multiple zones which controls the temperature maintained in a zone by controlling the amount of heated or cooled air supplied to the zone.
- VENTILATION
- The process of supplying or removing air by natural or mechanical means to or from any space. Such air may or may not have been conditioned or treated.
- VERIFICATION PHASE
- The step of the California Energy Contingency Plan to determine the existence and scope of an energy shortage and report to Energy Commission executives, the Governor and the Legislature where required under the plan.
- VERTICAL INTEGRATION
- An arrangement whereby the same company owns all the different aspects of making, selling, and delivering a product or service. In the electric industry, it refers to the historically common arrangement whereby a utility would own its own generating…
- VISIBLE LIGHT TRANSMITTANCE
- The ratio of visible light transmitted through a substance to the total visible light incident on its surface.
- VOLT
- A unit of electromotive force. It is the amount of force required to drive a steady current of one ampere through a resistance of one ohm. Electrical systems of most homes and office have 120 volts.
- VOLUMETRIC WIRES CHARGE
- A type of charge for using the transmission and/or distribution system that is based on the volume of electricity that is transmitted.
- WARRANTY
- A seller's guarantee to purchaser that product is what it is represented to be and, if it is not, that it will be repaired or replaced. Within the context of vehicles, refers to an engine manufacturer's guarantee that the engine will meet "certified" engine…
- WATER HEATER
- An appliance for supplying hot water for purposes other than space heating or pool heating. [See California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Section 1602(f)(8)]
- WATSCO
- The Western Association for Transmission System Coordination.
- WATT
- A unit of measure of electric power at a point in time, as capacity or demand.
- WATT-HOUR
- One watt of power expended for one hour.
- WEATHERSTRIPPING
- Specially designed strips, seals and gaskets installed around doors and windows to limit air leakage.
- WET-BULB TEMPERATURE
- The temperature at which water, by evaporating into air, can bring the air to saturation at the same temperature. Wet-bulb temperature is measured by a wet-bulb psychrometer.
- WHEELING
- The transmission of electricity by an entity that does not own or directly use the power it is transmitting. Wholesale wheeling is used to indicate bulk transactions in the wholesale market, whereas retail wheeling allows power producers direct access to…
- WHOLE HOUSE FAN
- A system capable of cooling a house by exhausting a large volume of warm air when the outside air is cool.
- WHOLESALE COMPETITION
- A system whereby a distributor of power would have the option to buy its power from a variety of power producers, and the power producers would be able to compete to sell their power to a variety of distribution companies.
- WHOLESALE POWER MARKET
- The purchase and sale of electricity from generators to resellers (who sell to retail customers) along with the ancillary services needed to maintain reliability and power quality at the transmission level.
- WHOLESALE TRANSMISSION SERVICES
- The transmission of electric energy sold, or to be sold, at wholesale in interstate commerce (from EPAct).
- WIRES CHARGE
- A broad term which refers to charges levied on power suppliers or their customers for the use of the transmission or distribution wires.
- WRTA
- The Western Regional Transmission Association, an RTG.
- WSSCC
- The Western System Coordinating Council. A voluntary industry association created to enhance reliability among western utilities.
- WSSP
- The Western Systems Power Pool. A FERC approved industry institution that provides a forum for short-term trades in electric energy, capacity, exchanges and transmission services. The pool consists of approximately 50 members and serves 22 states, a Canadian…
- X-RAY
- A type of electromagnetic radiation having low energy levels.
- XENON
- A heavy gas used in specialized electric lamps.
- XYLOID COAL
- Brown coal or lignite mostly derived from wood.