AEMO – Australian Energy Market Operator
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) operates the National Electricity Market (NEM) as well as the retail and wholesale gas markets of south eastern Australia. In Queensland the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) was previously known as The National Electricity Market Management Company (NEMMCO).
Advanced Metering Infrastructure
The implementation of advanced meters which are capable of collecting interval data and remotely communicate with meter data agencies, either on a predefined schedule or an ad hoc basis. Advanced Metering Infrastructure is currently rolling out across Australia also known as Smart Metering. The Advanced Metering Infrastructure will allow electricity to be charged according to demand based tariffs.
Amp/Ampere
An amp is a unit used to define the rate of flow of electrical current. High currents require a wire with a larger diameter to minimise losses which cause cable temperature rise.
AMR – Automated Meter Reading
The use of automated data loggers connected to utility/energy meters to store and send meter readings remotely without the need to visit a site and manually read a meter (Also see ‘Remote Metering').
Bulk Energy Supply
Bulk supply relates to when building management purchases energy for the whole building at a lower commercial rate and on sells to individual accounts within their building.
Change Over Switch
Changes the revenue metering from one supply feed point to a standby supply feed point.
Contestable
A commercial electricity customer within a certain usage bracket (Type 1-4 for example)
Current Transformer
A current transformer converts the current flowing in the consumer's mains to a level suitable for a meter. The current transformer has errors that have been measured and can be applied to calibrate the meter.
Cyclic Data
Meter data which is collected in re-occurring sequences – for example on a quarterly basis
Dumb Meter
A traditional meter which only displays basic energy usage information for face reads by walkers, typically every quarter. No other data features available, basic functionality only.
EMP – Energy Management Platform
Metering Dynamics integrated software program and data delivery system specifically designed to help you manage energy at multiple geographically dispersed facilities with diverse energy consumption profiles. EMP Multi Plus enables the collection of data to make compliance reporting simple.
FRC -Full Retail Contestability
Provides all customers with the ability to choose their electricity and gas providers.
Harmonics
Harmonics relates to the distortion of the mains power wave-form. Can cause heating of motors and problems in electronic equipment.
Interval Data
Interval data is meter data which is collected in defined intervals – typically every 15 or 30 minutes.
kV.A
Kilovolt amp. The power which appears to flow in the wires but may not all be converted into useful work. It is also a unit of measure, used to rate electrical equipment.
kvarh
Kilo volt amp reactive hours. A measure of energy supplied but not converted into work.
kWh
Kilowatt hour. A standard unit of electrical energy.
Load Profile
A graph of a customer's energy consumption with respect to time. Energy consumption is normally recorded and displayed in half hour periods.
MDA – Meter Data Agency
An MDA is an agent of AEMO in charge of consumption reading and processing of contestable customers in the market.
MP – Meter Provider
A Meter Provider provides the design, installation and maintenance of metering schemes including communications equipment of a National Electricity market customer, as defined in the National Electricity Code (NEC).
Multi Utility Metering
The measuring of multiple utilities such as gas, electricity, hot/cold/waste water, temperature, humidity and more.
NATA
The National Association of Testing Authorities is a laboratory accreditation organisation that evaluates and audits the capability and technical competence of accredited laboratories.
NEC
The National Electricity Code defines the rules for wholesale electricity trading and access to electricity networks.
NECA
The National Electricity Code Administrator Limited that will supervise, administer and enforce the National Electricity Code.
NMI - National Meter Identifier
The National Meter Identifier is a unique number used to identify the meter on your premises, you will find this number on your electricity bill.
Power Factor
power factor is the ratio of active power (watts) to apparent power (VA). Power Factor has a value somewhere between zero and one. The distribution utility has to provide equipment that will carry Amps, and if the Power Factor is poor (less than about 0.9), the distribution network is inefficient. This inefficiency is passed onto the customer as higher charges.
Private Metering
Meters operated by private 'non utility' operators to bill tenants or to monitor energy consumption of a particular process.
Profile
By mapping energy usage over a set period of time you can define an energy profile showing peaks and troughs of usage.
Remote Metering
Reading a meter from a remote location. The meter or integrated ancillary equipment must be capable of data logging (storage) and electronic interrogation.
Revenue Metering
Used to bill a customer for energy consumption. The revenue owed to the retailer, body corporate or other supplier is calculated from revenue metering.
Smart Meter
This is a term for a general class of meter which will not only measure kilowatt hours but also 'quality of supply' functions. It is capable of being read remotely.
Sub Metering
A sub meter is a meter connected after the main revenue meter. It may or may not be a revenue meter and is typically used for information monitoring purposes. An example of a commom use for a sub meter is to measure the electricity consumption of an air conditioning unit.
Transients
High voltage spikes superimposed on the mains power. They can cause damage to sensitive electronic equipment.
VETEC
Vocational Education, Training and Employment Commission nationally accredits training courses.
Volt
The unit of electrical pressure. High voltage requires more insulation and clearances than low voltage.
Voltage Sags and Swells
The mains voltage rises (swells) and falls (sags) depending on the load on the supply network and the distance the customer is from a system voltage regulator (eg substation transformer) and the design of the supply network.
Voltage Transformer
Converts the supply voltage to a voltage level suitable for a meter. The voltage transformer has errors that have been measured and can be applied to calibrate the meter.
Watt
Unit of power. The 'watt' in mains power is calculated by multiplying together Volts, Amps and Power Factor.