An emergency order issued by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act. It allows the Secretary of Energy to temporarily order connections of facilities and the generation, delivery, or transmission of electricity to best meet an emergency caused by war, a sudden increase in demand, or a shortage of energy or facilities. These temporary orders can also exempt power plants from federal, state, or local environmental rules and have historically been used to prevent outages during severe weather events or supply shortfalls.
The minimum amount of electricity that a utility must provide to meet the consistent, ongoing needs of its customers. Historically, this steady demand was met by large power plants (like coal or nuclear) that ran continuously. Today, with more renewable energy, this minimum demand can be met by a flexible mix of various power sources, rather than relying solely on specific “baseload plants”.
A technology that stores electrical energy in rechargeable batteries for later use. Batteries help stabilize the grid, manage energy demand, and increase the use of renewable energy.
Any energy resource that provides energy directly to a home or business without passing through a utility company’s meter. Examples include rooftop solar and microgrids.
California ISO
The maximum amount of power an energy source can physically produce (measured in megawatts/MW), or when referring to an electrical grid, the total amount of electricity that power plants connected to the grid are capable of producing. It’s essentially the total potential output of all the electricity sources, like coal, nuclear, hydro, wind, and solar plants. Meanwhile, energy is the actual output of a source over a particular time period.
Generally, participants submit sealed bids to offer capacity at specific prices. The auction ends when the total capacity offered matches the region’s needs, and a single clearing price is set for all commitments.
An energy source that generates electricity with zero- or extremely low-carbon emissions, and can do so when needed, regardless of weather conditions. They include enhanced geothermal energy and advanced nuclear technologies. They also can include solar or wind paired with battery storage to provide on-demand power supply regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
Refers to a regulatory approach for connecting new power generators to the electrical grid, notably used in Texas (ERCOT). This approach allows new generators to connect expeditiously with minimal upfront transmission upgrades. However, the grid operator retains the right to curtail their output if transmission constraints arise. This contrasts with approaches where developers pay for upgrades prior to connection. (see Energy-only interconnection approaches)
An accelerated stakeholder process used in PJM Interconnection to resolve urgent, contentious, and time-sensitive issues that cannot be resolved through the normal stakeholder process. The process involves several stages of discussion and proposal development, culminating in a submission to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for approval. The CIFP process has been used in recent years to discuss large load additions (2025) and resource adequacy (2023).
The mechanism for choosing the lowest cost energy option that meets energy needs, which gives cheaper renewable energy and battery storage an edge.
Measurement used to calculate how much an energy resource–such as a wind farm or solar array–contributes to the overall reliability of the grid. It assesses the resource’s ability to meet electricity demand, particularly during peak usage periods, and is especially useful for variable renewable energy sources whose output depends on factors like weather conditions.
Measures that reduce electricity use in a home or business. These measures include replacing inefficient heating and air conditioners with heat pumps, adding attic insulation, and sealing ducts and foundation, walls, roof, windows, and doors of buildings. It also includes replacing energy-intensive appliances with more efficient ones. These measures can provide energy savings, improve comfort, and increase property values.
Connecting new generation to the grid with minimal transmission upgrades and managing impacts through operational strategies rather than extensive upfront infrastructure investments. This approach, often referred to as “connect and manage,” prioritizes adding generation capacity quickly while relying on the grid operator to manage any resulting operational constraints. It requires new resources to risk curtailment (where the generator is asked to stop supplying power to the grid when supply is too high). The process has allowed Texas’ ERCOT to connect record numbers of new clean projects in the last several years significantly faster than other regions.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas serves as an independent system operator (ISO), managing the flow of electrical power over transmission infrastructure in the state of Texas.
A combination of automated and manual controls grid operators adjust to maintain grid reliability by ensuring a balance between supply (generation) and demand (load). They generally consist of three main aspects:
A network of distributed energy resources—like rooftop solar panels, electric vehicle chargers, and smart water heaters—that work together to balance energy supply and demand on a large scale. They are usually run by local utility companies that oversee this balancing act.
Often described as the “pressure” that pushes electric current through a circuit. It’s measured in volts (V) and is essentially the energy per unit charge. Think of it like water pressure: the higher the voltage, the greater the “push” on electrons, and the more current can flow.
Maintaining stable voltage on the grid is critical to keeping the lights on and avoiding equipment damage. Voltage is not consistent across the grid, though it is locally constant, with higher voltages used for longer transmission lines and lower voltages used at the distribution level.
Measure of the rate of energy transfer over a unit of time, with one watt equal to one joule (J) per second.
A form of renewable energy that uses the kinetic energy of wind to generate electricity. It involves capturing the wind’s energy through turbines, which then convert this mechanical energy into electricity. Modern wind power generation primarily relies on wind turbines, often grouped into wind farms, connected to the electrical grid.
The increase in energy demand during the winter months, usually due to heating needs. This can lead to higher energy prices and bills for a number of reasons, including:
