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”.

• Baseload capacity:  The generating equipment normally operated to serve loads on an around-the-clock basis.
• Baseload plant:  A plant, usually housing high-efficiency steam-electric units, which produces electricity at an essentially constant rate and runs continuously. 

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.

The mechanism for choosing the lowest cost energy option that meets energy needs, which gives cheaper renewable energy and battery storage an edge. 

• Uneconomic dispatch – when a grid operator/utility chooses a higher-priced energy option, or above market-rate source, to meet electricity needs. This has emerged as a significant problem in areas where United States utilities are operating coal plants that can’t compete on cost with gas-fueled facilities and renewables. This practice allows utilities to continue to collect the costs of fuel and operations from customers to pay off their investment in the power plant.

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:

• frequency response – short-term adjustments to maintain the grid’s oscillations at 60 hz), 
• balancing – related to frequency response but on longer time frames, to, for e.g., plan for energy resource outages due to maintenance, and 
• voltage control – involves magnetic waves to allow for the movement of watts of energy

The process of creating electricity. 

Heat derived from the Earth’s interior, which can be harnessed for electricity generation. It’s a renewable resource, as the Earth’s internal heat is continuously replenished.

The electrical grid is a vast, interconnected network comprising power plants, transmission lines, substations, and distribution lines. Its purpose is to generate, transmit, and deliver electricity from producers to consumers across a wide geographic area. 

A variety of technologies that improve the capacity, efficiency, and reliability of existing power grids. They are often lower cost and faster to deploy than major grid infrastructure upgrades like building new transmission lines. These technologies optimize the flow of electricity across existing infrastructure.

Refers to the ability of an inverter to synchronize with frequency and voltage on the grid. These are more common than grid forming and refer to how this technology takes its cues from the grid, not the other way around.

Refers to the ability of an inverter to actively control frequency and voltage on the grid, helping to ensure grid stability. They can provide ancillary services, such as inertia, voltage regulation, and frequency response, essential for maintaining grid stability.

Refers to the many solutions that help the grid withstand major events, such as extreme weather, natural disasters, or cyber attacks, without disruption.

(see: Interconnection Queue)

Power that does not perform useful work but is used to establish and maintain electromagnetic fields that are needed to generate, transmit, and convert electric power in the alternating current network. A shortage of reactive power can cause voltage to decline. (See also: voltage support)

A characteristic of the whole electricity system to describe its ability to consistently deliver electricity to consumers without interruption, even through grid disturbances. Reliability comes down to having sufficient generating resources to meet demand and a functional operational grid system.

An agreement initiated by an RTO or ISO with a power plant, keeping it in operation temporarily for reliability purposes.