Search our website...

Jargon Buster



FAQs - A - D

AEMC (Australian Energy Market Commission)
The AEMC is currently responsible for rules and policy advice covering the National Electricity Market.

AER (Australian Energy Regulator)
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) performs economic regulation of the wholesale electricity market and electricity transmission networks in the National Electricity Market (NEM), and enforcement of the National Electricity Law and National Electricity Rules.

Bagasse
Waste plant fibre left after the juices have been removed from sugar cane. Bagasse can be burned to produce electricity.

Billing Cycle
Is the cycle which customers receive their energy bills, either monthly, or quarterly.

Biomass
Is plant matter, which is used as a fuel to produce renewable energy.

Bundling
Refers to a simplified bill that shows a number of services from one retailer. Eg. Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Water.

CPI (Consumer Price Index)
An inflation tracker that is the measure of the price change in consumer goods and services.

Demand
The total amount of electricity or gas required by customers at any one time.

Deregulation
Is the process by which governments remove, reduce, or simplify control over industries and encourage competitive forces to drive the market. Full deregulation of the electricity retail market in certain states is also known as Full Retail Competition.

Distribution
The use of the Network to transport electricity or gas from the bulk supply points to the customer's point of connection.

Distributor
A distributor is the company that owns the poles and wires used to distribute electricity to your property. Your distributor is responsible for the maintenance of the pole and wires, maintaining supply of electricity safely to you.

Distribution Charges
This is the amount you are charged for the delivery of electricity and maintenance of the poles and wires. This amount is charged by the Distributor.


FAQs - E - H

Energy Industry Ombudsman of South Australia (EIOSA)
Is an independent, government-funded service which investigates and resolves enquires and complaints against electricity companies in South Australia.

Energy Ombudsman Queensland (EOQ)
Is an independent, government-funded service which investigates and resolves enquires and complaints against electricity companies in Queensland

Energy Charges
This is what electricity retailers charge you for your consumption for the period covered by your bill.

Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON)
Is an independent government funded service, which investigates and resolves enquires and complaints against electricity companies in NSW.

Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV)
Is an independent government funded service, which investigates and resolves enquires and complaints against electricity companies in Victoria.

Essential Services Commission Victoria (ESCVIC)
The body that regulates and monitors essential services in Victoria.

Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA)
ESCOSA regulates and monitors essential services in South Australia.

Fossil Fuels
Coal, oil or natural gas that have been produced as aresult from the fossilisation of ancient plants or animals. These fuels are used to produce electricity.

Full Retail Contestability or Full Retail Competition (FRC)
Read about FRC here

Generator
A generator is a machine that produces electricity. The term also refers to generation companies, which produce electricity to sell in the National Electricity Market (NEM).

Hydroelectric
Generation of electricity using water.


FAQs - I - M

Incumbent Retailer
This is the default retailer responsible for the supply of electricity within a particular geographic boundary.

IPART (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal - NSW)
This is the body responsible for regulating electricity licensing in NSW.

Joule
A unit of energy.

Kilowatt hour (kWh)
A unit for charging electricity.

Market contract
Refers to the contract a customer enters into with their electricity retailer when they leave the Government-regulated franchise tariff.

Meters
A meter measures the amount of electricity or gas that you use at your supply address.

Meter Read Fee
This is a fee charged by your Distributor to read your meter.


FAQs - N - R

National Electricity Market and Management Company (NEMMCO)
The organisation responsible for the administration and operation of the wholesale national electricity market in accordance with AER.

Network Charge (or Distribution Charge)
These are charges relating to the use of the local electricity network to deliver electricity to the customer. The Distributor controls this charge and it is approved by the government.

National Meter Identifier (NMI)
Is a unique number that identifies your main electricity meter.

Off-peak electricity
Electricity that is consumed at either a time of the day or a day of the week when system demand is low. The price for off-peak electricity is generally lower than at other times of use.

Peak electricity
Electricity that is consumed at a time of the day or day of the week when system demand is high.

Queensland Competition Authority (QCA)
Provides independent pricing and access advice to government and third parties in Queensland.

Rates
Peak rates = usually apply to afternoons and early evenings on working days. Off Peak rates = generally a lower cost for electricity use when demand is low. Shoulder rates = usually apply to a band of time either side of the peak time.

Retailer
Electricity retailers buy electricity from the generators and sell it to end-use consumers. A retailer is responsible for meter reading and billing services.

Regulated Charges
These are Government regulated charges that recover the cost of establishing and maintaining a competitive electricity market.

Renewable energy
This is energy produced from sources that are continually being renewed and are unlikely to run out. This includes solar energy, hydropower, wind energy, and wave or tidal generation.

Retail Customers
You. A customer who purchases electricity and gas for use at their premises.


FAQs - S - Z

Supply charge Is a fixed daily, monthly or quarterly charge for suppling your premises with a service.

Solar energy Energy produced by the sun.

Solar thermal Is energy produced by using radiation from the sun.

Tariff A tariff is a pricing unit that a retailer charges you for energy.

Thermal energy Energy that is produced by increases in temperature.

Thermal power station A power station that produces energy by burning coal, bagasse, oil or gas.

Transmission company Operating under the direction of NEMMCO, your transmission company owns and maintains the transmission network.

Verification This is the process a retailer will go through to confirm your application for supply of services to your property.

Wind energy Is electricity produced by the wind converted to energy by wind turbines.



Log in