Cg-20 Time-of-Use Savings terms

Understanding your electric service begins with understanding many terms you may see on your monthly energy bill. Several words and phrases related to electric use are defined for you here. If a term you're looking for doesn't appear on this list, please call 877-444-0888. We want to be sure you understand, and are comfortable with, your energy service.

The number of days between monthly meter readings. Because meters are not read on weekends or holidays, this number may vary slightly — it won't be exactly 30 or 31 days each time.
Capacity is the capability of a system or piece of equipment.
A measure of the need for air conditioning (cooling) based on temperature. Cooling degree days are calculated by subtracting 65 degrees Fahrenheit from the average daily temperature.
A fixed monthly charge that covers the costs of the equipment needed to provide safe, reliable service. For example, it includes the cost of WPS owning, maintaining and operating equipment that generates electricity.
A charge related to the highest number of kilowatts demanded by your facility and equipment over the past year. It ensures the electric system is built to meet customers' needs.
Electric demand is the rate at which electricity is delivered to a facility or piece of equipment. It is measured in kilowatts, and it's calculated by measuring energy used during each 15-minute interval. Electric demand is also referred to as load.
Distribution is the process of delivering electricity from the electric transmission system to consumers. See also Transmission.
A charge for the amount of electricity you use. Your use is measured in kilowatt-hours.
A measure of the need for heating based on temperature. Heating degree days are calculated by subtracting the average daily temperature from 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
An electric interruption is a time when electric use needs to be reduced. Under some programs from WPS, customers are compensated for reducing their electric use at the utility's request. In an emergency situation, the term interruption may mean that WPS is unable to deliver power.
A kilowatt is a measurement of the rate at which electricity is consumed. For comparison, think of a 100-watt bulb. The bulb has the capacity to use 100 watts of electricity when it is placed in a socket and turned on. One kilowatt equals 1,000 watts or 1.34 horsepower.
A kilowatt-hour is one kilowatt of electricity used for one hour. It is equivalent to using ten 100-watt bulbs for one hour, or five 100-watt bulbs for two hours. It also equals 3,413 Btus. This is the unit of measurement WPS uses to determine how much electricity you've used.
See Demand.
A charge collected by all Wisconsin electric utilities to support four statewide efforts: energy-efficiency programs, services for low-income residents, renewable energy, and environmental research and development.
Off-peak hours are times when electric use is served by the WPS "base load" power plants (plants normally operated to meet customers' demand for power). It isn't necessary for WPS to operate some of its higher-cost plants, so the cost of producing electricity at these times is lower.
On-peak hours are times when consumers' use of electricity is at maximum. During these hours, WPS needs to operate some of its higher-cost power plants to meet customers' needs. The average cost of producing electricity is higher during on-peak hours.
A charge related to the highest number of kilowatts demanded by your facility during the peak times of the billing month. The System Demand Charge is higher in the summer months than the winter months because more higher-priced electric generating units are used to meet the summer peak load. It covers the costs of distribution facilities such as transformers, wires and the fixed costs of generating facilities.
Transmission is the process of transporting electricity in bulk from a source of supply to the electric distribution system.
The unit charge limiter ensures that your combined energy and demand charges will not exceed a given price per kilowatt-hour.
A volt is a measure of electric pressure (somewhat like a measure of water pressure).