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Energy Glossary
Businesses / ... / Support Energy Glossary

    Energy Glossary

    Learn more about Use-of-System (UoS) and other commonly used energy terms.

    How is Transmission Loss Factor (TLF) calculated?
    The Transmission Loss Factor (TLF) is calculated by the Market Support Services Licensee, SP Services Ltd in accordance with the methodology approved by the regulator, the Energy Market Authority of Singapore.
    What is Use-of-System (UoS) Charge?

    The Use-of-System (UOS) charges is a third-party distribution charge imposed by and payable to SP Group. The charges recover the cost of operation and maintaining a safe and reliable distribution network to transmit electricity on the national power grid to end users. The UOS charges are reviewed annually by SP Group and differs according to the voltage at which the electricity is supplied. 

    Click here to view the latest UOS charges.

    Common Energy Terms

    AFP Charge
    This is the charge for the recovery of the cost incurred for the procurement of Regulation. Regulation is energy needed to fine-tune between the generation and consumption of electricity on a half-hourly basis.
    Barrel (petroleum)
    A volumetric unit of measure for crude oil and petroleum products equivalent to 42 U.S. gallons (306 pounds of oil, or 5.78 million Btu).
    Boiler
    A vessel or tank where heat produced from the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, fuel oil, or coal is used to generate hot water or steam for applications ranging from building space heating to electric power production or industrial process heat.
    Capacitor
    An electrical device that adjusts the leading current of an applied alternating current to balance the lag of the circuit to provide a high-power factor.
    Capacity
    The load that a power generation unit or other electrical apparatus or heating unit is rated by the manufacture to be able to meet or supply.
    Circuit Breaker
    A device used to interrupt or break an electrical circuit when an overload condition exists; usually installed in the positive circuit; used to protect electrical equipment.
    Combined-Cycle
    An electric generating technology in which electricity is produced from otherwise lost waste heat exiting from one more gas (combustion) turbines. The exiting heat is routed to a conventional boiler or to a heat recovery steam generator for utilization by a steam turbine in the production of electricity. This process increases the efficiency of the electric generating unit.
    Commissioning
    The process by which a power plant, apparatus, or building is approved for operation based on observed or measured operation that meets design specifications.
    Conduit
    A tubular material used to encase and protect one or more electrical conductors.
    Contestability
    The right to choose among electricity retailers for electricity purchase. A contestable customer has the right to choose how and whom they want to buy electricity from.
    Demand
    The rate at which electricity is delivered to or by a system, part of a system, or piece of equipment expressed in kilowatts, kilovolt amperes, or other suitable unit, at a given instant or averaged over a specified period.
    Distribution System
    That portion of an electricity supply system used to deliver electricity from points on the transmission system to consumers.
    Efficacy
    The amount of energy service or useful energy delivered per unit of energy input. Often used in reference to lighting systems, where the visible light output of a luminary is relative to power input; expressed in lumens per Watt; the higher the efficacy value, the higher the energy efficiency.
    EMC Admin Charge
    EMC (Energy Market Company) operates the wholesale electricity market. EMC runs the electricity pool and manages the energy settlement processes. This is a usage-based charge calculated using loss adjusted data.
    Energy Audit
    A programme whereby an energy auditor or energy auditing company inspects a facility or premise to assess the energy use and suggest ways of saving energy.
    Energy Market Authority (EMA)
    The regulator of the electricity and gas industry in Singapore.
    Energy Market Company (EMC)
    The company that operates and administers the wholesale electricity market.
    Feeder
    A power line for supplying electricity within a specified area.
    Fuse
    A safety device consisting of a short length of relatively fine wire, mounted in a holder or contained in a cartridge and connected as part of an electrical circuit. If the circuit source current exceeds a predetermined value, the fuse wire melts (i.e. the fuse 'blows') breaking the circuit and preventing damage to the circuit protected by the fuse.
    Gigawatt (GW)
    A unit of power equal to 1 billion Watts; 1 million kilowatts, or 1,000 megawatts.
    Grid
    A system of interconnected power lines that transport electricity from generators to consumers.
    Installed Capacity
    The total capacity of electrical generation devices in a power station or system.
    Insulator
    A device or material with a high resistance to electricity flow.
    Load
    The amount of electrical power required by a consumer.
    Load Factor
    The ratio of average energy demand (load) to maximum demand (peak load) during a specific period.
    Load Profile or Shape
    A curve on a chart showing power (kW) supplied (on the horizontal axis) plotted against time of occurrence (on the vertical axis) to illustrate the variance in a load in a specified time period.
    Market Support Services (MSS)
    These are services such as the buying of electricity indirectly from the wholesale electricity market for contestable consumers at spot prices, reading meters, managing meter data, administering transfer processes, and providing electricity to non-contestable consumers at regulated tariffs.
    Market Support Services (MSS) Charges
    Charges to cover the costs of market support services, such as transfer processing fees, meter reading fees, etc.
    Market Support Services Licensee (MSSL)
    The company that is licensed to provide market support services SP Services Ltd is the MSSL.
    Natural Gas
    A hydrocarbon gas obtained from underground sources, often in association with petroleum and coal deposits. It generally contains a high percentage of methane, varying amounts of ethane, and inert gases; used as a heating fuel.
    Non-Contestable Consumers
    Consumers who are required to buy electricity from the MSSL at regulated tariffs.
    Off-Peak Period and Peak Period
    The period of time when there is relatively low demand for electricity (off-peak), as opposed to the period of time when there is maximum demand for electricity (peak).
    PSO Admin Charge
    PSO (Power System Operator) is responsible for the security and reliability of the transmission system. All customers pay a usage-based fee for the provision of this service.
    Regulator
    The statutory body that regulates the electricity industry in Singapore. The Energy Market Authority is the regulator.
    Renewable Energy
    Energy derived from resources that are regenerative or for all practical purposes cannot be depleted. Types of renewable energy resources include moving water (hydro, tidal and wave power), thermal gradients in ocean water, biomass, geothermal energy, solar energy, and wind energy.
    Short Circuit
    An electric current taking a shorter or different path than intended.
    Substation
    An electrical installation containing power conversion (and sometimes generation) equipment, such as transformers, compensators, and circuit breakers.
    Transformer
    An electromagnetic device that changes the voltage of alternating current electricity. It consists of an induction coil having a primary and secondary winding and a closed iron core.
    Transmission Charges
    The charges for the use of the transmission system to deliver electricity to consumers’ premises. Transmission charges are regulated by the regulator.
    Transmission and Distribution Losses
    The losses that result from inherent resistance in electrical conductors and transformation inefficiencies in distribution transformers in a transmission and distribution network.
    Vesting Contracts
    Bilateral contracts between generation companies and MSSL for the production and sale of a specified quantity of electricity at a specified price (known as the “vesting price”). Vesting contracts are imposed by the regulator to curb market power of generation companies.
    Vesting Debit/Credit
    Reflected in MSSL’s bill to contestable consumers buying electricity from the wholesale market through MSSL. It is the difference between spot prices and vesting price on the demand that is covered by vesting contract.
    Wholesale Electricity Market
    An electricity market where generation companies compete to sell electricity.
    Wholesale Electricity Price (WEP)
    When buying electricity directly or indirectly from the National Electricity Market of Singapore (NEMS), one’s electricity price comprises of 6 components with USEP being by far the largest of the 6 components. The other components are the Hourly Energy Uplift Charge (HEUC), the Monthly Energy Uplift Charge (MEUC), the Allocated Regulation Price (AFP), PSO admin fees and EMC admin fees.