Glossary of terms

Deregulation

Glossary of terms

Air pollution
Contamination of the air by smoke, smog, carbon, nitrogen and sulfurs.

Atmosphere
A combination of all the gases surrounding planet Earth.

Biomass
A form of electricity derived from the burning of plant and organic matter. Landfill gas is one of the most widely used forms of biomass energy generation.

Carbon calculator
A tool that measures an individual’s (or business’) carbon footprint based on the emission levels in their day to day activities.

Carbon emissions
Carbon monoxide and dioxide released in the atmosphere from vehicles and industrial processes.

Carbon footprint
This refers to the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere in a given period (usually a year) as a result of an individual’s (or business’) activities such as heating/cooling/lighting our homes, driving our cars, etc.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)
A colorless, odorless greenhouse gas that is naturally present in the air. It is produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration.

Centum Cubic-feet (CCF)
A unit of measurement typically associated with industrial-consumption of natural gas or water. One CCF is equivalent to 100 cubic-feet.

Climate
The weather conditions of a region, including: temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness and winds. It is measured throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.

Climate change
The change in global climate patterns over time.

Coal
A fossil fuel mostly made up of carbon that is a sedimentary rock. It has been underground for millions of years and is usually extracted through mining.

Commercial
A building or property that is made up of retail, industrial or office space.

Commodity
A unit of commerce or trade that is of value and may be a raw material. Natural Gas and Electricity are examples of commodities.

Conservation
To save or preserve energy and reducing our negative impact on the environment.

Cubic feet
A unit of measurement commonly used to express volume of natural gas. One cubic foot is equal to the volume of a substance that could fit within a space that is one foot times one foot time one foot.

Deregulation
The removal of pricing and competition barriers for natural gas and electricity providers in a given market, encouraging competition and customer choice.

Dispose
To get rid of or destroy waste or garbage.

Distribution
The delivery of natural gas or electricity to your home or business through local gas pipelines or electrical lines.

Drought
An extended period of time (6 months or longer) with a lack of rain in a region.

Economy
A system of trade, commerce and business of goods and services in a region.

Ecosystem
A system formed by the interaction between organisms (and people) within the environment.

Electricity
A controllable form of energy that is used for power, lighting, appliances, electronics, heating and cooling. It is a secondary energy source, which means that we get it from the conversion of other primary sources including fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable sources.

Emission reduction projects
Facilities and processes designed to reduce emissions and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Energy
The capacity or power to do work by the application of force, pressure or movement. Energy can exist in a variety of forms, such as electrical, mechanical, chemical, thermal, or nuclear and can be transformed from one form to another.

Environment
Your complete surroundings including: nature, the atmosphere, ecosystems and social/societal networks.

Ethanol
A clean-burning, renewable fuel made from agricultural products such as wheat or corn.

Extreme weather
Dangerously cold or hot temperatures that can cause damage to material goods and your well being.

Fixed Rate Plan
A fixed rate plan ensures your supply rate is fixed over a period of time. This type of plan provides protection from market price volatility.

Fossil fuels
Primary sources of energy including: coal, natural gas and oil that are used to create heat and electricity. They are not renewable sources and cause harmful emissions through the energy creation process.

Gasification
The process of converting material into gas. Fossil fuels and organic waste go through this process.

Generation
The production of electricity or heat.

Gigajoule (GJ)
A metric term used for measuring energy use. A single Gigajoule is equivalent to: 277.8 kWh of electricity, 26.1 m3 of natural gas, or 25.8 litres of heating oil.

Global warming
The gradual increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere. It’s mainly driven by rising levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, caused by our day-to-day activities and energy consumption.

Green projects
Facilities and processes that reduce the negative environmental impact of our energy consumption. These include renewable energy and carbon offset projects.

Greenhouse gas Effect
The greenhouse effect is the result of heat absorption by gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse Gases absorb heat in the earth’s lower atmosphere and re-radiate some of the heat downward. This is known as the Greenhouse Effect.

Habitat destruction
When habitats are damaged to an extent that they are no longer capable of supporting the species and ecological communities that naturally occur there.

Heat stress
A group of conditions due to overexposure to or overexertion in excess environmental temperature.

Heat wave
A period of abnormally hot and usually humid weather.

Hurricane
A tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed upwards of 74 miles per hour. The eye of a hurricane is usually 20-30 miles wide. Dangers associated with a hurricane include: torrential rains, high winds and storm surges. These tropical storms can last for over two weeks over open water and run a path across the entire length of the Eastern Seaboard.

Hydro facility
A building/project that is used to harness and generate hydro power. These include dams, mills and high-powered underground wells.

Hydro power
Electricity generated by the force of water such as waterfalls, rivers and streams.

Irrigation
The artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops.

JustClean
A Just Energy product that allows you to offset up to 100% of your household and vehicle pollution by supporting emission reduction and renewable energy projects.

JustGreen
A Just Energy product that is tied to your commodity usage. With JustGreen Power, the equivalent of up to 100% of the power you consume is offset by renewable energy. With JustGreen Natural Gas, up to 100% of the emissions caused by your natural gas consumption is offset by emission reduction projects.

Kilowatt (kW)
A unit of measure commonly used in reference of electricity whereby one kilowatt is equal to one thousand watts.

Kilowatt Hour (kWh)
A Kilowatt Hour is the standard unit of measuring electricity consumption. More specifically, it is a measure of electrical energy equivalent to the consumption of one thousand watts per hour.

Kilometers
A metric unit of length equal to 1000 meters

Landfill gas (LFG)
Gas generated by the decomposition of organic material at landfill disposal sites.

Landfill Gas Capture/Recovery
The process whereby landfill gas is captured, converted, and used as an energy source.

MCF
A unit of measurement commonly used in low volume sectors of the natural gas industry. MCF is equivalent to 1,000 cubic feet.

Megawatt
A unit of power equal to one million watts.

Metric Ton
A unit of weight equivalent to 1,000 kilograms (2,205 lb).

Methane gas
Also known as CH4, Methane is a colorless, odorless, gaseous saturated hydrocarbon. Methane is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter.

Natural gas
Natural gas is a colorless and odorless gas in its pure form composed of mainly methane. It is used to heat homes and buildings, cook food, dry clothes, warm water and produce electricity.

Oil
Any mineral, vegetable and synthetic substance or animal and vegetable fat that is generally slippery, combustible, viscous, liquid or liquefiable at room temperatures, soluble in various organic solvents such as ether but not in water, and used in a great variety of products, especially fuels.

Pipeline
A channel of pipe, especially one used for the transport of water, gas, or petroleum products.

Pollution
To make unfit for or harmful to living things, especially by the addition of waste matter.

Provider of Last Resort
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has transitioned your electric service to Just Energy under Provider of Last Resort (POLR) service to ensure your service is not interrupted.

Renewable energy
A form of energy generated from a natural source, such as the sun, wind, tides, or waves

Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)
Are tradable, non-tangible energy commodities that represent proof that a megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was generated from a renewable energy resource.

Renewable energy production projects
Projects that participate in the generation of renewable energy such as windmill farm, hydro power plant or solar power plant.

Residential
A property or building that is made up of living space, such as houses, apartments or condos.

Smog
A fog or haze that is intensified by smoke or other atmospheric pollutants.

Solar panels
A panel exposed to radiation from the sun that is used to heat water or, when mounted with solar cells, to produce electricity

Solar power
Electricity generated by the collection and transformation of the sun’s energy, ultraviolet (UV) ray.

Sustainable
Being capable of existing or functioning with minimal long-term effect on the environment.

Therm
A unit of measurement often used when referencing natural gas that is equivalent to 100 cubic feet.

Thermostat
A device commonly found in a home heating system, refrigerator, or air conditioner, that automatically responds to temperature changes and activates switches controlling the equipment.

Turbines
A machine that converts the kinetic energy of a moving fluid to mechanical power by the impulse or reaction of the fluid with a series of buckets, paddles, or blades.

Variable Rate
A rate that fluctuates based on changes in the commodity market; usually this is a month to month rate.

Waste
Garbage; trash.

Water pollution
The contamination of water bodies (e.g. lakes, rivers, oceans and groundwater).

Watt
An international system unit of power equal to one joule per second.

Wind Plant/Farm
Typically consists of several hundred individual wind turbines which are connected to the electric power transmission network.

Wind Power
Wind power is electricity obtained by harnessing the energy of wind.