e2Companies Glossary
This comprehensive glossary covers key terminology related to distributed energy resources, grid management solutions, and related services. With accelerated growth in areas like distributed solar, battery storage, electric vehicles, intelligent controls, and advanced analytics, this glossary aims to establish a common language around grid edge technologies, strategies, and applications that are reshaping the energy landscape.
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Energy Management
Asset-Back Demand Response (ABDR)
Behind the Meter
Renewable Energy Procurement:
The sourcing and purchasing of electricity generated by renewable energy assets to power buildings and operations. Leveraging proprietary analytics, energy management solutions enable the ability to assess client energy spend, quantify sustainability goals, and model regulatory scenarios to create customized procurement strategies aligned with business objectives.
Natural Gas Procurement
The purchasing of wholesale natural gas commodity supply, transportation capacity, and storage services to meet retail customer or end-user demand. Leveraging statistical modeling, machine learning price forecasting, and optimization algorithms, energy management solutions enable tailored procurement strategies that minimize budget uncertainty over long durations.
Electricity Procurement
The sourcing, negotiation, and acquisition of wholesale electric power to serve retail customers or end-user demand. Energy management solutions allow for data science, predictive modeling, and optimization to develop electricity procurement strategies with the best risk-return profile based on load shapes, risk appetite, budget constraints, and sustainability goals. Energy Management.
Energy Risk Management
Practices and strategies for managing exposure to uncertain and volatile commodity market prices across electricity, natural gas, and other energy products to help corporations and institutions cost-effectively mitigate energy market risk.
Energy Procurement Strategy
Energy procurement strategy refers to the methodical planning and structured execution of electricity and natural gas purchasing decisions to achieve optimal risk-adjusted costs. Energy management solutions historical usage assessment, quantifying sustainability targets, modeling growth trajectories, and the evaluation of risk appetites to custom-design an ideal mix of fixed-price contracts, hedging vehicles, demand response programs, and other instruments.
Power and Gas Sourcing
The acquisition of wholesale electricity and natural gas supplies to meet facility and operational needs. Energy management solutions enable mapping load shapes, analyzing onsite generation assets, creating detailed demand forecasts incorporating growth plans, and evaluating budget risks to engineer the ideal utility supply portfolio.
Energy Market Analysis
The ongoing investigation of fundamental electricity and natural gas market supply, demand, and risk factors to determine optimal transaction timing and pricing conditions for energy customers. Energy management solutions can monitor and overlay real-time market price signals with machine learning price forecasting, geopolitical and regulatory change tracking, carbon modeling, and detailed demand analytics to spot shifts that alter risk-return profiles.
Energy Cost Optimization
The strategic improvement of efficiency, waste reduction, and total expenditure minimization across customer facilities, equipment, and processes related to electricity, natural gas, and other energy products. Using data science modeling, meter analytics, tariff engineering, and optimization algorithms, energy management solutions holistically reduce client energy costs across entire building portfolios, campuses, and global operations.
Utility Bill Auditing
The detailed review of electricity, natural gas, or other utility bills, rates, tariffs, and meter data to identify potential errors, overcharges, or savings opportunities.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
A long-term contract between an independent power producer and a corporate or utility customer for the sale of electricity generated by a renewable asset at a negotiated rate.
Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA)
A financial deal enabling companies to contract for renewable energy without taking physical delivery. Also termed Contract for Differences (CFD), these dealings provide corporations a financial hedge for energy cost volatility while funding new offsite alternative and renewable energy projects.
Solar Power Purchase Agreement
An arrangement where a developer sets up a solar system on a customer's property without incurring significant upfront cost. The developer sells the generated power to the customer at a fixed rate, usually lower than the local retail rate, to offset the customer's energy costs and reduce the customer's reliance on the grid while the developer benefits from electricity sales and incentives associated with the solar system.
Energy Service Agreement (ESA)
A contractual arrangement between an energy service provider and a client wherein the provider offers a spectrum of energy-related services. These services can encompass energy supply, efficiency upgrades, and (potentially) access to renewable energy. The customer pays a fee or rate for any services rendered.
Managed Energy Service Agreement (MESA)
Also known as an Energy Management Service Agreement (EMSA), this is a more comprehensive contract between an energy service provider and a client that extends beyond basic services provided in an ESA, such as the ongoing management, monitoring, and optimization of energy systems, which involves real-time adjustments, data analysis, and advanced technology or software for efficient energy use.
Utility Bill Management
Overseeing an entity's utility costs by monitoring and examining bills thoroughly, rectifying any errors, and ensuring timely payments. Analyzing consumption and cost data is crucial, as it uncovers opportunities for efficiency, leading to reduced energy and water usage, ultimately saving the company money.
Utility Bill Management Software
echnology solutions enabling businesses to consolidate, analyze, audit, process, and optimize their electricity, natural gas, and other utility expenses across facilities and meters.
Energy Bill Management
Energy bill management encapsulates solutions enabling organizations to control, reduce, and optimize their electricity, natural gas, and other energy expenditures across building portfolios.
Utility Cost Management
Utility cost management refers to the strategies, solutions, and ongoing process optimizations focused on minimizing total expenses related to electricity, natural gas, water, and other utility services.
Asset-Backed Demand Response (ABDR)
Energy as a service where costs are managed in a way that provides customers with long-term energy cost certainty and reliability.
Behind the Meter
Power that is produced and consumed onsite without going through any utility-owned infrastructure. Assets located on the customer's side of the electricity meter.
Kilowatt (kW)
The standard unit of power consumption measured at a given moment.
Kilowatt Hour (kWh)
The standard unit of power consumption measured per hour.
Energy Management
Centralized services providing power and gas agreement structuring, asset optimization, proactive and real-time monitoring, utility bill management, and auditing.
Global Adjustment
The charge assessed to all Ontario energy users that is effectively their capacity charge.
ESG, Monitoring & Compliance
Environmental Management System (EMS) Audits
Regulatory Compliance
The process by which products and services conform to laws, regulations, and standards enacted by government authorities – spanning areas like data privacy, security protocols, device safety specifications, and grid interconnect rules when implementing behind-the-meter solar, batteries, and electric vehicle charging.
Environmental Permitting
Securing necessary regulatory approvals before undertaking infrastructure projects, resource extraction, or industrial operations that may impact wildlife, air and water quality, or other ecological facets.
Permitting Applications
Detailed documents comprising regulatory submissions to governmental bodies for review and approval before undertaking infrastructure projects or operational changes.
Environmental Management System (EMS) Audits
A systematic, documented verification process used to objectively evaluate whether an organization's environmental policies, practices, and management procedures conform to the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization's ISO 14001 standards.
Indemnification Services
In energy projects, indemnification involves one party taking on liability risks that might otherwise fall to a counterparty through contractual agreements.
Environmental Compliance:
The process by which energy companies ensure their operations meet the regulatory standards enacted to safeguard wildlife, air quality, water resources, and ecosystems – for example, power generators implement controls adhering to air emissions limits, facilities secure permits covering stormwater and waste management planning, while oil & gas producers must document spill prevention protocols.
Environmental Compliance Services
Advisory and technical assistance provided by subject matter experts to help companies across industrial sectors manage their environmental performance obligations. This can encompass permitting coordination, compliance audits, monitoring system design, inspection field services, regulatory reporting, emission inventories, and overall compliance management planning.
Environmental Compliance Assessment
A systematic evaluation of an organization's operations, facilities, and management procedures to determine conformance with applicable environmental laws, regulations, permits, and other compliance obligations. Assessments identify the environmental requirements that apply to the organization, along with gaps where noncompliance risks may exist.
Regulatory Conformity
The act of ensuring that business operations, products, services, and management systems adhere to governmental laws, regulations, guidelines, and standards enacted to protect public interests like health, safety, finance, or the environment.
Compliance Audits
Assessments carried out to ensure that organizations adhere to industry laws, regulations, standards, and internal policies. These audits aim to verify whether the entity complies with environmental standards, safety protocols, operational guidelines, and legal requirements specific to the energy sector.
Performance Audit
An independent and systematic examination of the activities, operations, programs, or functions of an organization, typically conducted by a government agency, an internal audit team, or an external auditing firm.
Environmental Impact Assessment
A systematic process used to evaluate the potential environmental consequences or impacts of proposed projects, policies, programs, or activities and to determine ways to mitigate these impacts.
Environmental Management System (EMS)
A structured framework or systematic approach implemented by organizations to effectively manage their environmental impact, ensure regulatory compliance, and continuously improve their environmental performance. The EMS provides a set of processes and practices that help organizations identify, monitor, control, and reduce the environmental impact of their operations, products, or services.
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
A discipline focused on safeguarding human health and the environment in various settings, including workplaces, communities, and natural surroundings. It encompasses practices, policies, regulations, and protocols designed to identify, assess, prevent, and mitigate hazards that may impact the health of individuals or the environment.
Energy Sustainability Consulting
The act of advising businesses, organizations, and governments on strategies and practices to achieve sustainable and efficient energy usage. Consultants offer expertise in reducing energy consumption, optimizing renewable energy adoption, and implementing environmentally friendly practices to enhance overall energy sustainability.
ESG Benchmarking
The process of evaluating and comparing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance metrics and practices of companies or organizations against predefined standards, peers, or industry benchmarks.
ESG Benchmark Index:
(Also known as a sustainability index or responsible investment index) A financial market index that tracks the performance of companies or investments based on their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.
ESG Roadmap
A strategic plan or framework that outlines the steps an organization intends to take to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into its business operations, decision-making processes, and overall strategy.
ESG Integration
The act of incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into various aspects of an organization's operations, decision-making processes, and strategies.
ESG Risk Management
Identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors that can impact a company's operations, reputation, and long-term sustainability.
Carbon Emissions Tracker
A system used to monitor, measure, and record the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gasses emitted by various sources, such as transportation, energy production, or buildings. These trackers are designed to help individuals, organizations, and governments track their carbon footprint and understand their contribution to climate change.
Tracking Carbon Emissions
The act of monitoring, measuring, and recording the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere as a result of various human activities. This process is crucial for understanding and managing the environmental impact of energy production.
Carbon Emissions Monitoring
The ongoing measurement, observation, and recording of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere.
Social Return on Investment (SROI)
A method of accounting for the social, economic, and environmental value created by a company.
Grid Response Optimization of Virtual Energy
Demand Response
Grid Response Optimization of Virtual Energy (Grove):
A specialized team dedicated to developing personalized operational strategies for the R3Di® system, such as devising a customized playbook that outlines the optimal use of power from public utilities, employing historical data, energy market pricing, and other pertinent factors aligned with specific goals.