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Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA)

A federal law from 1978 that encourages energy conservation, efficient use of resources, and equitable rates for electric consumers, partly by requiring state utility commissions to consider certain standards.

Integrated resource planning

A long-term process used by electric utilities to determine the best way to meet future customer electricity needs, considering various factors like energy demand, supply options, costs, and environmental impacts.

Reliable generation facility

A power plant that can produce electricity consistently for at least 30 days, has its own fuel supply or guaranteed access to it, can operate during emergencies and severe weather, and helps keep the electrical grid stable.

State regulatory authority

A state-level agency, often called a Public Utility Commission or Public Service Commission, responsible for overseeing and regulating electric utilities within that state.

Nonregulated utility

An electric utility that is not subject to the direct rate-setting or operational oversight of a state regulatory authority, often a municipal utility or rural electric cooperative.

Frequency support and voltage support

Essential services provided by power plants to maintain the stability of the electrical grid. Frequency refers to the speed at which alternating current cycles, and voltage is the electrical 'pressure' that drives current; both must be kept within narrow ranges for the grid to operate properly.