BEIS – department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (2016-current)

Cost reflective – a way of organising markets so that the end-user pays an amount that reflects the cost of production

Decarbonise – change a system so that it doesn’t emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gasses, to reduce its contribution to climate change

DECC – Department of Energy and Climate Change (2008-2016)

Demand Response – changing time of use of electricity in response to price or other signals

Distributed Generation – electricity generation that is decentralised

DNO – Distribution Network Operator – the organisation that owns and operates the low voltage system of pylons and cables carrying electricity regionally

DSO – Distribution System Operator – a new role for the DNO that would include some balancing responsibilities (see ESO)

Electricity Transmission – the national high voltage network of pylons which transport electricity over long distances

ESO – Electricity System Operator – responsible for keeping supply and demand of electricity in balance

FiT – Feed in Tariff – a payment for small scale generation of renewable electricity that is fed into the national grid

Flexibility – being flexible about when electricity is used or generated

Private wire – local electricity distribution that falls outside of regulation, and allows selling of electricity by non-licensed suppliers

Solar PV – generation of electricity from sunlight – solar photovoltaic

Unbundling – the separation of different parts of the energy system at the time of privatisation. This created specific energy system roles.

Please get in touch if you think additional terms should be defined in the glossary