Energy Glossary

Heating Types:

Electric Baseboard Heat:  Electric baseboard heat is the most common type of electric heat and is the least expensive to install. Usually it is installed along the outside walls with baseboard heaters and there is a thermostat in every room.

Electric Radiant/Ceiling/Floor:  Electric furnaces and baseboard heaters circulate heat by moving air. In contrast, radiant heating systems radiate heat to the room’s objects, including people. The most common type of radiant heaters are electric heating cables imbedded in floors or ceilings. Radiant heat offers draft-free heating that is easily zoned.

Geothermal Heat Pump:  Geothermal systems are simple refrigeration-based pumping systems which move and concentrate heat from the earth and make it usable in your home. It takes much less energy to move and concentrate heat from the earth than to burn fuel and create heat. This makes geothermal systems much more energy-efficient than conventional fossil-fuel based combustion systems. Since it doesn't burn fuel, it is also cleaner, making it more environmentally friendly and safe.

Heat Pump:  The electric heat pump is a heating and cooling system all in one. It's called a heat pump because instead of creating heat like gas or oil-fired furnaces do, the heat pump transfers heat from one place to another. In winter, it extracts heat from the outside air and delivers it indoors at a higher temperature. In summer, the process reverses, and the heat pump takes heat from inside and pumps it outside, just like an air conditioner. In fact, the heat pump looks very much like a central air conditioner. Heat pumps are more efficient when the outside temperature is above 32 degrees. It is a more complex space heating option requiring duct work and often a backup source of heat.

Thermal Storage/HEATSMART:  Electric thermal storage (ETS) is a heating system that stores heat in ceramic bricks contained in an insulated cabinet. The units release their heat as needed for up to 12 hours, even when the electricity is turned off. Generally a single storage unit is located in the main living area, and the electric heat and electric water heating are wired into a separate HEATSMART meter. The HEATSMART Rate will result in a savings of approximately 33% for electric heating and electric water heating costs. To obtain this rate, customers must allow PSNH to interrupt their electric heat and hot water heating at times when our Company is reaching peak demands.

Formulas:

Appliance Runs Continuously
Watts divided by 1,000 x hours of continuous operation x cost/kWh = cost of operating for specific time period x 30 days = operation cost for a month.

Appliance Cycles On and Off During Time of Operation
Watts divided by 1,000 x hours of operation x percent of time on x cost/kWh = cost of operating for specific time period x 30 days = operation cost for a month.

BTUs
3,412 BTU's = 1 kWh

Horsepower
1 horsepower = 1,000 watts (or 1 kWh)

kWh Use per Day
kWh divided by number of days between meter readings = Use per day. Use per day x 30 days = "Estimated” projected use for next billing period.

Watts
Amps x Volts = Watts

Terms:

Ampere (AMP):  A unit measure for the flow (current) of electricity. The typical service for a home ranges between 100 and 200 amps. There is a mathematical relationship between watts, volts, and amps which is expressed as: Amps x Volts = Wattage.

British Thermal Unit (BTU):  The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water from 60° to 61°F at a constant pressure of one atmosphere.

Delivery Company:  A company regulated by the Public Utilities Commission that owns the poles and wires used to deliver power to a consumer. This company will continue to deliver electricity to homes and businesses and make repairs when the power goes out. PSNH is an Electric Delivery Company.

Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER):  The EER is the Energy Efficiency Ratio for room air conditioners. The EER measures the number of cooling British thermal units (BTUs) provided per watt of energy consumed. Ratings higher than 10 are most cost effective. Example - A rating of 10 delivers 10 BTUs of cooling for every watt of energy consumed.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER):  The SEER is the Energy Efficiency Ratio for central air conditioning systems. The SEER measures the number of cooling British thermal units (BTUs) provided per watt of energy consumed. Ratings higher than 10 are most cost effective. Example - A rating of 10 delivers 10 BTUs of cooling for every watt of energy consumed.

Energy Supplier:  Companies that sell energy to consumers in a competitive market. They may generate the power themselves or re-sell power generated by someone else. They may also be referred to as competitive energy suppliers, energy service providers, generation companies, power marketers and power brokers. In the absence of Energy Suppliers, customers will be placed on Transition Service which will be provided by their Delivery Company.

Estimated Delivery Cost:  The estimated operating cost for appliances, water heating, air conditioning, or heating that would be charged by the Delivery Company only.

Estimated Energy Cost:  The estimated operating cost for appliances, water heating, air conditioning, or heating that would be charged by the Energy Supplier only.

Estimated kWh Usage:   The estimated number of kilowatt hours presumed used for the appliances selected, and/or the estimated number of kilowatt hours used for water heating, or heating based on the information provided by the customer.

High Use:   Those appliances that when used for long periods of time, or run on a regular basis due to normal use, or possibly malfunction, will have the potential to use large numbers of kilowatt hours and increase the cost of your electric bill.

Horse Power:   A unit of power, used in stating the power required to drive machinery for doing work. It is the power required for the performance of work at the rate of 33,000 English units of work per minute. Hence, it is the power that must be exerted in lifting 33,000 pounds at the rate of one foot per minute, or 550 pounds at the rate of one foot per second, or 55 pounds at the rate of ten feet per second, etc. Note: The power of a draught horse, of average strength, working eight hours per day, is about four fifths of a standard horse power.

Hours/Month:   The number of hours that an electrical item draws power. This is based on a monthly average.

Kilowatt hour (kWh):  A basic unit for measuring energy equal to 1 kilowatt or 1,000 watts of power used for one hour. It can be compared to the rate at which water is being poured from a bottle. The amount you pay for energy is based on the number of kilowatt hours you use per month.

Phantom Loads:  The extra energy - known as "phantom loads" and "standby loads" - required to maintain electronic devices in a partially-on mode when switched off. Power is consumed by most television sets 24 hours a day, for example, to enable “instant-on.” Otherwise, TV's would take as long to boot up as a computer!

The energy cost of "phantom loads" can add up: electronic clocks in the stove, VCR, DVD, microwave, and programmable coffee maker; television sets; telephone answering machines; printers; stereo systems; cordless phones; remote-controlled garage-door openers and instant-on computers running 24 hours a day.

In the average home, 8 percent of all electricity used to power many of our electronic components is consumed when the devices are turned off. The only way to completely eliminate "phantom" power consumption is by installing a "kill switch" or plugging into a surge suppressor/power strip that turns off power to the appliance, or by unplugging the device, all of which would be a major inconvenience that involves reprogramming the clock on each appliance!

% Time On:  The average amount of time the appliance is drawing electricity when in use. When an appliance is in operation, the % Time On reflects normal conditions. If the appliance is not functioning properly or there are extreme weather conditions causing the appliance to run more frequently, it may be necessary to adjust this field.

Volt:  A measure of the push or force which transmits electricity. Amps x Volts = Watts.

Watt:  A watt is a measure of how much electricity an appliance needs. A watt is an electrical unit of power. This term is commonly used to rate appliances using relatively small amounts of electricity. Wattage is stamped on light bulbs and all appliances. There is a mathematical relationship between watts, volts, and amps which is expressed as: Wattage = Amps x Volts.