Appliance: Electrical/mechanical devices designed to perform a specific function eg. household functions.

Circuit: Asystem or conductor through which electric current flows.

Contract: An agreement negotiated between the customer and the retailer/energy provider.

Electricity: Electric current used and considered as a source of power.

Energy:A measure of the potential or capacity to do work. Energy can take many forms such as heat, mechanical, electrical and chemical. Measured in units such as the joule and kWh (Killowatt-hour).

Fuse: A safety device which protects an electric circuit from being overloaded.

GreenPower: GreenPower is renewable energy sourced from the sun, the wind, water and waste that is purchased by your energy company on your behalf.

GJ/Gigajoule: One thousand megajoules.

Joule: A unit of energy measuring heat, electricity and mechanical work.

kW/Kilowatt: One thousand watts.

kWh/Kilowatt-hour: One thousand watt-hours.

MJ/Megajoule: One million joules.

MW/Megawatt: One million watts.

MWh/Megawatt-hour: One million watt-hours.

Natural Gas: A natural occurring mixture of gases found beneath the earth’s surface.

Off peak: Electricity or Gas delivered and used during a period of reduced demand. The off-peak time periods are set by the energy providers and may differ from one provider and plan to the next.

Outage: The period in which the energy service or other facility is out of service.

Peak: Electricity or Gas delivered and used during all time except when the provider offers a reduced demand pricing option. The off-peak and peak time periods are set by the energy providers and may differ from one provider and plan to the next.

Power Plug: Electrical connectors which have pins to fit into power point/socket connectors. They are devices which connect devices/appliances to the power supply.

Power Point/Socket: Electrical connectors which have slots to accept the pins of the power plugs. These connectors deliver electricity to the plugs and the appliance.

Watt: Electrical unit of power.

Rebates: A deduction or return from a billable amount to be paid.

Wh/Watt-hour: A unit of energy equivalent to one watt of power expended for one hour of time.