Acronyms

Acronyms

 

Acronym

Full Name

Description

Acronym

Full Name

Description

AC

Annual Consumption

The total consumption of a supply point during a 12 month period, sometimes expressed as AQ - Annual Quantity

ALC

Asynchronous Layered Coding

An internet protocol for content delivery

AMR

Automatic Meter Readings

A meter capable of offering its register reading to a retrieval mechanism that does not require a human sight of the asset.

API

Application Programming Interface

A software connection allowing programs to interact automatically to exchange data

AQ

Annual Quantity

The total consumption of a supply point during a 12 month period, sometimes expressed as AC - Annual Consumption

BMP

BitMaP

A copyright-free, uncompressed file format that offers high quality images

CCL

Climate Change Levy

A UK specific tax collection for every non-domestic unit of energy consumed

CR

Carriage Return

A unicode standard used to define a Newline on a text file

CRC

Carbon Reduction Commitment

UK legislation for commercial consumers to commit and incentivise the reduction of fossil fuel consumption by environmental impact

CSV

Comma (Character) Separated Values

A plain text file type where each value in a row is separated from the net by a character, often a comma.

CuSum

Cumulative Summation

A performance analysis type charting accumulated deviation from a target over time to display the trend

CV

Calorific Value

A factor (used to calculate energy from volume) indicating the combustibility of gas for a given date within an LDZ

DA

Data Aggregator

A licensed third party (often paired within the DC) responsible for balancing and settlement

DC

Data Collector

A licensed third part responsible for collecting and validating reads from the meter

DCOM

Distributed Component Object Model

A proprietary Microsoft technology for communicating across networked computers

DD

Degree Day

A measure of outside temperature variation from a base temperature

DHWS

Domestic Hot Water Services

Acronym used to shorten text and save space on the user interface

DNO

Distribution Network Operator

A licensed operator of the electricity infrastructure in the UK

DR

Data Retriever

A third party (for the DC) responsible for retrieving data (often remotely) from the meter.

DUoS

Distribution Use of System

A UK term that refers to the charges for accessing the distributors section of the electricity supply chain

EAM CTS

Early Action Metric Carbon Trading Scheme

An incentive for UK consumers to install loggers and AMR within the first phase of the CRC rollout

ECMA

European Computer Manufacturers Association

A computing organisation that standardises the use of information

FF

Form Feed

A unicode standard used to define a Newline on a text file

GHG

Greenhouse Gas

An emissions reporting scheme that classifies environmental impact as direct or indirect by assigning scope categories to fuel types

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format

A file format that compresses the image to reduce the file size but also reduces the image quality

GMT

Greenwich Mean Time

Global standard for the measurement of time based on the Greenwich meridian. Can be adjusted (+1) in summer months.

GSM

Groupe Special Mobile

European telecommunication standard protocols for second generation (2G) cellular (mobile) networks

HDA

Historic Data Access

An OPC standard to record real time readings collected from an OPC server for use in retrospect

HSB

Hue-Saturation Brightness

Used to describe a colour with respect to the saturation and brightness of the colour mix

HSV

Hue-Saturation Values

Used to describe a colour with respect to the saturation and brightness of the colour mix

HTM

Hyper Text Markup

A file type extension for products of the standard programming language used to create web pages

HTML

Hyper Text Markup Language

Standard programming language used to create web pages

HTTP(S)

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (Secure)

A protocol for data communication for the world wide web

IDC

Intelligent Data Collector

A Sigma product designed to collect data from a variety of sources from multiple locations

IIS

Internet Information Services

A web server created by Microsoft that is used to present Sigma through a browser window

IOT

Internet of Things

The integration of data from devices across the internet through connectivity

JPEG

Joint Photographic Experts Group

A file format for images resolution commonly used by digital cameras

JSON

Java Script Object Notation

A file format using a human-readable text to transfer data from source to destination

KPI

Key Performance Indicator

A metric applied to normalise data to produce a more informative comparison (ie kWh per m2)

LAN

Local Area Network

A network of computers that connect within a limited area using a network media

LDAP

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol

A standard for sharing information about users between platforms in a secure manner

LDZ

Local Distrubution Zone

National territories used in the UK to account for pressure and temperature variations of gas transportation (CV)

LF

Line Feed

A unicode standard used to define a Newline in a text file

LLF

Line Loss Factor

A three digit classification used to denote the losses incurred from the grid to the consumer for a UK electricity supply point

MD

Maximum Demand

The peak load (also referred to as the peak demand) of an electricity supply across a given period

MOP

Meter Operator

A licensed third party with responsibility for the accuracy and maintenance of the meter

MPAN

Meter Point Administration Number

A combination of references to classify (top line) and specify (core) a UK electricity supply point

MPRN

Meter Point Reference Number

A number to specify a UK gas supply point

MTC

Meter Time Code (Switch)

A three digit classification used to denote the metering tariff when pricing a UK electricity supply point contract

OBIX

Open Building Information Exchange

A standard for reading and writing data over a network of devices within a framework designed for building automation

OLE

Object Linking and Embedding

A proprietary Microsoft technology hat allows objects to interface

OPC

OLE for Process Control

A standard to communicate real time data between control devices from different manufacturers

OS

Operation System

The software installed on a computer that manages the hardware, resources and services

PC

Profile Class

A two digit classification used to denote the type and grade of a UK electricity supply point

PLC

Programmable Logic Controller

A device recording real time data in a manufacturing process

PNG

Portable Network Graphics

A file format that offers a reasonable quality image resolution

RGB

Red Green Blue

Used to describe a colour with respect tot the mix if red, green and blue

SAML

Security Assertion Markup Language

A method of using XML to encrypt user identity to facilitate an SSO user experience

SCT

Sigma Contract Template

A specific file type which conveys the tariff design of a contract templated from the Sigma application, Contract Designer

SEC

Specific Energy Consumption

A type of performance analysis to display the variation of one value with respect to another variable

SIM

Subscriber Identity Mode

An integrated circuit that contains everything required to authenticate a device onto a mobile network

SMS

Short Messaging Service (text)

A text messaging service (commonly with mobile phones) using standardised protocols to exchange short messages

SMTP

Simple Main Transfer Protocol

An internet standard for email transmission

SMTPS

Secure Simple Main Transfer Protocol

A security enhanced version of the internet standard for email transmission

SQL

Structured Query Language

A special purpose programming language designed for managing data held in a relational database management system

SSO

Single Sign On

A method of logging into a system with user credentials obtained automatically from the users computer session

SSRS

SQL Server Reporting Services

SQL Server Reporting Services is a server based report generation software system from Microsoft

SToD

Seasonal Time Of Day

A date and time boundary that defies the period when a certain unit rate will apply

TFF

Tagged Image File Format

A type of image file format belonging to Adobe which is widely recognised

TUoS

Transmission Use of System

A UK term that refers to the charges levied or accessing the transmission section of the electricity supply chain

URI

Uniform Resource Identifier

A series of characters to identify the name of a resource on a network

URL

Uniform Resource Locator

A location reference to a website on the internet

UTC

Coordinated Universal Time

Global standard for the measurement of time. Based upon GMT but not subjected to seasonal correction

VT

Vertical Tab

A unicode standard used to define a Newline on a text file

WIA

Windows Integrated Authentication

A method of allowing users to securely open a new session without needing to enter credentials at login

XML

Extensible Markup Language

A versatile coded document that is both human and machine readable