Aggregation
The process of pooling together a number of customers and then purchasing energy supply on behalf of the whole group.
Aggregator
A person or organization licensed by the State Corporation Commission that matches groups of consumers with a competitive service provider supplying electricity or natural gas. Aggregators may be able to negotiate a better price than each consumer could get on an individual basis.
Competitive Energy Service
The provision of aggregation service or electricity supply service and/or natural gas supply service to retail customers by a competitive service provider.
Competitive Service Provider
A person or company licensed by the State Corporation Commission to sell competitive energy services (aggregation, electricity supply, or natural gas supply) in Virginia.
Competitive Transition Charge
This charge may apply to electricity customers who choose a competitive service provider. During the transition to competition, state law permits this charge to give the local distribution company the opportunity to recover past investments (i.e., power plants) it made while it expected to serve all customers.
Distribution
The delivery of electricity or natural gas directly to a home or business. A local distribution company, regulated by the State Corporation Commission, is responsible for maintaining the equipment to distribute the energy as well as delivering it to consumers. Consumers do not have a choice of local distribution company.
Electricity Supply Service
The generation and transmission of electricity. This service may be purchased from a competitive service provider. This is the service for which you can shop, and the price may vary depending on which supplier you choose.
Generation/Supply
The production of electricity at a power plant fueled by various raw energy sources (nuclear, coal, oil, natural gas, hydro, etc.). The source of natural gas is the well head.
Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)
A 1,000-watt unit of electricity for one hour. A typical Virginia home may use approximately 1,000 kWh in a month.
Local Distribution Company
The public utility regulated by the State Corporation Commission that owns, maintains, and operates the distribution lines, pipes, and other equipment necessary to deliver electricity or natural gas directly to a home or business. Consumers do not have a choice of local distribution company.
Monthly Energy Usage
The amount of energy a household or business uses per month, expressed in kWh for electricity and in Therms or Ccf for natural gas. Your energy bill may show your monthly energy usage for up to the past 12 months.
Natural Gas Supply Service
The procurement and transportation of natural gas. This service may be purchased from a competitive service provider. This is the service for which you can shop, and the price may vary depending on which supplier you choose.
Price to Compare
For electricity, the regulated rate or price per energy unit of electricity supply service (kWh), less any competitive transition charge. For natural gas, the price to compare is the local distribution company’s charge for supply service (Therm or Ccf). The price to compare is provided to consumers so that they can effectively compare the local distribution company’s regulated rate to offers from competitive service providers.
Retail Access
The opportunity for a retail customer in Virginia to purchase a competitive energy service from a licensed competitive service provider.
State Corporation Commission
The Virginia state government entity that oversees the state’s utilities.
Therm/Ccf
Therm is a measurement of the heat content of natural gas. Ccf stands for 100 cubic feet, which is a measurement of the quantity of natural gas. A Therm and a Ccf are approximately the same. A typical Virginia home that is heated with natural gas may use 75 Ccf in a month.
Transmission
The movement of bulk energy supply (electricity or natural gas) from the generation facility (power plant or well head) to the local distribution company.
For additional information, please call Virginia Energy Choice toll-free at 1-877-YES2004, e-mail Virginia Energy Choice, or write Virginia Energy Choice c/o State Corporation Commission, P.O. Box 1197, Richmond, Virginia 23218.