Reducing electricity use from the grid during peak periods to increase reliability and moderate the energy-clearing price during system-wide peak demand; reducing electric load or using qualifying emergency generators on the customer side of the meter.

A state agency (often called a department of public utility control, public service commission, etc.) comprised of elected or appointed regulators that oversees utility (including electric, gas, telecom, taxi, weights and measures and the like) rates, services, etc., under applicable FERC or other federal agency guidelines

Electric service sufficient for basic needs that is available to all members of the population regardless of income

An uncontrolled successive loss of system elements triggered by an incident at any locale which typically results in widespread service interruptions and cannot be restrained from spreading ("cascading") beyond an area predetermined by appropriate studies