Xcel Energy 2010 Annual Report Download - page 14

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ERC
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orth American Electric Reliability Corporation. A self-regulatory organization, subject to
oversight by the FERC and government authorities in Canada, to develop and enforce
reliability standards.
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MED
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ew Mexico Environment Departmen
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MPRC
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ew Mexico Public Regulation Commission. The state agency that regulates the retail rates
and services and other aspects of SPS’ operations in New Mexico. The NMPRC also has
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urisdiction over the issuance of securities by SPS.
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RC
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uclear Regulatory Commission. The federal agency that regulates the operation of nuclear
power plants.
OCC Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel
OES Office of Energy Security, Minnesota Department of Commerce.
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PSCW Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. The state agency that regulates the retail rates,
services, securities issuances and other aspects of NSP-Wisconsin’s operations in Wisconsin.
PUCT Public Utility Commission of Texas. The state agency that regulates the retail rates, services
and other aspects of SPS’ operations in Texas.
SDPUC South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. The state agency that regulates the retail rates,
services and other aspects of NSP-Minnesota’s operations in South Dakota.
SEC Securities and Exchange Commission
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lectric, Purchased Gas and Resource Ad
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ustment Clauses
CIP Conservation improvement program. Includes a comprehensive list of programs that benefits
customers who conserve energy or use electricity at off-peak times of day.
DSM Demand side management. Energy conservation, weatherization and other programs to
conserve or manage energy use by customers.
DSMCA Demand side management cost adjustment. A clause permitting PSCo to recover demand side
management costs over five years while non-labor incremental expenses and carrying costs
associated with deferred DSM costs are recovered on an annual basis. Costs for the low-
income energy assistance program are recovered through the DSMCA.
ECA Retail electric commodity adjustment. Allows PSCo to recover its actual fuel and purchased
energy expense in a calendar year to a benchmark formula. Short-term sales margins and
margins from the sale of SO2 allowances are shared with retail customers through the ECA.
EECRF Energy efficiency cost recovery factor
EIR Environmental improvement rider. Recovers costs of improvements made to two Minnesota
plants under the MERP program.
FCA Fuel clause adjustment. A clause included in electric rate schedules that provides for monthly
rate adjustments to reflect the actual cost of electric fuel and purchased energy compared to a
prior forecast. The difference between the electric costs collected through the FCA rates and
the actual costs incurred in a month are collected or refunded in a subsequent period.
FPPCAC Fuel and purchased power cost adjustment clause. Allows SPS to use a monthly adjustment
factor for fuel and purchased power.
GAP Gas affordability program. Recovers costs of offering co-payment program to low income
customers.
GCA Gas cost adjustment. Allows PSCo to recover its actual costs of purchased natural gas and
natural gas transportation. The GCA is revised monthly to coincide with changes in
purchased gas costs.
MCR Mercury cost recovery rider. Recovers the cost related to reducing mercury emissions at two
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SP-Minnesota fossil fuel power plants.
OATT Open Access Transmission Tariff
PCCA Purchased capacity cost adjustment. Allows PSCo to recover from retail customers for all
purchased capacity payments to power suppliers. Capacity charges are not included in
PSCo’s electric rates or other recovery mechanisms.
PDRA Partial Decoupling Rate Adjustment. A clause included in PSCo’s retail natural gas schedules
that recovers revenue lost to decreasing use per customer beyond a threshold.