Xcel Energy 2010 Annual Report Download - page 16

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decommissioning The process of closing down a nuclear facility and reducing the residual radioactivity to a
level that permits the release of the property and termination of license. Nuclear power plants
are required by the NRC to set aside funds for their decommissioning costs during operation.
derivative instrument A financial instrument or other contract with all three of the following characteristics:
● An underlying and a notional amount or payment provision or both;
● Requires no initial investment or an initial net investment that is smaller than would be
required for other types of contracts that would be expected to have a similar response to
changes in market factors; and
● Terms require or permit a net settlement, can be readily settled net by means outside the
contract, or provides for delivery of an asset that puts the recipient in a position not
substantially different from net settlement.
distribution The system of lines, transformers, switches and mains that connect electric and natural gas
transmission systems to customers.
DOI Division of Investigation
DRIP Dividend Reinvestment Program
EEI Edison Electric Institute
EPS Earnings per share of common stock outstanding
ETR Effective tax rate
FASB Financial Accounting Standards Board
Fitch Fitch Ratings
FTRs Financial transmission rights. Used to hedge the costs associated with transmission
congestion.
GAAP Generally accepted accounting principles
generation The process of transforming other forms of energy, such as nuclear or fossil fuels, into
electricity. Also, the amount of electric energy produced, expressed in MW (capacity) or MW
hours (energy).
GHG Greenhouse gas
IRP Integrated Resource Plan
LIBOR London Interbank Offered Rate
LLW Low-level radioactive waste
LNG Liquefied natural gas. Natural gas that has been converted to a liquid.
MACT Maximum Achievable Control Technology
mark-to-market The process whereby an asset or liability is recognized at fair value.
MERP Metropolitan Emissions Reduction Project
MGP Manufactured gas plant
MISO Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.
Moody’s Moody’s Investors Service
MRO Midwest Reliability Organization
MVP Multi-Value Project
native load The customer demand of retail and wholesale customers that a utility has an obligation to
serve: e.g., an obligation to provide electric or natural gas service created by statute or long-
term contract.
natural gas A naturally occurring mixture of gases found in porous geological formations beneath the
earth’s surface, often in association with petroleum. The principal constituent is methane.
N
AV
N
otice of alleged violation
N
OL
N
et operating loss
nonutility All items of revenue, expense and investment not associated, either by direct assignment or
by allocation, with providing service to the utility customer.
N
OPR
N
otice of proposed rulemaking
N
Ox
N
itrogen oxide
N
EI
N
uclear Energy Insti
t
ute
O&M Operating and maintenance
OCI Other comprehensive income
PBRP Performance-based regulatory plan. An annual electric earnings test, an electric quality of
service plan and a natural gas quality of service plan established by the CPUC.
PCB Polychlorinated biphenyl
PFS Private Fuel Storage, LLC. A consortium of private parties (including NSP-Minnesota)
working to establish a private facility for interim storage of spent nuclear fuel.
PIIC Prairie Island Indian Community