Glossary¶

Terms and concepts used across MCAST documentation. Hover over any highlighted abbreviation in the docs to see its definition inline.

API (Application Programming Interface): A set of defined rules that allow different software applications to communicate with each other.
CAISO (California Independent System Operator): Manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines serving approximately 80% of California.
CSV (Comma-Separated Values): A plain-text file format used to store tabular data, with each row on a new line and columns separated by commas.
Dth (Decatherm): A unit of energy equal to 10 therms or approximately 1 MMBtu, commonly used for natural gas measurement and billing.
EMS (Energy Management System): A system of computer-aided tools used by grid operators to monitor, control, and optimize the performance of the transmission system.
ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas): The independent system operator for approximately 90% of Texas's electric load, operating one of the largest power grids in the US.
FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission): The US federal agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil, and oversees wholesale electricity markets.
GasDay: MCast's daily gas consumption forecasting model. GasDay provides an 8-day forecast horizon and is the primary model for operational gas forecasting.
GasHour: MCast's hourly gas consumption forecasting model, providing granular hourly forecasts for intraday operations.
Intraday: A specialized MCast forecasting model that only runs during specific windows within the current gas day. Intraday models have distinct data requirements based on what observed load data is available at each time of day.
ISO (Independent System Operator): A non-profit entity that manages the electric grid and wholesale electricity markets for a region, ensuring reliable, least-cost dispatch of generation.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A lightweight, human-readable data-interchange format widely used for APIs and configuration files.
kW (Kilowatt): A unit of power equal to one thousand watts.
kWh (Kilowatt-hour): A unit of energy equal to one kilowatt of power sustained for one hour.
LDC (Local Distribution Company): A regulated utility that owns and operates the local distribution system, delivering natural gas or electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers within a defined service territory.
Load Profile: A representation of energy consumption over time, typically showing hourly or daily patterns.
MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): A security mechanism that requires users to verify their identity using two or more independent factors before granting access.
MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator): A non-profit RTO that ensures reliable electricity transmission across 15 US states and Manitoba, Canada.
MMBtu (Million British Thermal Units): A unit of energy equal to one million BTUs, commonly used for measuring natural gas volumes and energy content.
MW (Megawatt): A unit of power equal to one million watts, used to measure the output capacity of electric generators.
MWh (Megawatt-hour): A unit of energy equal to one megawatt of power sustained for one hour, used for measuring electricity generation and consumption.
NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation): A non-profit regulatory authority whose mission is to assure the reliability and security of the bulk power system in North America.
NYISO (New York Independent System Operator): Manages New York's electric grid and competitive wholesale electricity markets, ensuring the reliable delivery of electricity across New York State.
OASIS (Open Access Same-Time Information System): A FERC-mandated information system that provides equal and open access to transmission capacity information for all market participants.
ODBC (Open Database Connectivity): A standard API for accessing relational database management systems, allowing applications to connect to databases without knowing the underlying driver.
PJM (PJM Interconnection): A regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity across all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia.
RTO (Regional Transmission Organization): A FERC-authorized organization that coordinates, controls, and monitors the electric grid across a regional area. RTOs typically operate energy markets in addition to managing the transmission grid.
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition): A system of software and hardware elements used to monitor and control industrial processes — including the electric grid — in real time.
SPP (Southwest Power Pool): A regional transmission organization serving parts of the central United States, managing the bulk electric grid and wholesale energy markets.
SSO (Single Sign-On): An authentication scheme that allows users to log in with a single set of credentials to access multiple applications.
Weather Normalization: The process of adjusting historical load data to remove the effects of weather variation, allowing for meaningful comparison across different time periods.
WSO (Weather Station Optimizaiton): MCast's process for combining weather station data to create a representative weather stream for an operating area. accounting for temperature, humidity, and other meteorological factors.