DMS Electric Department

Definitions & Terms

Rules And Regulations

DEFINITIONS OF TECHNICAL TERMS & THEIR ABBREVIATIONS

AMPERE (AMP) - Unit of electrical current.

ANNUAL REVENUE - Income received from a customer or a group of customers for a twelve (12) month period, less sales tax.

BILLING MONTH - The term “billing month” shall refer to the period between two successive, rendered bills.

DMS - When used in these Rules and Regulations, DMS is an abbreviation meaning the Department of Municipal Service as an agency of the City of Wyandotte.

CUSTOMER - A purchaser of electrical service supplied by DMS

DEMAND - The load at the terminals of an installation or system, averaged over a specified interval of time (15 min.). Demand is expressed in kilowatts, kilovoltamperes or other suitable units.
DIRECTLY CONNECTED
CUSTOMERS - Customers who do not require the construction of more than 300 feet of primary and/or secondary distribution lines.

DISTRIBUTION LINE - That portion of an electric system which delivers electric energy from transformation points on the transmission or bulk power system, to the customer.
DUAL WOUND
TRANSFORMER - A transformer whose primary windings are designed and interconnected so that the transformer has the full rating capability to operate on either of two different primary voltages.

DWELLING UNIT- A dwelling unit shall be considered as one containing single rooms, suites or groups of rooms which have individual cooking and kitchen sink facilities designed for or used exclusively for residential purposes.

ELECTRIC POWER - A term used in the electric power industry to mean inclusively power and energy, expressed in kilowatts and kilowatt-hours.

ELECTRIC RATE - The unit prices and quantities to which they apply as specified in the rate schedule.

ELECTRIC RATE
SCHEDULE - A statement of the electric rate and the terms and conditions governing its application.

ENERGY - That which does or is capable of doing work. It is measured in terms of the work it is capable of doing; electric energy is usually measured in kilowatt-hours.

ESTIMATED BILL - An estimated bill is a bill rendered by the DMS for energy use which is not calculated or computed by employing an actual reading of a meter or other measuring device.

FACILITIES - A general term which includes devices, associated structures and the like, used as a part of or in connection with an electric installation.

GOVERNING BOARD - When used in these Rules and Regulations, governing board shall mean the members appointed to the Municipal Service Commission by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council of the City of Wyandotte.

HERTZ (Hz) - Cycle per second.

HIGH-RISE HOUSING
STRUCTURE - A multi storied building comprised primarily of individually metered residential rate customers normally in excess of three stories in height.

HORSEPOWER (hp) - Unit of mechanical power equivalent to 746 watts of electrical power.

KILO (k) - Prefix meaning one thousand.

KILOVOLTAMPERE
(KVA)- Unit of apparent electrical power which at 100% power factor is equivalent to one kilowatt.

KILOWATT (KW) - Unit of electrical power representing rate of usage of energy, equivalent to about 1 1/3 horsepower.

KWH (KWH) - Unit of electrical energy equivalent to the use of one kilowatt for one hour.

LOAD - The amount of power or kilovoltamperes delivered at a given point.

MONTH - Unless preceded by the word “calendar” the term “month” will refer to a “Billing Month”.

N.E.C. - National Electric Code. References are to the current version of the National Electric Code used by the electrical inspecting authority.

POWER FACTOR (P.F.) Ratio of kilowatt power to kilovoltampere apparent power, expressed in %.

PREMISES - Any continuous parcel of private property or properties with buildings or other facilities owned or operated for a common purpose; profit or non-profit oriented.

PRIMARY VOLTAGE- Nominal voltage of 601 volts to 15,000 volts.

QUALIFYING
FACILITY(QF)- A customer with electrical generating facilities that fully meets or exceeds all DMS requirements for connection to the DMS electrical system.

RESIDENCE - Shall include one family, two family, and multiple family structures containing three or more individual dwelling units, but not including high-rise housing structures (also residential).

RISER POLES - Pole where the transition takes place between underground and overhead facilities. May be primary or secondary.

SECOND SERVICE- Additional service of the same capacity and characteristics usually supplied from a separate source.

SECONDARY VOLTAGE - Nominal voltage of 600 volts or less.

SERVICE ENTRANCE
CONDUCTORS - The customer owned conductors between the main disconnecting device and the termination of the DMS.

SERVICE LOCATION - That point on the exterior of a structure at which the DMS has agreed to provide electric service.

SUBMETERING - The practice of metering purchased energy beyond the utility meter, generally for distribution to building tenants through privately owned or rented meters.

TRANSFORMER
METERED SERVICES- Are services requiring voltage and/or current step down transformers for metering purposes.

TRANSMISSION
VOLTAGE - Nominal voltage of 69,000 volts.

TRENCH - A cut in the ground in which cables, pipes, etc., are installed.

VOLT - Unit of electrical force.