Grid Acronym Cheat Sheet

As the UK’s electricity network undergoes considerable reform at an unprecedented pace, staying abreast of the ever-increasing acronyms used to reference organisations, policies and technologies can be challenging. 

Scottish Renewables has pulled together a list of network acronyms, from the most commonly used to the more niche, to help you navigate the maze of abbreviations. For a more comprehensive list of all renewable acronyms, please see our original Acronym Cheat Sheet. 

AI - Anticipatory Investment

ALF - Annual Load Factor

AR - Allocation Round

ASA - Ancillary Services Agreement

ASC - Authorised Supply Capacity

ASTI - Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment

BCA - Bilateral Connection Agreement

BEGA - Bilateral Embedded Generation Agreement

BELLA - Bilateral Embedded Licence Exemptable Large Power Station Agreement

BESS - Battery Energy Storage System

Beyond 2030 - The network build out recommended by the ESO to reach climate goals, otherwise known as tCSNP.

BM - Balancing Mechanism

BMU - Balancing Mechanism Unit

BSC - Balancing Settlement Code

BSUoS - Balancing Services Use of System

CAP - Connections Action Plan

CapEx - Capital Expenditure

CATO - Competitively Appointed Transmission Owner

CBA - Cost Benefit Analysis

CBA - Customer Build Agreement

CDB - Connections Delivery Board

CEC - Connection Entry Capacity

CES - Crown Estate Scotland

CfD - Contracts for Difference

CION - Connections Infrastructure Options Note

CM - Capacity Market

CPA - Construction Planning Assumption

CPAG - Connections Process Advisory Group

(T)CSNP - (Transitional) Centralised Strategic Network Plan

CUSC - Connection and Use of System Code

DCUSA - Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement

DND - Detailed Network Design

DNO - Distribution Network Operator

DRC - Data Registration Code

DSI - Data Sharing Infrastructure

EALF - Effective ALF

ECAS - Energy Community Aggregator Service

ECF - Early Construction Funding

EMF - Electromagentic Field

ENA - Energy Networks Association

ESO - Electricity Systems Operator

ETDP - Electricity Transmission Design Principles

ETYS - Electricity Ten Year Statement

FES - Future Energy Scenario

FID - Final Investment Decision

FON - Final Operational Notification

FSNR - Future Systems and Network Regulation

FSO - Future Systems Operator

GEMA - Gas and Electricity Markets Authority 

GIGA - Green Industries Growth Accelerator

GSP - Grid Supply Plant

HND - Holistic Network Design

HNDFUE - Holistic Network Design Follow-Up Exercise

HVAC - High-Voltage Alternating Current

HVDC - High-Voltage Direct Current

INTOG - Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas

LAEP - Local Area Energy Plan

LoA - Letter of Authority

LOTI - Large Onshore Transmission Investment

LMP - Locational Marginal Pricing

LPA - Local Planning Authority

MITS - Main Interconnected Transmission System

MPI - Multi-Purpose Interconnector

MTPSECS - Multi Technology Power Station Effective Capacity Scaled

MTPSTECPk - Multi Technology Power Station TEC Peak

NESO - National Energy System Operator

NETS - National Electricity Transmission System

NGET - National Grid Electricity Transmission

NOA - Network Options Assessment

NPS - National Policy Statements

OBZ - Offshore Bidding Zone

OCSS - Offshore Coordination Support Scheme

ODI - Output Delivery Incentive

OfGem - Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.

OFTO - Offshore Transmission Owner

OHA - Offshore Hybrid Asset

OHL - Overhead Line

OLR - Of Last Resort

OpEx - Operating Expenditure

OTNR - Offshore Transmission Network Review

OWF - Offshore Wind Farm

PA - Project Assessment

PB - Preferred Bidder

PCD - Price Control Deliverables

PCF - Pre-Construction Funding

PT2030 - Pathway to 2030

RAB - Regulated Asset Base

RAM - Reliability, Availability, Maintainability

REMA - Review of Electricity Market Arrangements

RESP - Regional Energy Strategic Planner

RIG - Regulatory Instructions & Guidance

RIIO - Revenue = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs Regulatory Framework

SAF - Stakeholder Advisory Forum

SCG - Strategic Connections Group

SG - Scottish Government

SIDC - Single Intraday Coupling

SPEN - Scottish Power Energy Networks

SPV - Special Purpose Vehicle

SQSS - Security and Quality of Supply Standard

SSEN - Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

SSEP - Strategic Spatial Energy Plan

STC - System Operator Transmission Owner Code

TAG - Transmission Access Guarantee

TAAP - Transmission Acceleration Action Plan

TCE - The Crown Estate

TEC - Transmission Entry Capacity

TMO4+ - Target Model Option 4+

TMS - Transmission Loss Multiplier

TNUoS - Transmission Network Use of System

TO - Transmission Operator

TOCO - Transmission Operator Connection Offer

TWR - Transmission Works Register

UGC - Underground Cable

XBID - Cross-Border Intraday Project