The following words and terms, when used in Division 1 of this subchapter (relating to Unbundling and Market Power), shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) Advanced metering--Includes any metering equipment or services that are not transmission and distribution utility metering system services as defined in this section.
(2) Additional retail billing services--Retail billing services necessary for the provision of services as prescribed under Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) §39.107(e) but not included in the definition of transmission and distribution utility billing system services under this section.
(3) Competitive energy services--Customer energy services business activities that are capable of being provided on a competitive basis in the retail market. Examples of competitive energy services include, but are not limited to the marketing, sale, design, construction, installation, or retrofit, financing, operation and maintenance, warranty and repair of, or consulting with respect to:
(4) Discretionary service--Service that is related to, but not essential to, the transmission and distribution of electricity from the point of interconnection of a generation source or third-party electric grid facilities, to the point of interconnection with a retail customer or other third-party facilities. This term also includes emergency services provided by an electric utility on customer facilities pursuant to §25.343(g) of this title.
(5) Distribution--For purposes of §25.344(g)(2)(C) of this title (relating to Cost Separation Proceedings), distribution relates to system and discretionary services associated with facilities below 60 kilovolts necessary to transform and move electricity from the point of interconnection of a generation source or third-party electric grid facilities, to the point of interconnection with a retail customer or other third-party facilities, and related processes necessary to perform such transformation and movement. Distribution does not include activities related to transmission and distribution utility billing services, additional billing services, transmission and distribution utility metering services, and transmission and distribution customer services as defined by this section.
(6) Electrical pulse (or pulse)--The impulses or signals generated by pulse metering equipment, indicating a finite value, such as energy, registered at a point of delivery as defined in the Tariff for Retail Delivery Service.
(7) Electrical pulse service--Use of pulses for any purpose other than for billing, settlement, and system operations and planning.
(8) Electronic data interchange--The computer-application-to-computer-application exchange of business information in a standard format.
(9) Energy service--As defined in §25.223 of this title (relating to Unbundling of Energy Service).
(10) Generation--For purpose of §25.344(g)(2)(A) of this title, generation includes assets, activities, and processes necessary and related to the production of electricity for sale. Generation begins with the acquisition of fuels and their conversion to electricity and ends where the generation company's facilities tie into the facilities of the transmission and distribution system.
(11) Pulse metering equipment--Any device, mechanical or electronic, connected to a meter, used to measure electric service for billing, which initiates pulses, the number of which are proportional to the quantity being measured, and which may include external protection devices. Except as otherwise provided in §25.311 of this title (relating to Competitive Metering Services), pulse metering equipment shall be considered advanced metering equipment that shall be owned, installed, operated, and maintained by a transmission and distribution utility and such ownership, installation, operation and maintenance shall not be a competitive energy service.
(12) Stranded cost charges--Competition transition charges as defined in §25.5 of this title (relating to Definitions) and transition charges established pursuant to PURA §39.302(7).
(13) System service--Service that is essential to the transmission and distribution of electricity from the point of interconnection of a generation source or third-party electric grid facility, to the point of interconnection with a retail customer or other third-party facility. System services include, but are not limited to, the following:
(14) Transmission--For purposes of §25.344(g)(2)(B) of this title, transmission relates to system and discretionary services associated with facilities at or above 60 kilovolts necessary to transform and move electricity from the point of interconnection of a generation source or third-party electric grid facilities, to the point of interconnection with distribution, retail customer or other third-party facilities, and related processes necessary to perform such transformation and movement. Transmission does not include activities related to transmission and distribution utility billing system services, additional billing services, transmission and distribution utility metering system services, and transmission and distribution utility customer services as defined by this section.
(15) Transmission and distribution utility billing system services--For purposes of §25.344(g)(2)(E) of this title, transmission and distribution utility billing system services relate to the production and remittance of a bill to a retail electric provider for the transmission and distribution charges applicable to the retail electric provider's customers as prescribed by PURA §39.107(d), and billing for wholesale transmission service to entities that qualify for such service. Transmission and distribution utility billing system services may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(16) Transmission and distribution utility customer services--For purposes of §25.344(g)(2)(G) of this title, transmission and distribution customer services relate to system and discretionary services associated with the utility's energy efficiency programs, demand-side management programs, public safety advertising, tariff administration, economic development programs, community support, advertising, customer education activities, and any other customer services.
(17) Transmission and distribution utility metering system services--For purposes of §25.344 of this title, services that relate to the installation, maintenance, and polling of an end-use customer's standard meter. Transmission and distribution utility metering system services may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Source Note: The provisions of this §25.341 adopted to be effective February 9, 2000, 25 TexReg 720; amended to be effective October 22, 2001, 26 TexReg 8345; amended to be effective October 9, 2003, 28 TexReg 8586