BROWNOUT -- An intentional voltage reduction used to reduce energy loads in an area. A brownout causes lights to dim and motors to run more slowly.

BTU (BRITISH THERMAL UNIT) -- The amount of heat energy necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. (One kilowatt-hour is equal to 3,413 BTUs.)

BYPASS SYSTEM -- Structure in a dam that provides a route for fish to move through or around the dam without going through the turbines.

CAPACITY -- The maximum sustainable amount of power that can be produced by a generator or carried by a transmission facility at any instant.

THE CLEAN WATER ACT -- The act establishes a complete regulatory system for navigable waters in the United States, whether on public or private land. It sets national policies to eliminate discharge of water pollutants from point sources without permits. It authorizes EPA to set water quality criteria for states to use to establish water quality standards.

COGENERATION -- The simultaneous production of electricity and useful thermal energy. This is frequently accomplished by using steam to both generate power and to provide space or water heating for industrial processes.

COLUMBIA STORAGE POWER EXCHANGE (CSPE) -- The CSPE is a nonprofit corporation formed by eight public and three private utilities in 1964 to implement portions of the Columbia River Treaty with Canada. Under the treaty, Canada agreed to build two storage dams and one dam for generation on the upper Columbia, resulting in greater power and flood control benefits at U.S. facilities downstream. Canada receives half of the increased output at U.S. dams -- a share referred to as the Canadian Entitlement. Not needing the additonal power, Canada sought to sell its entitlement under 30-year contracts to the United States.

COLUMBIA RIVER ALLIANCE -- Formed in 1990, the CRA represents a diverse spectrum of interests supporting a balanced, multi-use river system in the Columbia Basin. The alliance -- with members throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana -- represents communities, agricultural associations, timber interests, irrigators, ports, electric utilities and manufacturing industries. It's offices are in Portland.

COMBINED CYCLE -- The combination of a gas turbine and steam turbine in an electric generating plant. The waste heat from the first turbine cycle provides the heat energy for the second turbine cycle.

COMBUSTION TURBINE -- A turbine engine generator often fired by natural gas. The turbine generator is turned by combustion gases rather than by steam.

CONDUCTOR -- Any material that will carry the flow of electricity. In utilities, usually refers to the wire or cable that constitute power lines.

CONSERVATION -- A resource produced by increasing the efficiency of energy use, production or distribution.

COOPERATIVE (CO-OP) -- A private non-profit utility owned by its members and essentially self-regulated by an elected board of directors.

COORDINATED OPERATION -- The operation of two or more interconnected electrical systems or a group of hydro plants to achieve greater reliability and economy.

(A-B)  (B-C)  (C-E)  (E-G)  (G-M)  (M-O)  (O-P)   (P-S)  (S-W)