Glossary

Bay

Equipment that connects a power facility to the transmission network, in general, it consists of three circuit breakers, disconnect switches, instrument transformers, surge arresters, wave traps, coupling capacitors, etc.

Connection Point

The Substation busbar or transmission line starting point, where facilities used by different coordinated parties are interconnected, or facilities that, although they are used by the same coordinated party, are in different facility categories (see term “coordinated party”). A power plant connection point to a transmission network is the high-voltage busbar of its power transformers. Unregulated and regulated customers’ connection point to the transmission network is the relevant consumption busbar. Consumption busbars are high-voltage busbars less than or equal to 23 [kV] of the secondary side power transformers connected to the transmission network and whose primary voltage is higher than 23 [kV].

Coordinated Party (power generation company, power transmission company, complementary services provider, free customer or regulated customer)

Coordinated Party 

(Power generation company, power transmission company, complementary services provider, free customer or regulated customer)

Anyone exploiting facilities that are interconnected in any way shall be understood to be a Coordinated Party, whether these be:

 

  1. a) Power plants;
  2. b) Trunk, subtransmission or additional systems transmission lines;
  3. c) HVDC links;
  4. d) Interconnection lines between interconnected systems;
  5. e) Reactive energy compensation equipment;
  6. f) Active energy compensation equipment;
  7. g) Substations, including Primary Distribution Substations;
  8. h) Consumption Busbars for Free Customers fed directly from the Transmission System (TS) or by means of exclusive feeders from medium voltage busbars at Primary Distribution Substations;
  9. i) Power Distribution Company facilities.

All Coordinated Parties exploiting facilities in more than one of the above categories must comply with the different requirements established in the Service Quality and Safety Technical Standards (TS) in each of these categories, as a power generation company, power transmission company, complementary services provider, free customer or regulated customer.

Dedicated Transmission Network

Transmission lines and equipment mainly used to supply electricity to unregulated customers or to evacuate production from one plant or a limited group of power plants. Electricity delivered through these systems is under private agreements between parties.

Derivation (Tap-Off Connection)

A single connection that is started from a transmission line in order to withdraw or supply power, as long as this line does not belong to the Trunk Transmission System. Conditions for executing tap-off connections are regulated by Article 3-24 and 3-25 of the Technical Standards.

Diagonal for a Substation with a one breaker and a half configuration

quipment used to connect a power facility to the transmission network, in general, it consists of three circuit breakers, disconnect switches, instrument transformers, surge arresters, wave traps, coupling capacitors, etc.c.

Electrical Substation (ES)

Power facility that through equipment receives, manages and delivers electricity from and to lines. The ES are responsible for transforming voltage, frequency or connection of two or more transmission line circuits.

Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA)

This is a public organization operationally decentralized that is a legal entity with its own assets. Its mission is to contribute to sustainable development, conservation and preservation of natural resources through: Environmental Impact Assessment, Citizen Participation and Indigenous Consultation and Relevance Consultation.

Environmental Impact Declaration (DIA)

A document that describes a planned activity or project, or modifications that will be made, approved under oath by the respective principal, whose contents enable the competent body to effectively evaluate whether the project is in conformity with current environmental standards (Source: Law 19,300 on Environmental Baselines).

Environmental Impact Study (EIA)

A document that provides a detailed description of the characteristics of a project or activity to be executed or modification of the same. Background information must be provided for the prediction, identification and interpretation of its environmental impact, together with a description of the action or actions to be executed in order to prevent or minimize significantly adverse impacts.

Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA)

An administrative action by the respective Regional Environmental Commission to the Executive Directorate indicating environmental conformity or non-conformity for a project or activity. If the RCA is favorable, it certifies that the project evaluated complies with environmental regulations and that the project can be executed. Together with the RCA, the project principal needs to comply with all other regulations applicable to the project.

Interconnected System (IS)

Power grid facilities that are interconnected to generate, transmit and distribute electricity in this power grid.

National Energy Commission (CNE)

A technical body responsible for analyzing prices, tariffs and technical standards for power generation, production, transmission and distribution companies in order to make sufficient, safe and quality service compatible with the most economic operation available.

National Grid

Interconnected lines and substations located between Arica and Chiloé, economically efficient, ensuring continuous supply in different power availability scenarios.

National Power Grid Coordinator

(Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional, CEN) It is a non-profit, autonomous public corporation, with its own assets and created for an indefinite period. It is responsible for coordinating the operation of all the National Power Grid facilities.

New Projects

These shall be understood as all power generation, transmission or consumption facilities currently in study or construction phases.

Open Access

It is the right any party has to connect to a transmission system facility, under non-discriminatory economic and technical conditions for all users, by paying the applicable transmission network charges. In the case of dedicated transmission networks, only the lines that use the rights of way set out in Article 77 of the General Law on Electricity Services and those that use national public assets will be subject to the open-access regime.

Power Protection System

Devices and equipment required to detect and solve any faults that could affect the protected equipment. This system disconnects a faulty section as quickly as possible to minimize system disturbances, ensure human safety and prevent equipment and system damage. 

The power protection system includes circuit breakers, protection schemes, current and potential transformers, teleprotection channels and other equipment needed for its operation.

Protection Relay

A physical device or functional element of this device designed to detect a certain type of fault or abnormal conditions at a power facility by analyzing and processing the variables measurements at the facility. This device has the capacity to cause an output status change based on a preset criteria.

Protection Scheme

Protection relays that may or not include teleprotection functions. This also includes oscillography and event recording functions. 

Regulated Customer

Distribution company or user whose connected capacity does not exceed 2,000 kW supplied from the generation or transmission facilities. The Law considers these users as industries that are a natural monopoly and, hence, they are subject to regulated prices.

Sectioning substation, substation

A set of equipment that enables a transmission line to be sectioned at an intermediate point of this line. The minimum configuration is comprised of three circuit breaker bays with their respective protection systems.

Service Quality and Safety Technical Standard (NT)

According to the provisions of the General Electricity Services Law and its current regulations, the general purpose of the Service Quality and Safety Technical Standard is to establish the Service Quality and Safety requirements for interconnected systems. Current version dated July 2014 and Exempt Resolution 586 dated 17 November 2014.

Toll

The rates paid by the facility users to the transmission facility owners. Any power company that injects electricity into the transmission network from its own or hired power plants, as well as any power company that withdraws electricity from the grid to sell it to distributors or end customers, and uses these facilities is required to pay the applicable transmission charges.

Transmission System (TS)

A set of transmission lines and electricity substations that make up part of a power grid, including interconnection lines between interconnected systems at a nominal voltage level greater than 23 kV, understanding voltage provided by the highest voltage busbar as nominal voltage at the substation. Each Transmission System includes TTS, STxS and ATS facilities.

Under Construction Declaration

New projects in the construction stage when these have been granted the respective civil works construction permit, or if the order to proceed to manufacture and install the corresponding electrical or electromagnetic equipment has been extended for power generation, transmission or transformation, which shall be backed by the respective purchase orders for the manufacture of electricity generators, power transformers, conductors and elements for transmission lines, among others, as required. See articles 31 to 33 of Decree 86, Knot Price Regulations.

Unregulated Customer

Distribution company or user whose connected capacity does not exceed 2,000 kW supplied from the generation or transmission facilities. The Law considers these users as industries that are a natural monopoly and, hence, they are subject to regulated prices.

Zonal Transmission Network

Facilities interconnected to the power grid to exclusively supply unregulated or regulated end consumers, generally located around and in cities, where the distribution companies operate.

Bay

Equipment that connects a power facility to the transmission network, in general, it consists of three circuit breakers, disconnect switches, instrument transformers, surge arresters, wave traps, coupling capacitors, etc.

Connection Point

The Substation busbar or transmission line starting point, where facilities used by different coordinated parties are interconnected, or facilities that, although they are used by the same coordinated party, are in different facility categories (see term “coordinated party”). A power plant connection point to a transmission network is the high-voltage busbar of its power transformers. Unregulated and regulated customers’ connection point to the transmission network is the relevant consumption busbar. Consumption busbars are high-voltage busbars less than or equal to 23 [kV] of the secondary side power transformers connected to the transmission network and whose primary voltage is higher than 23 [kV].

Coordinated Party (power generation company, power transmission company, complementary services provider, free customer or regulated customer)

Coordinated Party 

(Power generation company, power transmission company, complementary services provider, free customer or regulated customer)

Anyone exploiting facilities that are interconnected in any way shall be understood to be a Coordinated Party, whether these be:

 

  1. a) Power plants;
  2. b) Trunk, subtransmission or additional systems transmission lines;
  3. c) HVDC links;
  4. d) Interconnection lines between interconnected systems;
  5. e) Reactive energy compensation equipment;
  6. f) Active energy compensation equipment;
  7. g) Substations, including Primary Distribution Substations;
  8. h) Consumption Busbars for Free Customers fed directly from the Transmission System (TS) or by means of exclusive feeders from medium voltage busbars at Primary Distribution Substations;
  9. i) Power Distribution Company facilities.

All Coordinated Parties exploiting facilities in more than one of the above categories must comply with the different requirements established in the Service Quality and Safety Technical Standards (TS) in each of these categories, as a power generation company, power transmission company, complementary services provider, free customer or regulated customer.

Derivation (Tap-Off Connection)

A single connection that is started from a transmission line in order to withdraw or supply power, as long as this line does not belong to the Trunk Transmission System. Conditions for executing tap-off connections are regulated by Article 3-24 and 3-25 of the Technical Standards.

Diagonal for a Substation with a one breaker and a half configuration

quipment used to connect a power facility to the transmission network, in general, it consists of three circuit breakers, disconnect switches, instrument transformers, surge arresters, wave traps, coupling capacitors, etc.c.

Dedicated Transmission Network

Transmission lines and equipment mainly used to supply electricity to unregulated customers or to evacuate production from one plant or a limited group of power plants. Electricity delivered through these systems is under private agreements between parties.

Electrical Substation (ES)

Power facility that through equipment receives, manages and delivers electricity from and to lines. The ES are responsible for transforming voltage, frequency or connection of two or more transmission line circuits.

Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA)

This is a public organization operationally decentralized that is a legal entity with its own assets. Its mission is to contribute to sustainable development, conservation and preservation of natural resources through: Environmental Impact Assessment, Citizen Participation and Indigenous Consultation and Relevance Consultation.

Environmental Impact Declaration (DIA)

A document that describes a planned activity or project, or modifications that will be made, approved under oath by the respective principal, whose contents enable the competent body to effectively evaluate whether the project is in conformity with current environmental standards (Source: Law 19,300 on Environmental Baselines).

Environmental Impact Study (EIA)

A document that provides a detailed description of the characteristics of a project or activity to be executed or modification of the same. Background information must be provided for the prediction, identification and interpretation of its environmental impact, together with a description of the action or actions to be executed in order to prevent or minimize significantly adverse impacts.

Environmental Qualification Resolution (RCA)

An administrative action by the respective Regional Environmental Commission to the Executive Directorate indicating environmental conformity or non-conformity for a project or activity. If the RCA is favorable, it certifies that the project evaluated complies with environmental regulations and that the project can be executed. Together with the RCA, the project principal needs to comply with all other regulations applicable to the project.

National Energy Commission (CNE)

A technical body responsible for analyzing prices, tariffs and technical standards for power generation, production, transmission and distribution companies in order to make sufficient, safe and quality service compatible with the most economic operation available.

New Projects

These shall be understood as all power generation, transmission or consumption facilities currently in study or construction phases.

National Grid

Interconnected lines and substations located between Arica and Chiloé, economically efficient, ensuring continuous supply in different power availability scenarios.

National Power Grid Coordinator

(Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional, CEN) It is a non-profit, autonomous public corporation, with its own assets and created for an indefinite period. It is responsible for coordinating the operation of all the National Power Grid facilities.

Open Access

It is the right any party has to connect to a transmission system facility, under non-discriminatory economic and technical conditions for all users, by paying the applicable transmission network charges. In the case of dedicated transmission networks, only the lines that use the rights of way set out in Article 77 of the General Law on Electricity Services and those that use national public assets will be subject to the open-access regime.

Power Protection System

Devices and equipment required to detect and solve any faults that could affect the protected equipment. This system disconnects a faulty section as quickly as possible to minimize system disturbances, ensure human safety and prevent equipment and system damage. 

The power protection system includes circuit breakers, protection schemes, current and potential transformers, teleprotection channels and other equipment needed for its operation.

Protection Relay

A physical device or functional element of this device designed to detect a certain type of fault or abnormal conditions at a power facility by analyzing and processing the variables measurements at the facility. This device has the capacity to cause an output status change based on a preset criteria.

Protection Scheme

Protection relays that may or not include teleprotection functions. This also includes oscillography and event recording functions. 

Regulated Customer

Distribution company or user whose connected capacity does not exceed 2,000 kW supplied from the generation or transmission facilities. The Law considers these users as industries that are a natural monopoly and, hence, they are subject to regulated prices.

Sectioning substation, substation

A set of equipment that enables a transmission line to be sectioned at an intermediate point of this line. The minimum configuration is comprised of three circuit breaker bays with their respective protection systems.

Service Quality and Safety Technical Standard (NT)

According to the provisions of the General Electricity Services Law and its current regulations, the general purpose of the Service Quality and Safety Technical Standard is to establish the Service Quality and Safety requirements for interconnected systems. Current version dated July 2014 and Exempt Resolution 586 dated 17 November 2014.

Toll

The rates paid by the facility users to the transmission facility owners. Any power company that injects electricity into the transmission network from its own or hired power plants, as well as any power company that withdraws electricity from the grid to sell it to distributors or end customers, and uses these facilities is required to pay the applicable transmission charges.

Unregulated Customer

Distribution company or user whose connected capacity does not exceed 2,000 kW supplied from the generation or transmission facilities. The Law considers these users as industries that are a natural monopoly and, hence, they are subject to regulated prices.

Under Construction Declaration

New projects in the construction stage when these have been granted the respective civil works construction permit, or if the order to proceed to manufacture and install the corresponding electrical or electromagnetic equipment has been extended for power generation, transmission or transformation, which shall be backed by the respective purchase orders for the manufacture of electricity generators, power transformers, conductors and elements for transmission lines, among others, as required. See articles 31 to 33 of Decree 86, Knot Price Regulations.