As used in these rules, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Authority" means the civil authority empowered to implement mandatory curtailment.

(2) "Base period" means the corresponding billing period in the twelve month period ending immediately before implementation of voluntary curtailment.

(3) "Base period consumption" means base period energy adjusted for variations in temperature and rainfall.

(4) "Base period energy" means the energy consumed by a customer during a base period.

(5) "Conservation" means the wise and efficient use of electrical energy to eliminate waste.

(6) "Consumption" means the use of electric energy measured in kilowatt hours (kwh) .

(7) "Current usage" means the energy consumed by the customer during the most recent billing cycle.

(8) "Curtailment" means the action of reducing the demand for or consumption of or both demand for and consumption of electricity service by voluntary and mandatory measures that are in addition to any conservation presently employed. Curtailment measures may affect convenience, comfort, service delivery, and employment.

(9) "Customer" means any individual, partnership, corporation, firm, governmental entity, or organization supplied with electric service at one location and one point of delivery. Service furnished to a customer at one location through more than one meter regardless of rate classifications or schedules shall be deemed service to one customer.

(10) "Deficient utility" means a utility which under identified probabilities is expected to experience energy usage or capacity demands in excess of its resources.

(11) "Demand" means the rate at which electric energy is delivered, expressed in kilowatts (kw) , or kilovolt ampere, or other suitable units, at a given instant or averaged over a designated time period.

(12) "Energy division" means the energy division of the Montana department of natural resources and conservation.

(13) "Energy emergency" and "energy supply alert" as used herein means either or both a shortage of energy or demand capacity.

(14) "Excess energy utility" means a utility which under identified probabilities is expected to experience energy supply and resource capacity in excess of expected consumption and demand.

(15) "Excess usage" means demand or consumption or both in excess of base period demand or consumption or both less any curtailment requirement.

(16) "Local government" means any county, city, town, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state.

(17) "Major use customer" means a customer who used more than 75,000 kwh in any billing month during the base period, or who is estimated to use more than 75,000 kwh (without curtailment) in any billing month during the twelve month period following the base period.

(18) "Major resource" means a generating unit with a rated capability of 100 megawatts or greater.

(19) "Media" means any or all of: radio, television, newspapers, publications, and any vehicle of communication used to contact the customer.

(20) "Priority loads" means loads necessary for the public health, safety, and welfare as enumerated in ARM 14.8.225.

(21) "Region" means the area comprised of service areas of the utilities in the Northwest power pool and in the Midcontinent area power pool.

(22) "Utility" means any investor-owned utility, joint operating agency, municipal utility, public utility district, or cooperative which engages in or is authorized to engage in the activity of generating, transmitting, or distributing energy in this state.