Glossary
NFE Acronym Glossary
This glossary consolidates acronyms used across the NFE BookStack. It covers business, energy, metering, software, finance, logistics, and regulatory terminology. Product model numbers and register codes are excluded unless they are genuine acronyms.
Inventory reviewed: 134 BookStack pages. Last updated: 27 August 2026.
| Acronym | Meaning | NFE context |
|---|---|---|
| A2EI | Access to Energy Institute | Energy-access research and data organization. |
| AC | Alternating Current | Electrical current that periodically reverses direction. |
| ADR | Architecture Decision Record | A durable record of an important technical decision. |
| AfDB | African Development Bank | Regional development-finance institution. |
| AI | Artificial Intelligence | Software techniques used for prediction, automation, or decision support. |
| AMI | Advanced Metering Infrastructure | Meters, communications, and systems used for remote measurement and management. |
| API | Application Programming Interface | A defined interface through which software systems exchange data or commands. |
| BESS | Battery Energy Storage System | A battery installation together with its power conversion, controls, and protection. |
| BMS | Battery Management System | Electronics that monitor, protect, and control a battery pack. |
| BOM | Bill of Materials | Itemized list of components required to build a system. |
| BOQ | Bill of Quantities | Itemized estimate of materials, work, quantities, and costs. |
| BYD | Build Your Dreams | Battery and electric-vehicle manufacturer referenced in procurement research. |
| CIF | Cost, Insurance, and Freight | Shipping-price basis that includes the goods, insurance, and freight to the destination port. |
| CIU | Customer Interface Unit | Customer-facing device used to interact with a meter, commonly for prepaid metering. |
| COSEM | Companion Specification for Energy Metering | Object model used with DLMS for energy-meter data. |
| CRM | Customer Relationship Management | System for managing customer information and interactions. |
| CT | Current Transformer | Sensor that scales electrical current for safe metering or protection. |
| DC | Direct Current | Electrical current flowing in one direction. |
| DCI | Driver, Consulted, Informed | NFE decision-ownership framework identifying who drives, advises, and is kept informed. |
| DCU | Data Concentrator Unit | Device that aggregates data from multiple meters for upstream communication. |
| DER | Distributed Energy Resource | Small-scale generation, storage, or controllable load connected within a distribution network. |
| DLMS | Device Language Message Specification | Application-layer standard used to exchange utility-meter data. |
| DRI | Directly Responsible Individual | The person accountable for driving a task or outcome. |
| DTU | Data Transfer Unit | Communications device that relays field-device data to another system. |
| EACU | East African Customs Union | Regional customs framework relevant to imports into Uganda. |
| EMS | Energy Management System | Software and controls used to monitor and optimize energy flows. |
| ERA | Electricity Regulatory Authority | Uganda's electricity-sector regulator. |
| ESMAP | Energy Sector Management Assistance Program | World Bank energy-sector technical-assistance program. |
| ESS | Energy Storage System | A storage asset and its associated controls and power electronics. |
| EV | Electric Vehicle | Vehicle propelled partly or entirely by electric power. |
| FCL | Full Container Load | Shipping arrangement in which one consignee uses a full container. |
| G3-PLC | G3 Power Line Communication | Power-line communications technology used by smart-grid devices. |
| GCP | Google Cloud Platform | Google's cloud-computing platform. |
| GFF | Green Future Foundation | Organization referenced in NFE fundraising materials. |
| GUI | Graphical User Interface | Visual interface through which a person operates software. |
| GxF | Grid eXchange Fabric | Open smart-grid software platform evaluated by NFE. |
| IEC | International Electrotechnical Commission | International standards body for electrical and electronic technologies. |
| IEEE | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | Professional association and technical-standards organization. |
| IDIS | Interoperable Device Interface Specifications | Interoperability profile for DLMS/COSEM smart-meter implementations. |
| IoT | Internet of Things | Networked physical devices that collect data or receive commands. |
| IPC | Insulation Piercing Connector | Connector that makes contact through a cable's insulation. |
| ISV | IEEE Smart Village | IEEE program supporting energy access and community development. |
| LCL | Less than Container Load | Shipping arrangement in which cargo shares a container. |
| LFP | Lithium Iron Phosphate | Lithium-ion battery chemistry commonly written LiFePOâ‚„. |
| LV | Low Voltage | Low-voltage portion of an electrical distribution system. |
| MBE | Metering and Billing Engine | NFE software capability for turning meter data into customer billing records. |
| MoU | Memorandum of Understanding | Document recording intended cooperation between parties. |
| MPM | Microgrid Power Manager | NFE's microgrid control and management product concept. |
| MQTT | Message Queuing Telemetry Transport | Lightweight publish/subscribe messaging protocol commonly used by IoT systems. |
| NCM | Nickel Cobalt Manganese | Lithium-ion battery cathode chemistry. |
| NFE | Nearly Free Energy | The organization and cooperative developing the NFE Microgrid OS. |
| NPV | Net Present Value | Present value of future cash flows minus investment cost. |
| OBIS | Object Identification System | Standard identifiers for measurements and data objects in utility meters. |
| OEM | Original Equipment Manufacturer | Company that manufactures a product or component sold under its own or another brand. |
| OS | Operating System | In 'Microgrid OS,' the coordinating software layer for microgrid operations and services. |
| OSGP | Open Smart Grid Protocol | Open protocol suite for smart-grid communications. |
| PDU | Power Distribution Unit | Assembly that distributes and protects electrical power to downstream circuits. |
| PF | Power Factor | Ratio of real power to apparent power in an AC circuit. |
| PLC | Power Line Communication | Communication that carries data over electrical power conductors. |
| PR | Pull Request | Proposed set of source-code changes submitted for review and merging. |
| PV | Photovoltaic | Conversion of sunlight into electricity; commonly refers to solar panels or arrays. |
| ROI | Return on Investment | Gain or value produced relative to investment cost. |
| RS-485 | Recommended Standard 485 | Differential serial communications standard widely used with Modbus field devices. |
| RTU | Remote Terminal Unit | In Modbus RTU, the compact binary serial framing commonly used over RS-485. |
| SCADA | Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition | System for monitoring and controlling distributed industrial equipment. |
| SEFA | Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa | AfDB-managed fund supporting sustainable-energy projects. |
| SOC | State of Charge | Estimated percentage of usable energy remaining in a battery. |
| SSH | Secure Shell | Encrypted protocol for remote command-line access. |
| SSR | Solid-State Relay | Electronic switching device with no moving contacts. |
| TCP | Transmission Control Protocol | Reliable, connection-oriented internet transport protocol. |
| TLS | Transport Layer Security | Protocol that encrypts and authenticates network connections. |
| TOU | Time of Use | Tariff or operating schedule that varies by time period. |
| UEDCL | Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited | Ugandan electricity distribution company and macrogrid operator referenced by NFE. |
| UGX | Ugandan Shilling | ISO 4217 currency code for Uganda's currency. |
| UNBS | Uganda National Bureau of Standards | Uganda's national standards body. |
| URA | Uganda Revenue Authority | Uganda's tax and customs authority. |
| USB | Universal Serial Bus | Standard wired interface used for peripherals and serial adapters. |
| USD | United States Dollar | ISO 4217 currency code for the United States dollar. |
| VAT | Value Added Tax | Consumption tax applied to the value added to goods and services. |
| VM | Virtual Machine | Software-defined computer running within a physical host. |
| VNC | Virtual Network Computing | Protocol for remotely viewing and controlling a graphical desktop. |
| VPN | Virtual Private Network | Encrypted private network carried over another network such as the internet. |
| WSS | WebSocket Secure | WebSocket communication protected by TLS. |
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