G

gain: An increase in an electrical quantity that equals the ratio of output to input voltage, current, or power of a signal as it passes through an electronic device; usually expressed in decibels (dB).
galvanometer: A device that measures small electrical currents by means of a mechanical motion produced from the electric current.
gauss: The unit that measures the strength of a magnetic field.
GENCO: Generating company.
generate: To produce electrical energy.
generating station (power plant): A place that contains prime movers, electric generators, and auxiliary equipment to convert mechanical (water, wind), chemical (fossil fuels), solar (sun), and/or nuclear energy into electric energy.
generation: The act or process of converting other forms, e.g., mechanical, chemical, solar, or nuclear of energy, into electric energy.
generator (electric): A machine that transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy.
GFI (ground fault interrupter): A device that interrupts the flow of electric current in an electric circuit when the fault current to ground exceeds some predetermined value.
gigawatt: One billion (10 ¹²) watts; describes the capacity of large electrical systems.
glitch: An undefined, imprecise power quality term that describes a voltage variation (usually of very short duration) that causes electronic equipment to malfunction.
grid: An interconnected system of electric transmission lines and associated equipment that moves or transfers bulk electric energy from the generators to the loads.
ground: The connection between earth and an electric circuit that causes electric current to flow out of the circuit and into the earth. Sometimes confused with bonding.

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