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ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES COMMONLY USED ACRONYMS Page 10 of 15 works in tandem with GIS or customer information systems and call handling systems such as interactive voice response. 72. OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Created through the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA works to ensure safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. 73. OSI – Open Systems International, Inc. – An automation software company headquartered in Medina, MN, which provides the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software used by ERMU and Great River Energy (GRE). 74. OT – Operational Technology – Hardware and software that detects or causes a change, through the direct monitoring and/or control of industrial equipment, assets, processes, and events. Common applications for utilities are transformers, substations, sensors, valves, pumps, etc. P 75. PCA – Power Cost Adjustment – A charge or credit to a customer’s bill that reflects the increasing or decreasing price of purchased power from a wholesale provider. 76. PF – Power Factor – The ratio of the power drawn from a source to the power that is consumed. PF is usually expressed in a percentage, the higher the percentage the more efficient the system. Lost power commonly occurs in the creation heat or vibrations. 77. PILOT – Payment In Lieu Of Taxes – A payment made to compensate a government for some or all of the property tax revenue lost due to tax exempt ownership or use of real property. 78. PMA – Power Marketing Administration – A network of four federal administrations that operate electric systems and sell the electrical output of federally owned and operated hydroelectric dams to 33 states. Those administrations are the Bonneville Power Administration, the Western Area Power Administration, the Southeastern Power Administration, and the Southwestern Power Administration. 79. PPA – Purchased Power Agreement – The contract between an electricity generator and a buyer who intends to use or distribute the electricity. 80. PPE – Personal Protective Equipment – Equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. PPE may include gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, coveralls, vests, and full body suits. 224