LOAD

The amount of material that a transporting agency, such as a stream, a glacier, or the wind, is actually carrying at a given time. Also, the amount of power delivered to a given point. In this respect: (1) Base Load = The minimum load in a stated period of time. (2) Firm Load = That part of the system load which must be met on demand. (3) Peak Load = Literally, the maximum load in a stated period of time. Sometimes the term peak load is used in a general sense to describe that portion of the load above the base load.