Energy and Utilities Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Energy and Utilities facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which metric measures the ratio of actual electricity output to maximum possible output over a time period? → Capacity factor
2. What is the capacity factor range typically expected from onshore wind farms in the US? → 25–45%
3. What is the purpose of the Clean Water Act Section 404 program? → Regulating discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the US, including wetlands
4. Which component protects electrical circuits from overloads in a home panel? → Circuit breaker
5. What is a 'demand charge' on a commercial electric utility bill? → A charge based on the customer's peak power demand during the billing period
6. What is a smart grid primarily designed to do? → Use digital technology to improve efficiency and reliability
7. Which provision of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 most significantly expanded clean energy investment? → Extended and expanded tax credits for clean electricity generation and storage
8. What is a 'city gate' in natural gas distribution? → The point where a local distribution company receives gas from a transmission pipeline
9. What is 'cathodic protection' used for in the natural gas industry? → Preventing corrosion of metallic underground pipelines
10. What is 'energy intensity' as an economic metric? → Energy consumption per unit of GDP or economic output
11. Which US incentive provides a per-kilowatt-hour tax credit for electricity generated from wind and certain other renewables? → Production Tax Credit (PTC)
12. What is 'baseload' power in the context of electricity generation? → The minimum constant power supply needed at all times
13. In oil well terminology, what is a 'Christmas tree'? → An assembly of valves, spools, and fittings used to control flow at a completed wellhead
14. What is 'primary treatment' in a conventional wastewater treatment plant? → Physical removal of settleable solids and floating material by screening and sedimentation
15. What does 'turbidity' measure in water quality assessment? → Cloudiness or haziness caused by suspended particles
16. What is 'weatherization' as applied to low-income household energy efficiency programs? → Adding insulation, sealing air leaks, and improving heating systems to reduce energy bills
17. What is 'digestion' in the biosolids treatment process at a wastewater plant? → Biological decomposition of organic matter in sludge to reduce volume and pathogens
18. Which US government agency publishes the Annual Energy Outlook and Short-Term Energy Outlook? → EIA
19. What is 'potable water'? → Water safe for human consumption meeting drinking water standards
20. What is a natural gas 'pig' used for in pipeline operations? → Cleaning, inspecting, or separating products inside the pipeline
21. What does LCOE stand for in energy economics? → Levelized Cost of Energy
22. What is the primary purpose of chlorination in drinking water treatment? → Disinfecting water to kill pathogens
23. What is the typical voltage of electricity delivered to US residential customers? → 120/240 volts
24. What is a 'distributed generation' resource? → Small-scale power generation located at or near the point of consumption
25. What is 'agrivoltaics'? → Co-locating solar panels and agricultural crops or livestock on the same land
26. What is the purpose of a substation in the electrical grid? → To transform, switch, and protect voltage levels between transmission and distribution
27. What is the primary fuel source for the largest share of US electricity generation as of recent years? → Natural gas
28. Which class designation indicates a natural gas pipeline segment in a densely populated area under US regulations? → Class 4
29. What is the primary environmental benefit of replacing coal plants with natural gas combined-cycle plants for electricity generation? → Roughly halves CO2 emissions per MWh compared to coal
30. What does 'BOD' stand for in wastewater treatment? → Biochemical Oxygen Demand