DLAP stands for Default Load Aggregation Point, a reference point used in electricity markets to aggregate and settle energy delivery for multiple loads.

DLAP, or Default Load Aggregation Point, is a term used primarily in the context of electricity grid management and market operations, such as under the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) tariff . It represents a calculated node or hub where electricity demand is aggregated for settlement purposes. Essentially, it is the point at which all bids for electricity demand are submitted and settled, reflecting the avoided cost of electricity procurement for a utility or community energy project. In practical terms, DLAP is not a physical component inside a power distribution box but rather a conceptual or contractual reference used to manage and account for electricity delivery. For example, energy generated by a community renewable energy facility may be delivered to a DLAP, which serves as the default point for measuring and settling energy transactions with the grid . Utilities like PG&E often have a preferred DLAP hub for such settlements. While a power distribution box itself physically routes electricity from a main source to multiple circuits, ensuring safety and load balance through breakers, busbars, and fuses, DLAP relates to the administrative and market-level aggregation of loads rather than the internal components of the box. Understanding DLAP is important for energy accounting, grid optimization, and integrating distributed energy resources into the broader electrical network. In summary, DLAP is a grid-level reference point for aggregating and settling electricity loads, while a power distribution box is the physical hub that distributes electricity safely to circuits. The two concepts intersect in that the loads connected to distribution boxes may ultimately be represented at a DLAP for market or regulatory purposes.