diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/pvsystem.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/pvsystem.rst
index c3d666fbfe..9cadb72107 100644
--- a/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/pvsystem.rst
+++ b/docs/sphinx/source/user_guide/pvsystem.rst
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ data irradiance and temperature.
 
 .. ipython:: python
 
-    pdc = system.pvwatts_dc(g_poa_effective=1000, temp_cell=30)
+    pdc = system.pvwatts_dc(effective_irradiance=1000, temp_cell=30)
     print(pdc)
 
 Methods attached to a PVSystem object wrap the corresponding functions in
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ using data stored in the PVSystem attributes. Compare the
 :py:meth:`~pvlib.pvsystem.PVSystem.pvwatts_dc` method signature to the
 :py:func:`~pvlib.pvsystem.pvwatts_dc` function signature:
 
-    * :py:meth:`PVSystem.pvwatts_dc(g_poa_effective, temp_cell) <pvlib.pvsystem.PVSystem.pvwatts_dc>`
-    * :py:func:`pvwatts_dc(g_poa_effective, temp_cell, pdc0, gamma_pdc, temp_ref=25.) <pvlib.pvsystem.pvwatts_dc>`
+    * :py:meth:`PVSystem.pvwatts_dc(effective_irradiance, temp_cell) <pvlib.pvsystem.PVSystem.pvwatts_dc>`
+    * :py:func:`pvwatts_dc(effective_irradiance, temp_cell, pdc0, gamma_pdc, temp_ref=25.) <pvlib.pvsystem.pvwatts_dc>`
 
 How does this work? The :py:meth:`~pvlib.pvsystem.PVSystem.pvwatts_dc`
 method looks in `PVSystem.module_parameters` for the `pdc0`, and
diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.11.2.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.11.2.rst
index 9d7129d50d..606645319b 100644
--- a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.11.2.rst
+++ b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.11.2.rst
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ v0.11.2 (Anticipated December, 2024)
 
 Deprecations
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
+* Changed the `g_poa_effective` parameter name to
+  `effective_irradiance` in :py:func:`~pvlib.pvsystem.PVSystem.pvwatts_dc`.
+  (:issue:`1253`, :pull:`2235`)
 
 Enhancements
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/pvlib/data/variables_style_rules.csv b/pvlib/data/variables_style_rules.csv
index 1954e036c2..721c15aa16 100644
--- a/pvlib/data/variables_style_rules.csv
+++ b/pvlib/data/variables_style_rules.csv
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ poa_direct;direct/beam irradiation in plane
 poa_diffuse;total diffuse irradiation in plane. sum of ground and sky diffuse.
 poa_global;global irradiation in plane. sum of diffuse and beam projection.
 poa_sky_diffuse;diffuse irradiation in plane from scattered light in the atmosphere (without ground reflected irradiation)
-g_poa_effective;broadband plane of array effective irradiance.
 surface_tilt;tilt angle of the surface
 surface_azimuth;azimuth angle of the surface
 solar_zenith;zenith angle of the sun in degrees
diff --git a/pvlib/pvsystem.py b/pvlib/pvsystem.py
index 57752dff7e..a95128ff4b 100644
--- a/pvlib/pvsystem.py
+++ b/pvlib/pvsystem.py
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ def scale_voltage_current_power(self, data):
         )
 
     @_unwrap_single_value
-    def pvwatts_dc(self, g_poa_effective, temp_cell):
+    def pvwatts_dc(self, effective_irradiance, temp_cell):
         """
         Calculates DC power according to the PVWatts model using
         :py:func:`pvlib.pvsystem.pvwatts_dc`, `self.module_parameters['pdc0']`,
@@ -847,15 +847,15 @@ def pvwatts_dc(self, g_poa_effective, temp_cell):
 
         See :py:func:`pvlib.pvsystem.pvwatts_dc` for details.
         """
-        g_poa_effective = self._validate_per_array(g_poa_effective)
+        effective_irradiance = self._validate_per_array(effective_irradiance)
         temp_cell = self._validate_per_array(temp_cell)
         return tuple(
-            pvwatts_dc(g_poa_effective, temp_cell,
+            pvwatts_dc(effective_irradiance, temp_cell,
                        array.module_parameters['pdc0'],
                        array.module_parameters['gamma_pdc'],
                        **_build_kwargs(['temp_ref'], array.module_parameters))
-            for array, g_poa_effective, temp_cell
-            in zip(self.arrays, g_poa_effective, temp_cell)
+            for array, effective_irradiance, temp_cell
+            in zip(self.arrays, effective_irradiance, temp_cell)
         )
 
     def pvwatts_losses(self):
@@ -2764,7 +2764,7 @@ def scale_voltage_current_power(data, voltage=1, current=1):
     return df_sorted
 
 
-def pvwatts_dc(g_poa_effective, temp_cell, pdc0, gamma_pdc, temp_ref=25.):
+def pvwatts_dc(effective_irradiance, temp_cell, pdc0, gamma_pdc, temp_ref=25.):
     r"""
     Implements NREL's PVWatts DC power model. The PVWatts DC model [1]_ is:
 
@@ -2780,7 +2780,7 @@ def pvwatts_dc(g_poa_effective, temp_cell, pdc0, gamma_pdc, temp_ref=25.):
 
     Parameters
     ----------
-    g_poa_effective: numeric
+    effective_irradiance: numeric
         Irradiance transmitted to the PV cells. To be
         fully consistent with PVWatts, the user must have already
         applied angle of incidence losses, but not soiling, spectral,
@@ -2808,7 +2808,7 @@ def pvwatts_dc(g_poa_effective, temp_cell, pdc0, gamma_pdc, temp_ref=25.):
            (2014).
     """  # noqa: E501
 
-    pdc = (g_poa_effective * 0.001 * pdc0 *
+    pdc = (effective_irradiance * 0.001 * pdc0 *
            (1 + gamma_pdc * (temp_cell - temp_ref)))
 
     return pdc