---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16452"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16452"
heading: "Federal access to books and records"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16452"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter XII — Electricity"
  - "Part D"
---

# §16452. Federal access to books and records

- (a) **In general—** Each [holding company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=8-A) and each [associate company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=2) thereof shall maintain, and shall make available to the [Commission](/usc/42/16451.md?p=3), such books, accounts, memoranda, and other records as the [Commission](/usc/42/16451.md?p=3) determines are relevant to costs incurred by a [public utility](/usc/42/16451.md?p=13) or [natural gas company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=11) that is an [associate company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=2) of such [holding company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=8-A) and necessary or appropriate for the protection of utility [customers](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) with respect to [jurisdictional rates](/usc/42/16451.md?p=10).
- (b) **Affiliate companies—** Each [affiliate](/usc/42/16451.md?p=1) of a [holding company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=8-A) or of any [subsidiary company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=16) of a [holding company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=8-A) shall maintain, and shall make available to the [Commission](/usc/42/16451.md?p=3), such books, accounts, memoranda, and other records with respect to any transaction with another [affiliate](/usc/42/16451.md?p=1), as the [Commission](/usc/42/16451.md?p=3) determines are relevant to costs incurred by a [public utility](/usc/42/16451.md?p=13) or [natural gas company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=11) that is an [associate company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=2) of such [holding company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=8-A) and necessary or appropriate for the protection of utility [customers](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) with respect to [jurisdictional rates](/usc/42/16451.md?p=10).
- (c) **Holding company systems—** The [Commission](/usc/42/16451.md?p=3) may examine the books, accounts, memoranda, and other records of any [company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=4) in a [holding company system](/usc/42/16451.md?p=9), or any [affiliate](/usc/42/16451.md?p=1) thereof, as the [Commission](/usc/42/16451.md?p=3) determines are relevant to costs incurred by a [public utility](/usc/42/16451.md?p=13) or [natural gas company](/usc/42/16451.md?p=11) within such [holding company system](/usc/42/16451.md?p=9) and necessary or appropriate for the protection of utility [customers](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) with respect to [jurisdictional rates](/usc/42/16451.md?p=10).
- (d) **Confidentiality—** No member, officer, or employee of the [Commission](/usc/42/16451.md?p=3) shall divulge any fact or information that may come to his or her knowledge during the course of examination of books, accounts, memoranda, or other records as provided in this section, except as may be directed by the [Commission](/usc/42/16451.md?p=3) or by a court of competent jurisdiction.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title XII, § 1264, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 974.)