---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6299"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6299"
heading: "Authority to obtain information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6299"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Energy Conservation"
  - "Subchapter III — Improving Energy Efficiency"
  - "Part A — Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles"
---

# §6299. Authority to obtain information

- (a) **In general—** For purposes of carrying out this part, the [Commission](/usc/42/6291.md?p=18) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may each sign and issue subpenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of relevant books, records, papers, and other documents, and may each administer oaths. Witnesses summoned under the provisions of this section shall be paid the same fees and mileage as are paid to witnesses in the courts of the [United States](/usc/42/6202.md?p=5). In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpena served, upon any [persons](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) subject to this part, the [Commission](/usc/42/6291.md?p=18) and the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) may each seek an order from the district court of the [United States](/usc/42/6202.md?p=5) for any district in which such [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) is found or resides or transacts business requiring such [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) to appear and give testimony, or to appear and produce documents. Failure to obey any such order is punishable by such court as a contempt thereof.
- (b) **Confidentiality—** Any information submitted by any [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) to the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) or the [Commission](/usc/42/6291.md?p=18) under this part shall not be considered [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) information as defined by [section 796(e)(1) of title 15](/usc/15/796.md?p=e-1) for purposes of any verification examination authorized to be conducted by the Comptroller General under [section 6381 of this title](/usc/42/6381.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title III, § 329, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 928; Pub. L. 95–619, title VI, § 691(b)(2), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3288; Pub. L. 100–12, § 11(b)(4), Mar. 17, 1987, 101 Stat. 125.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1987—Pub. L. 100–12 inserted headings for subsecs. (a) and (b).

1978—Pub. L. 95–619 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”, meaning Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration, wherever appearing.