---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6362"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6362"
heading: "Energy conservation policies and practices"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6362"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Energy Conservation"
  - "Subchapter III — Improving Energy Efficiency"
  - "Part D — Other Federal Energy Conservation Measures"
---

# §6362. Energy conservation policies and practices

- (a) **“Agency” defined—** In this section, “[agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)” means—
  - (1) the Department of Transportation with respect to part A of subtitle VII of [title 49](/usc/49.md), United States Code;
  - (2) the Interstate [Commerce](/usc/42/6291.md?p=17) [Commission](/usc/42/6291.md?p=18);
  - (3) the Federal Maritime [Commission](/usc/42/6291.md?p=18); and
  - (4) the Federal Power [Commission](/usc/42/6291.md?p=18).
- (b) **Statement of probable impact of major regulatory action on energy efficiency—** Except as provided in [subsection (c)](#c), each of the [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) specified in [subsection (a)](#a) shall, where practicable and consistent with the exercise of their authority under other law, include in any major regulatory action (as defined by rule by each such [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)) taken by each such [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), a statement of the probable impact of such major regulatory action on [energy efficiency](/usc/42/6291.md?p=5) and [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) conservation.
- (c) **Application of provisions to authority exercised to protect public health and safety—** [Subsection (b)](#b) shall not apply to any authority exercised under any provision of law designed to protect the public health or safety.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title III, § 382, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 939; Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(h), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1364.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(h)(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which related to reports to Congress by Federal agencies, feasibility of additional savings in energy consumption, and administration of laws permitting inefficient use of energy.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(h)(2), substituted “subsection (a)” for “subsection (a)(1)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Abolition of Interstate Commerce Commission and Transfer of Functions

Interstate Commerce Commission abolished and functions of Commission transferred, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, to Surface Transportation Board effective Jan. 1, 1996, by section 1302 of Title 49, Transportation, and section 101 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of Title 49. References to Interstate Commerce Commission deemed to refer to Surface Transportation Board, a member or employee of the Board, or Secretary of Transportation, as appropriate, see section 205 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of Title 49.