---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6381"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6381"
heading: "Verification examinations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6381"
units:
  - "Chapter 77 — Energy Conservation"
  - "Subchapter IV — General Provisions"
  - "Part A — Energy Data Base and Energy Information"
---

# §6381. Verification examinations

- (a) **Authority of Comptroller General—** The Comptroller General may conduct verification examinations with respect to the books, records, papers, or other documents of—
  - (1) any [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) who is required to submit [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) information to the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1), the Department of the Interior, or the Federal [Energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) Regulatory [Commission](/usc/42/6291.md?p=18) pursuant to any rule, regulation, order, or other legal process of such [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1), Department or [Commission](/usc/42/6291.md?p=18);
  - (2) any [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) who is engaged in the production, processing, refining, transportation by pipeline, or distribution (at other than the retail level) of [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) resources—
    - (A) if such [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) has furnished, directly or indirectly, [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) information (without regard to whether such information was furnished pursuant to legal requirements) to any Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) (other than the Internal Revenue Service), and
    - (B) if the Comptroller General of the [United States](/usc/42/6202.md?p=5) determines that such information has been or is being used or taken into consideration, in whole or in part, by a Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) in carrying out responsibilities committed to such [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1); or
  - (3) any vertically integrated petroleum company with respect to financial information of such company related to [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) resource exploration, development, and production and the transportation, refining and marketing of [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) resources and [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) products.
- (b) **Request for examination—** The Comptroller General shall conduct verification examinations of any [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) or company described in [subsection (a)](#a), if requested to do so by any duly established committee of the Congress having legislative or oversight responsibilities under the rules of the House of Representatives or of the Senate, with respect to [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) matters or any of the laws administered by the Department of the Interior (or the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1) thereof), the Federal [Energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) Regulatory [Commission](/usc/42/6291.md?p=18), or the [Secretary](/usc/42/6202.md?p=1).
- (c) **Definitions—** For the purposes of this subchapter—
  - (1) The term “verification examination” means an examination of such books, records, papers, or other documents of a [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) or company as the Comptroller General determines necessary and appropriate to assess the accuracy, reliability, and adequacy of the [energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) information, or financial information, referred to in [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) The term “[energy](/usc/42/6291.md?p=3) information” has the same meaning as such term has in [section 796(e)(1) of title 15](/usc/15/796.md?p=e-1).
  - (3) The term “[person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2)” has the same meaning as such term has in [section 796(e)(2) of title 15](/usc/15/796.md?p=e-2).
  - (4) The term “vertically integrated petroleum company” means any [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) which itself, or through a [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2) which is controlled by, controls, or is under common control with such [person](/usc/42/6202.md?p=2), is engaged in the production, refining, and marketing of [petroleum products](/usc/42/6202.md?p=3).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 94–163, title V, § 501, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 956; Pub. L. 95–91, title III, § 301, title IV, § 402, title VII, §§ 703, 707, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 577, 583, 606, 607; Pub. L. 95–619, title VI, § 691(b)(2), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3288.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “this title”, meaning title V of Pub. L. 94–163, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 956, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of title V to the Code, see Tables.

### Amendments

1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–619 purported to substitute “Secretary” for “Administrator”, meaning Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration. See Transfer of Functions note below.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Transfer of Functions

“Secretary, the Department of the Interior, or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission” and “Secretary” substituted for “Federal Energy Administration, the Department of the Interior, or the Federal Power Commission” and “Administration”, respectively, in subsec. (a)(1), and “Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or the Secretary” substituted for “Federal Power Commission, or the Federal Energy Administration (or the Administrator)” in subsec. (b) pursuant to sections 301, 402, 703, and 707 of Pub. L. 95–91, which are classified to sections 7151, 7172, 7293, and 7297 of this title and which terminated the Federal Energy Administration and transferred its functions and functions of Administrator thereof (with certain exceptions) to the Secretary of Energy and terminated the Federal Power Commission and transferred its functions to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Secretary of Energy.