---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7136"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7136"
heading: "Economic Regulatory Administration; appointment of Administrator; compensation; qualifications; functions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7136"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Department of Energy"
  - "Subchapter II — Establishment of Department"
---

# §7136. Economic Regulatory Administration; appointment of Administrator; compensation; qualifications; functions

- (a) There shall be within the Department an Economic Regulatory Administration to be headed by an [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1), who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall be compensated at a rate provided for level IV of the Executive Schedule under [section 5315 of title 5](/usc/5/5315.md). Such [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall be, by demonstrated ability, background, training, or experience, an individual who is specially qualified to assess fairly the needs and concerns of all interests affected by Federal energy policy. The [Secretary](/usc/42/7385s.md?p=3) shall by rule provide for a separation of regulatory and enforcement functions assigned to, or vested in, the Administration.
- (b) Consistent with the provisions of subchapter IV, the [Secretary](/usc/42/7385s.md?p=3) shall utilize the Economic Regulatory Administration to administer such functions as he may consider appropriate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–91, title II, § 206, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 574.)