---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7276"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7276"
heading: "Regulations to require integrated resource planning"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7276"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Department of Energy"
  - "Subchapter VI — Administrative Provisions"
  - "Part C — General Administrative Provisions"
---

# §7276. Regulations to require integrated resource planning

- (a) **Regulations—** Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) shall, by regulation, revise the Final Amended Guidelines and Acceptance Criteria for [Customer](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) Conservation and Renewable Energy Programs published in the Federal Register on August 21, 1985 (50 F.R. 33892), or any subsequent amendments thereto, to require each [customer](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) purchasing electric energy under a [long-term firm power service contract](/usc/42/7275.md?p=4) with the Western Area Power Administration to implement, within 3 years after October 24, 1992, [integrated resource planning](/usc/42/7275.md?p=2) in accordance with the requirements of sections [7275](/usc/42/7275.md) to [7276c](/usc/42/7276c.md) of this title.
- (b) **Certain small customers—** Notwithstanding [subsection (a)](#a), for [customers](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) with total annual energy sales or usage of 25 Gigawatt Hours or less which are not members of a joint action [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or a generation and transmission cooperative with power supply responsibility, the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) may establish different regulations and apply such regulations to [customers](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) that the [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) finds have limited economic, managerial, and resource capability to conduct [integrated resource planning](/usc/42/7275.md?p=2). The regulations under this subsection shall require such [customers](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) to consider all reasonable opportunities to meet their future energy service requirements using demand-side techniques, new renewable resources and other programs that will provide retail [customers](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) with electricity at the lowest possible cost, and minimize, to the extent practicable, adverse environmental effects.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–381, title II, § 202, as added Pub. L. 102–486, title I, § 114, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2800.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Hoover Power Plant Act of 1984, and not as part of the Department of Energy Organization Act which comprises this chapter.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 7276, Pub. L. 98–381, title II, § 202, Aug. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 1341, related to regulations of Western Area Power Administration, including amendment of regulations after notice and comment, evaluation of energy conservation programs, and allowance by Western for incorporation of elements of such programs, prior to the general amendment of title II of Pub. L. 98–381 by section 114 of Pub. L. 102–486.