Energy Conservation and Production Act
Public Law 94-385 · H.R. 12169 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Aug 14, 1976 · Energy
Sponsor: Rep. Harley Staggers (D-WV-2)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. John Dingell
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 293 yea, 88 nay293–88
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
=Title I: Federal Energy Administration Act Amendments And Related Matters= - Federal Energy Administration Act Amendments - Amends the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 to limit the discretion of the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act to require that energy actions deal separately with the question of allocation and price control.
Amends the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 to provide a five-day period during which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may comment on rules, regulations, and policies of the Federal Energy Administration (FEA) which affect the quality of the environment.
Requires that FEA establish within 90 days guidelines which it applies to serious hardship and inequity cases, under the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974.
Prohibits retroactive application of FEA rules and interpretations to the operations of persons engaged solely in petroleum marketing, to independent and small refiners, or to independent producers.
Requires the Administrator, in collecting information, to take into account the size of the business, so as to avoid overly burdensome reporting requirements on small business marketers and distributors of petroleum products.
Requires the Administrator to include in the annual report an analysis of the energy needs of the United States and the methods by which such needs can be met.
Authorizes appropriations to carry out the programs of the FEA through fiscal year 1977. Authorizes appropriations to carry out the functions of the Office of Conservation and Environment and other energy-related agencies through such period.
Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1977 to accelerate utilization and widespread commercialization of solar energy and to provide overall coordination of Federal solar energy commercialization activities.
Extends the existence of the FEA through 1977.
Directs the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration to submit to Congress by January 1, 1977, complete documentation of the Project Independence Evaluation System computer model.
Requires the Administrator to permit the use of such model on the Administration's computer by any member of the public.
Exempts the first sale price of stripper crude oil from regulation under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act. Directs the President to promulgate such amendments to the price regulation under the Act as shall provide additional price incentives for bona fide tertiary enhanced recovery techniques, and provide for the adjustment of differentials in ceiling prices for crude oil.
Directs the Administrator to make a study of new refinery construction by small and independent refiners, and to remove any unnecessary, unreasonable and discriminatory barriers to entry created by the current regulatory structure.
Establishes, within the Federal Energy Administration, an Office of Energy Information and Analysis and a National Energy Information System to assure the availability of adequate, comparably accurate and credible energy information to Government agencies, the Congress, and to the public.
Requires the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration to direct the National Bureau of Standards to develop energy efficiency improvement targets for each covered product under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
Requires that an annual energy conservation report be prepared by the Energy Resources Council. Directs the President, through the Energy Resources Council, to prepare a plan for the reorganization of the Federal Government's responsibilities for energy and natural resources. Extends the existence of the Energy Resources Council until September 30, 1977.
=Title II: Electric Utility Rate Design Initiatives= - Requires the Administrator to develop proposals to improve electric utility rate design. Declares that such proposals be designed to encourage energy conservation, minimize the need for new electrical generating capacity, and minimize costs of electric energy to consumers.
Authorizes the Administrator to: (1) fund electric utility load management and regulatory rate reform demonstration projects; (2) intervene in electric utility regulatory rate proceedings; and (3) obtain judicial review of any administrative proceedings in which the Administrator has intervened.
Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to States to establish and operate offices to assist consumers in their presentations before utility regulatory commissions.
Requires an annual report by the Administrator on specified activities pursuant to this Act.
Authorizes assistance for the establishment of an independent office of consumer services by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Authorizes appropriations through fiscal year 1977 for assistance and grants under this title.
=Title III: Energy Conservation Standards for New Buildings= - Energy Conservation Standards for New Buildings Act - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to publish, within three years of enactment of this title, proposed performance energy conservation standards for new commercial and residential buildings. Requires such standards to be effective within one year after such publication.
Prohibits approval by any Federal officer of assistance for construction of any building in any State or areas which do not have similar standards to such Federal standards in effect.
Requires the head of each Federal agency responsible for construction of Federal buildings to adopt necessary procedures to assure that such construction meets applicable energy conservation standards under this title.
Authorizes grants to States to assist them in developing standards or State certification procedures to carry out the provisions of this title.
=Title IV: Energy Conservation and Renewable Resource Assistance for Existing Buildings= - Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act - Directs the Administrator to develop and conduct a weatherization program. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to States, and to Indian tribal organizations, to provide financial assistance for weatherization of dwelling units of elderly or handicapped low-income persons.
Authorizes the Administrator to reserve specified portions of a State's allocation of such assistance for low-income members of an Indian tribe where he determines that the members of such tribe are not receiving benefits equivalent to the assistance provided to other low-income persons in such State.
Authorizes to be appropriated for the weatherization program not to exceed $55,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, $65,000,000 for fiscal year 1978, and $80,000,000 for fiscal year 1979.
Directs the Administrator to prescribe guidelines with respect to measures required to be included in, and guidelines for the development, modification, and funding of, supplemental State energy conservation plans. Authorizes the granting of Federal financial assistance for the development of any such conservation plan. Enumerates specific procedures to be included in such plans. Authorizes to be appropriated for supplemental State energy conservation plans $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1978, and $40,000,000 for fiscal year 1979.
Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a national demonstration program to test the effectiveness of various forms of financial assistance for encouraging the installation or implementation of approved energy conservation measures and approved renewable-resource energy measures in existing dwelling units. Authorizes the making of financial assistance to carry out the purposes of this program. Requires the submission of progress reports to Congress at no more than six month intervals.
Authorizes the Administrator to guarantee and issue commitments to guarantee the payment of the outstanding principal amount of any loan, note, bond, or other obligation if such obligation is issued by any State, or political subdivision and such indebtedness was incurred for the purpose of financing of any energy conservation measure or renewable resource energy measure. Sets forth requirements and restrictions on the issuance of such guarantees. Limits the aggregate outstanding principal amount of obligations guaranteed at any one time under this program to $2,000,000,000. Authorizes to be appropriated $60,000,000 for the payment of such guarantees.
Directs the Comptroller General to report to Congress each fiscal year ending before October 1, 1979, on the activities undertaken pursuant to this Act.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 294 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
294 yea89 nay48 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(212)
- Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9- Rep. John MossD-CA-3
- Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
- Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
- Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
- Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
- Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
- Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
- Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
- Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
- Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
- Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
- Rep. Gus HawkinsD-CA-29
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-24- Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
- Rep. Ralph MetcalfeD-IL-1
- Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8- Rep. Herman BadilloD-NY-21
- Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
- Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
- Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
- Rep. Robert NixD-PA-2
- Rep. William FordD-MI-15
- Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
- Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
- Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
- Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
- Rep. James HowardD-NJ-3
- Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
- Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16- Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
- Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
- Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
- Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
- Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
- Rep. Morris UdallD-AZ-2
- Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
- Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
- Rep. Richard BollingD-MO-5
- Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
- Rep. Robert LeggettD-CA-4
- Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
- Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
- Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
- Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
- Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7- Rep. Henry HelstoskiD-NJ-9
- Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
- Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
- Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
- Rep. Ray MaddenD-IN-1
- Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
- Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
- Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7- Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
- Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
- Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
- Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Richard NolanD-MN-6- Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
- Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
- Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
- Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
- Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
- Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
- Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
- Rep. James StantonD-OH-20
- Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
- Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
- Rep. Joseph KarthD-MN-4
- Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
- Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
- Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
- Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
- Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
- Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
- Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
- Rep. John DentD-PA-21
- Rep. Robert BerglandD-MN-7
- Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
- Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
- Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
- Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
- Rep. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
- Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
- Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
- Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
- Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
- Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
- Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
- Rep. Philip HayesD-IN-8
- Rep. Harold FordD-TN-8
- Rep. Jack BrooksD-TX-9
- Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
- Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
- Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
- Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
- Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
- Rep. Donald RiegleD-MI-7
- Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
- Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
- Rep. Wayne HaysD-OH-18
- Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
- Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
- Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
- Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
- Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
- Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
- Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
- Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
- Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
- Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
- Rep. Richard Vander VeenD-MI-5
- Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
- Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
- Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
- Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
- Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
- Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
- Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
- Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
- Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
- Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
- Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
- Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
- Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
- Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
- Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
- Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
- Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
- Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
- Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
- Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
- Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
- Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
- Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1- Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
- Rep. Stanley LundineD-NY-39
- Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
- Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
- Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
- Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
- Rep. Clifford AllenD-TN-5
- Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
- Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
- Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
- Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
- Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
- Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
- Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2- Rep. Jerome TraxlerD-MI-8
- Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
- Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
- Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
- Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
- Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
- Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
- Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
- Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
- Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
- Rep. Ed JonesD-TN-7
- Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
- Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
- Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
- Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
- Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
- Rep. Charles WilsonD-TX-2
- Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5- Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
- Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
- Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
- Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
- Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
- Rep. James SantiniD-NV
- Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
- Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
- Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
- Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
- Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
- Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
- Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
- Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
- Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
- Rep. David HendersonD-NC-3
- Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
- Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
- Rep. Ike AndrewsD-NC-4
- Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
- Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
- Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
- Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
- Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
- Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
- Rep. Roy TaylorD-NC-11
- Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
- Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
- Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
- Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
- Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
- Rep. Williamson StuckeyD-GA-8
- Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
- Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
- Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
Republicans who voted yea(82)
- Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
- Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
- Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
- Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
- Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
- Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
- Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
- Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
- Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
- Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
- Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
- Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
- Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
- Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
- Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
- Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
- Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
- Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
- Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
- Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
- Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
- Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
- Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
- Rep. Edward MadiganR-IL-21
- Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
- Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4- Rep. Tennyson GuyerR-OH-4
- Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
- Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
- Rep. Donald ClausenR-CA-2
- Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
- Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
- Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16- Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
- Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
- Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
- Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
- Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
- Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
- Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
- Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
- Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
- Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
- Rep. Alphonzo BellR-CA-27
- Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
- Rep. Shirley PettisR-CA-37
- Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
- Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
- Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
- Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
- Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
- Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
- Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
- Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
- Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
- Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
- Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
- Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
- Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
- Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
- Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
- Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
- Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
- Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
- Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
- Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
- Rep. Edwin EshlemanR-PA-16
- Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
- Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
- Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
- Rep. John McCollisterR-NE-2
- Rep. William KetchumR-CA-18
- Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
- Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
- Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
- Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
- Rep. James MartinR-NC-9
- Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
- Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
- Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1089 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 22 actions.
- Aug 14, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-385.
- Aug 11, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Aug 10, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #631 (293-88).House roll call 631
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #631 (293-88).House roll call 631
- Aug 5, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-1119.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-1119.
- Aug 4, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1392.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-1392.
- Jun 18, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
- Jun 16, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2872, roll call #295 (81-12).Senate roll call 295
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Jun 1, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #320 (270-94).House roll call 320
- FloorFloor · Motion to recommit to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce with instructions rejected in House.
- May 10, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Feb 26, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.