Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§6395 Enforcement

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 77— - ENERGY CONSERVATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part Part B— - General Provisions › § 6395

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Breaking the rules in section 6394 can lead to money penalties and sometimes jail. A person who violates that rule can be fined up to $5,000 for each violation. If the violation is willful, the fine can be up to $10,000 per violation. If a person knowingly and willfully breaks the rule again for the same product after already getting a civil penalty, they can be fined up to $50,000, jailed up to 6 months, or both. A federal officer or agency that sees a likely violation can ask the Attorney General to go to federal court to stop the conduct. The court can quickly issue temporary or long‑term orders to stop the acts without requiring a bond and can order people to follow the rules. Anyone who is legally harmed by acts that come from violations of certain parts of this law can sue in federal court for relief, like a court order or a declaration, no matter the money involved, but they may not recover money damages. The covered parts include rules about energy conservation plans; international oil allocation; international voluntary agreements; advisory committees; international exchange of information; and a prohibition on certain actions.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §6395

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever violates section 6394 of this title shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation.
(b)Whoever willfully violates section 6394 of this title shall be fined not more than $10,000 for each violation.
(c)Any person who knowingly and willfully violates section 6394 of this title with respect to the sale, offer of sale, or distribution in commerce of a product or commodity after having been subjected to a civil penalty for a prior violation of section 6394 of this title with respect to the sale, offer of sale, or distribution in commerce of such product or commodity shall be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.
(d)Whenever it appears to any officer or agency of the United States in whom is vested, or to whom is delegated, authority under this chapter that any person has engaged, is engaged, or is about to engage in acts or practices constituting a violation of section 6394 of this title, such officer or agency may request the Attorney General to bring an action in an appropriate district court of the United States to enjoin such acts or practices, and upon a proper showing a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction shall be granted without bond. Any such court may also issue mandatory injunctions commanding any person to comply with any rule, regulation, or order described in section 6394 of this title.
(e)(1)Any person suffering legal wrong because of any act or practice arising out of any violation of any provision of this chapter described in paragraph (2), may bring an action in an appropriate district court of the United States without regard to the amount in controversy, for appropriate relief, including an action for a declaratory judgment or writ of injunction. Nothing in this subsection shall authorize any person to recover damages.
(2)The provisions of this chapter referred to in paragraph (1) are as follows:
(A)section 6262 11 See References in Text note below. of this title (relating to energy conservation plans).
(B)section 6271 of this title (relating to international oil allocation).
(C)section 6272 of this title (relating to international voluntary agreements).
(D)section 6273 of this title (relating to advisory committees).
(E)section 6274 of this title (relating to international exchange of information).
(F)section 6391 of this title (relating to prohibition on certain actions).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (d) and (e), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 94–163, Dec. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 871, known as the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 6201 of this title and Tables. section 6262 of this title, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(A), was repealed by Pub. L. 106–469, title I, § 104(1), Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2033.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 6395

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73