(a) Authority of Secretary

For purposes of carrying out his responsibilities under this chapter, the Secretary may require, under the authority of this chapter or any other authority administered by him, any person owning, operating or controlling any electric powerplant, or any other person otherwise subject to this chapter to submit such information and reports of any kind or nature directly to the Secretary necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter, and insure compliance with the provisions of this chapter, and any rule or order thereunder. The provisions of section 796(d) of title 15 shall apply with respect to information obtained under this section to the same extent and in the same manner as it applies with respect to energy information obtained under section 796 of title 15.

(b) Authority of President and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

In the case of responsibilities expressly given by this chapter to the President or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, subsection (a) shall be applied as if the references to the Secretary were references to the President or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as the case may be.

(c) Natural gas usage by electric utilities

(1) For purposes of section 8374(b) of this title and other emergency authorities, the Secretary shall obtain data necessary to determine—

(A) within 6 months after August 13, 1981, the total quantities of natural gas used as a primary energy source by each electric utility during calendar year 1977, and

(B) on a semiannual basis, the total quantities of natural gas used as a primary energy source during the previous 6-month period by each electric utility.

(2) Repealed. Pub. L. 104-66, title I, §1051(e), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 716.