A bill to amend the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 to extend the expiration date of such law until September 30, 1979.

(Measure indefinitely postponed in Senate, H.R. 12169 passed in lieu)

=Title I: Federal Energy Administration Extension= - Federal Energy Administration Extension Act - Requires the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration (FEA), in order to foster the construction of new refineries by small and independent refiners to promulgate eligibility criteria for entitlements in such amounts whereby such refinery constructors shall be assured not less than the industry-wide average net profit on the sale of processed oil. 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 make public 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.

Authorizes the FEA to obtain information from United States firms with foreign affiliates or foreign firms with respect to supply and consumption activities of those firms in the United States. Sets forth penalties and equitable remedies for violations relating to such information-gathering authority.

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.

Provides for the disposition of the FEA's functions and authorities if such Act terminates, as follows: those originally transferred to the FEA shall revert to the agency from which they were transferred; and those created by such Act shall be transferred according to specific functions to specified agencies.

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 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 fiscal year 1977.

Directs the chairman of the Energy Resources Council, under the Energy Reorganization Act, to: (1) coordinate preparation of the annual reports to the Congress by the Administrators of the FEA and of the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA); (2) prepare an annual report on national energy conservation activities, commencing July 1, 1977; and (3) prepare a plan for the reorganization of the Federal Government's responsibilities in energy and natural resources, and submit such plan to the Congress by December 31, 1976. Extends such Council through September 30, 1977.

Requires the Administrator to conduct an annual, comprehensive, interdisciplinary study of the energy needs of the United States and the methods by which those needs can be met.

Requires the FEA to analyze the degree to which an energy tax, including a (BTU) British Termal Unit tax, might contribute to an acceptable level of energy imports by 1985.

Provides that any allocation regulation relating to crude oil prices, to crude oil ceiling prices, or to the weighted average first sale price for crude oil, under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973, shall not apply to the first sale of stripper well crude oil produced and sold in the United States, or to the first sale of crude oil produced and sold from a property in the United States which production results from an enhanced recovery operation and which volume of production is in excess of the volume of production which would have been produced from the property in the absence of the enhanced recovery operation.

Places in the Department of Commerce the functions of the FEA and the Department with respect to the energy efficiency standards and labeling of consumer appliances.

=Title II: Electric Utility Reform Act= - Directs the Administrator of the FEA to prepare voluntary guidelines establishing the parameters within which utility regulatory commissions should approve electric utility rates in order to encourage electric utility companies to utilize innovative electric utility rate structures, which are cost-based, energy conserving, equitable in operation and effect, and which provide incentive for maximum use of existing electrical generating facilities.

Authorizes the Administrator to assist State utility regulatory commissions to develop such rate structures, and to intervene in administrative or court proceedings from the purpose of developing such rate structures.

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 appropriation through fiscal year 1977 for assistance and grants under this title.

Extends eligibility for loan guarantees, under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, to the expansion of existing underground coal mines and the reopening of underground coal mines which had previously been closed.

=Title III: Office on Energy Information and Analysis= - Establishes within the FEA an Office of Energy Information and Analysis, which shall develop a National Energy Information System containing such information as is required to provide a description of, and facilitate analysis of, energy supply and consumption. Directs the Office to review the energy information gathering activities of Federal agencies with a view toward avoiding duplication of effort and minimizing the compliance burden on business enterprises and other persons. Requires specified reports from the Office to the Congress and the public. Directs the Office to require each major energy-producing company to file with the Office a financial report at least annually.

=Title IV: Energy Conservation Standards for New Buildings= - Building Energy Conservation Standards 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 18 months 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.

Directs Federal entities responsible for regulation or insuring of banks and savings and loan institutions to adopt regulations prohibiting such institutions from making or purchasing construction loans, unless such buildings are to be located in areas where Federal assistance is permitted under this title.

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 V: Energy Conservation Assistance for Existing Buildings= - Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings Act - Authorizes the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration to provide financial assistance to States and to transfer to other Federal departments or agencies funds for use to serve Native Americans to assist in carrying out projects to improve insulation and energy conservation in dwellings in which heads of households are low-income persons, particularly where elderly and handicapped low-income persons reside.

Directs the Administrator to publish regulations designed to carry out this title, which: (1) set forth standards for insulation materials and energy conservation techniques; and (2) insure that the benefits of insulation assistance will accrue, in case of leased dwellings, primarily to low-income tenants. Permits designated Federal agencies to implement the assistance provided under this title in States which do not apply to so implement. Authorizes such assistance to States, upon annual application, which designate a State agency having special qualifications with respect to the problems of low-income persons. Makes such agencies solely responsible for administration and allocation of financial assistance under this title. Requires applications for assistance to specify the location and scope of projects to be funded, including the number of low-income persons to be assisted, the type of insulation work to be done, and policies to assure that such funds will not supplant State or local funds.

Requires that not less than 50 percent of assistance under this title be allocated to community action agencies carrying out programs under title II (Urban and Rural Community Action Programs) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, or other appropriate qualified public or nonprofit entities in the State. Sets forth monitoring and record-keeping requirements relative to extension of assistance under this title.

Provides that before final disapproval of an application for assistance, the State agency shall be notified and given opportunity for a hearing.

Permits applicants dissatisfied with a final action of the Administrator to petition for a review of such action in the appropriate United States circuit court of appeals.

Prohibits discrimination in any program supported with assistance under this title.

Requires annual reports to the Congress describing the program carried out under this title. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this title for each fiscal years 1977, 1978, and 1979.

Directs the Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration to prescribe guidelines for the development and preparation of State energy conservation implementation programs. Requires that States be given an opportunity to participate in the drafting of such guidelines.

Directs the Federal Trade Commission to cooperate with State consumer protection agencies in the implementation of energy conservation measures, and to undertake its own program to prevent unfair or deceptive practices in the implementation of energy conservation measures.

Establishes eligibility criteria for State energy conservation implementation programs in order to receive Federal assistance under this Act. Imposes a preliminary requirement that the State establish a State energy conservation advisory committee to assist in the formulation of such program, and that the State conduct a continuing public education effort.

Authorizes the Administrator to provide Federal financial assistance to States whose proposed energy conservation programs meet such criteria. Lists factors to be considered in determining the amount of such assistance. Stipulates that no State shall receive more than ten percent of the national total in each category of financial assistance.

Authorizes the appropriation of the following sums to assist eligible State programs: $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, and $50,000,000 per fiscal year for fiscal years 1978 and 1979.

Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to assist in the financing of energy conservation measures. Authorizes the appropriation of the following amounts for such assistance payments: $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1977, and $200,000,000 per fiscal year for fiscal years 1978 and 1979.

Amends the Small Business Act to empower the Small Business Administration to make loans to small business concerns for implementation of energy conservation measures. Limits the total amount of such loans under the Act to $300,000,000. Stipulates that the total amount of such payments to lending institutions under the Act shall not exceed $60,000,000.

Requires annual reports to the Congress on actions taken to implement the provisions of this Act.

Authorizes the Administrator to guarantee loans and other obligations issued to finance energy conservation measures consistent with the purposes of this Act. Limits the aggregate amount of outstanding guarantees under this Act to $2,000,000,000.