The National Energy Conservation Policy Act of 1978 (NECPA, , ) is a United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 statute which was enacted as part of the National Energy Act

National Energy Act

The National Energy Act of 1978 was a legislative response by the U.S. Congress to the 1973 energy crisis. It includes the following statutes:* Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act * Energy Tax Act * National Energy Conservation Policy Act...

.

The Act required utilities to provide residential consumers with energy conservation audits and other services to encourage slower growth of electricity demand. Energy demand management

Energy demand management

Energy demand management, also known as demand side management , is the modification of consumer demand for energy through various methods such as financial incentives and education...

 programs had been legislated earlier in California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 and Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...

 as early as 1975.

The Act was amended in 1985 by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act Amendments of 1985 .