A method for saving power on a digital subscriber line (xDSL) includes: generating a statistic on data rates on the xDSL, adjusting the line rate and the transmit power on the xDSL according to the statistic result, and updating the line rate of an xDSL transceiver according to the adjusted line rate and transmit power. An apparatus for saving power on an xDSL includes a data rate statistics unit, a line rate adjustment policy unit, a line parameter adjusting unit, and a line rate updating unit for an xDSL transceiver. According to the embodiments of the present invention the average transmit power of the xDSL line can be reduced effectively and energy can be saved.