For many Maryland building owners, benchmarking has been viewed as a reporting exercise. Enter your energy data, submit a report, and move on until next year.
The latest Maryland BEPS update makes it clear that the program is entering a more structured phase. Building owners are now required to pay an annual reporting fee of $100 per covered building and submit a third-party verified benchmarking report by June 30, 2026. While the fee itself is relatively minor, the administrative and compliance requirements surrounding the submission are where many owners will encounter challenges.
To satisfy the 2026 benchmarking requirements, owners must:
• Pay the annual $100 reporting fee through the BEPS Portal
• Verify that the correct Unique Building ID (UBID) is associated with the
property
• Submit a complete benchmarking report
• Ensure the report has been reviewed and verified by a qualified third party
• Submit any exemption requests, if applicable, by June 30, 2026
The Maryland Department of the Environment has also stated that benchmarking reports and exemption requests submitted by June 30, 2026 will be considered timely for the 2026 reporting cycle.
One of the most common issues we see is confusion surrounding building
identification.
Maryland's BEPS program uses a Unique Building ID (UBID) to track compliance. Before
paying the reporting fee or submitting benchmarking data, owners should verify that the
UBID listed in the BEPS Portal accurately represents their building.
This becomes particularly important for owners with multiple properties, campuses, or
buildings that have undergone ownership changes, parcel adjustments, or address
modifications.
Submitting data under the wrong building identifier can create unnecessary compliance
complications that take time to correct.
Perhaps the most significant change for many owners is the requirement for third-party
verification.
For the 2026 reporting year, benchmarking submissions must be independently reviewed and
verified before submission. This means owners can no longer treat benchmarking as a
simple data upload exercise.
Verification requires reviewing:
• Building characteristics
• Gross floor area
• Property use classifications
• Utility consumption data
• Meter configurations
• Portfolio Manager setup
• Data completeness and accuracy
Errors discovered during verification can delay submissions and create additional work close to the deadline.
The Maryland BEPS Portal has updated building statuses for the 2026 reporting
cycle.
If your building currently displays a status of "No Submission", it means that neither a
benchmarking report nor an exemption request has been received for that property's 2026
requirements.
For owners managing multiple buildings, reviewing these statuses early can help avoid
last-minute surprises.
The reporting fee is only $100.
The real cost comes from waiting until the final weeks before the deadline.
Benchmarking requires collecting utility data, validating building information,
coordinating with ownership and management teams, and completing third-party
verification. These processes often take longer than expected, particularly for
buildings with multiple meters, mixed-use occupancy, or incomplete historical
records.
The closer owners get to June 30, the fewer options they have to correct issues.
The Cotocon Group helps Maryland building owners navigate the entire benchmarking
process, including:
• Covered building determination
• UBID verification
• ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager setup and review
• Utility data collection and validation
• Third-party verification coordination
• Benchmarking report submission
• Ongoing Maryland BEPS compliance planning
Benchmarking is no longer simply an annual filing requirement. It is the foundation upon
which Maryland's future building performance standards will be measured.
The owners who establish accurate, defensible benchmarking data today will be in the
strongest position as Maryland's BEPS program continues to evolve.
If you're unsure whether your building is covered, need assistance with third-party verification, or want help preparing your 2026 submission, contact The Cotocon Group for a Maryland BEPS compliance review.