A real CEC letter says your building must submit last year's energy data by June 1 and includes a benchmarking reference number (BRN). The CEC says benchmarking letters come only from its Sacramento address. Companies that offer to file for you, including Beacon, are not part of the CEC.
What does a CEC benchmarking letter say?
The CEC letter tells the owner that the building at a given address, with a given BRN, needs its prior-year energy information submitted by June 1. It explains that California requires owners of commercial and multifamily buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to report using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, and that violations can carry a penalty of up to $2,000 for each category of missing data, which can apply for each day. It says staff will give advance notice if a case is opened.
How can I tell the letter is real?
The CEC says its benchmarking letters come only from its own address: 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 (previously 1516 9th Street, Sacramento). If you are unsure, contact the CEC Benchmarking Helpdesk at Benchmarking@energy.ca.gov or 855-279-6460. They may ask for a photo or scan of the letter.
Are companies that offer to file for me affiliated with the CEC?
No. The CEC states: any entity offering to submit CEC-required reports on behalf of building owners is not associated with the CEC. Beacon is a private service provider. Any Beacon letter or email is from Beacon, not from the State of California.
What is a benchmarking reference number (BRN)?
A unique ID the CEC assigns to each covered building since 2023. It stays the same every year. Look it up by street address at benchmarkingca.com and add it in Portfolio Manager under Unique Identifiers, as the CEC's instructions describe.
What should I do now?
Check whether your building is covered (see How to comply with AB 802), confirm your BRN, then report yourself, ask your property manager, or authorize a provider. If the letter reached you in error, for example a building on tribal land, contact the CEC helpdesk.
Frequently asked questions
I received a letter from a company that says I am delinquent. Is it from the CEC?
Not unless it comes from the CEC's address. The CEC says its letters only come from 715 P Street, Sacramento (or previously 1516 9th Street). Contact the CEC helpdesk to verify.
Is benchmarkingca.com the same as Beacon?
No. benchmarkingca.com is a building ID lookup operated by Touchstone IQ and linked by the CEC. Beacon's California site is californiabenchmarking.com.
Sources
- Building Energy Benchmarking Program
- Building Energy Benchmarking FAQ
- CEC letter example
- Benchmarking reference number lookup
Beacon is a private benchmarking service provider and is not the California Energy Commission (CEC).
