If you haven’t completed your final compliance package review, now is the time.
With new energy laws going into effect in 2026, building owners and managers need to make sure their 2025 reports are complete, accurate, and filed. That means reviewing your benchmarking reports, audits, and any local filings before January 1 to avoid delays, fines, or rejected submissions in Q1.
Whether you manage one property or a large portfolio, a year-end compliance review is the easiest way to confirm you’re fully covered.
Why You Need To Finalize
Many cities and states are tightening energy reporting rules as of January 1, 2026. That means if you still have open reports from 2025, especially audits or benchmarking submissions, those need to be resolved now. Unfinished files or unnoticed errors can carry into the new year and cause bigger problems later.
If your documents aren’t complete, you may start 2026 with compliance issues that lead to public warnings, city citations, or being flagged for non-compliance. Even a small mistake, like mismatched energy data or a missing signature, can delay your submissions or cause them to be rejected outright.
Getting your compliance package reviewed now helps you clean up any loose ends while there’s still time to fix them.
What’s In The Final Compliance Package?
A final compliance package includes all the reports, submissions, and supporting documents required by local and state energy laws. This usually means your benchmarking report, any required energy audits, and supporting documents like utility bills, signed statements, or plan documentation.
Each city has its own requirements. Some want reports uploaded to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Others need them submitted directly through a city portal. If you manage buildings in multiple jurisdictions, it’s easy to overlook a detail or forget a specific format.
What Happens If You Miss The Deadline?
Missing a year-end filing creates risk. Some cities fine buildings that don’t meet annual reporting requirements. Others post public “non-compliant” lists. If your building is on one, it could affect your relationship with tenants, lenders, or buyers.
In some cases, late filings can delay permits or interfere with loan approvals. And if you’re managing multiple properties, one small oversight could ripple through your whole team’s workflow.
Reviewing everything before January 1 helps you avoid all of this, and gives you a clean slate for 2026.
What To Check Before Submitting
If you’re finalizing your compliance package, focus on these key areas to ensure nothing is missed:
- Benchmarking data submitted and confirmed as accepted
- Audit reports completed, signed, and formatted correctly
- Utility usage data is accurate and complete for the full year
- Any required city documents—like checklists or proof of compliance—are included
- Final PDFs and confirmations are saved and ready to show if requested
Why A Q4 Review Pays Off
Waiting until January to fix errors can slow you down and cost more. Service providers are already busy with Q1 filings. Once 2026 starts, you may find it harder to get help quickly, or may have to pay rush fees to fix late filings.
By wrapping up your review now, you avoid those problems. Your ENERGY STAR score is locked in before the year changes, your audit paperwork is clean, and your records are ready in case the city requests more info.
This also sets you up for success in 2026. You’ll be done with your reporting, and you won’t start the year already behind. That’s a win for your operations team, your budget, and your peace of mind.
Who Should Book A Year-End Review?
If you manage any building subject to benchmarking or audit rules, you need to confirm your 2025 compliance package is complete. This applies to buildings over 25,000 square feet, as well as those in cities with strict audit or reporting cycles.
It’s especially important for property managers, asset owners, or teams with buildings in multiple jurisdictions. Different rules, formats, and timelines can make it easy to miss something. A last-minute review gives you a final chance to check your work, and avoid problems that carry into Q1.
If you submitted documents yourself this year, a quick professional review can still help. Having someone else double-check your files can catch small issues before they turn into big ones.
Why Most Teams Don’t Catch Every Detail
Eergy compliance rules are complicated. Every city has different forms, platforms. It’s easy to miss a requirement or assume something has already been handled.
Most teams juggle multiple roles, projects, or portfolios. Without a dedicated compliance partner, things slip through. But a year-end review only takes a short time, and can prevent weeks of rework or thousands in fines.
That’s why teams that want to stay ahead schedule these checks now, while they can still take action.
Last-Minute Filing Tip: Lock It In Now
Many service providers hold limited year-end slots just for final compliance checks. These reviews don’t require much from you, just access to your submissions, utility data, and reports.
Once the review is done, you’ll either get the all-clear or a short list of quick fixes. In most cases, you can wrap up everything within 24 to 48 hours.
If you’re not 100% sure your files are final, take this as your last reminder: check them now.
