Madison Building Energy Savings Program (BESP)
What is Madison's Building Energy Savings Program?
Madison benchmarking is required by the Building Energy Savings Program (BESP), adopted by the Common Council in 2023. It requires owners of commercial buildings of 25,000 square feet or more to benchmark their energy use every year and report it to the City.
Buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more must also complete a building tune-up every four years. Benchmarking reports are due every June 30, and the first tune-ups began in 2026.
What buildings must comply in Madison?
- Commercial (non-residential) buildings of 25,000 sq ft or more must benchmark every year.
- Commercial buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more must also complete a tune-up every four years.
- Mixed-use buildings count only the non-residential floor area toward the threshold.
Residential buildings are not covered. Owners can request a one-year exemption if the building lacked a full year of occupancy, was demolished, had no utility service for 30 days or more, or was at least 50% vacant and unleased for six months in a row. A one-time 90-day extension is also available.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
- Benchmarking: $1,000 for every 90 days a report is late.
- Tune-ups, 100,000+ sq ft: $3,000 at 180 days late, rising to $10,000 at 365 days.
- Tune-ups, 50,000–99,999 sq ft: $2,000 at 180 days late, rising to $8,000 at 365 days.
- Falsified data: $3,000 for a first violation and $5,000 after that.
Individual building reports are kept confidential. The City only publishes aggregated results.
What is the compliance process?
Madison owners report through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and the City’s Building Owner Portal:
- First, claim your building in the Building Owner Portal and note your Madison Building ID (MBID).
- Next, set up your property in Portfolio Manager and add the MBID under Standard IDs.
- Enter 12 months of energy data. MGE customers can automate this with MyMeter; Alliant Energy customers enter data manually.
- Then run the Data Quality Checker and share the property with the City.
- Finally, submit through the Building Owner Portal by June 30 and wait for your confirmation email.
What is the deadline for Madison benchmarking?
Madison benchmarking reports are due June 30 every year and cover the previous calendar year.
Next deadlineJune 30, 2027 for calendar-year 2026 data
Tune-ups for buildings of 50,000–99,999 sq ft are due October 31, 2027. Each building’s tune-up year is listed on the City’s Covered Buildings List.
Madison benchmarking and tune-up schedule
BESP phased in by building size. Here is when each group started:
| Building size | Benchmarking | Tune-ups (every 4 years) |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000+ sq ft | Since June 30, 2024 | First due October 31, 2026 |
| 50,000–99,999 sq ft | Since June 30, 2025 | First due October 31, 2027 |
| 25,000–49,999 sq ft | Since June 30, 2026 | Not required |
What is a tune-up? A qualified specialist checks and adjusts building systems such as HVAC, lighting controls, hot water and the building envelope, then fixes any problems. Efficient buildings, such as those with an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher or recent commissioning, may qualify for an alternative compliance pathway.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- District Steam
- District Chilled Water
- Any other purchased fuel
Water reporting is not required under BESP.
What is the purpose of Madison's program?
Commercial buildings are a major source of energy use and emissions in Madison. BESP supports the City’s goal of 100% renewable energy and net-zero carbon in two main ways:
Cut energy waste. Benchmarking shows how a building compares, and tune-ups fix low-cost problems in building systems.
Lower operating costs. Tune-ups often pay for themselves through lower utility bills. Efficient buildings can also earn ENERGY STAR certification.
See our guide for nearby Chicago, or our full energy benchmarking compliance guide.
See our guides for Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis, or our full energy benchmarking compliance guide.
This program includes an energy audit, assessment or tune-up requirement. Compare it with other cities in our energy audit compliance guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Madison benchmarking deadline?
June 30 every year. The next deadline is June 30, 2027 for 2026 data.
Do apartment buildings have to report?
No. BESP covers commercial (non-residential) buildings. In mixed-use buildings, only the non-residential space counts.
Which buildings need a tune-up?
Commercial buildings of 50,000 sq ft or more, every four years. Buildings of 50,000–99,999 sq ft have their first tune-up due October 31, 2027.
Is my building’s data made public?
No. The City keeps individual reports confidential and only publishes aggregated data.
Can Energy Fave handle my Madison compliance?
Yes. Energy Fave can set up Portfolio Manager, submit your benchmarking report and coordinate your tune-up or alternative pathway.
Interested in benchmarking help?
Madison BESP at a Glance
- Who's covered
- Commercial buildings 25,000+ sq ft
- Next deadline
- June 30, 2027The 2026 report was due June 30, 2026. Not filed yet? We can file it now →
- Late penalty
- $1,000 per 90 days
- Tune-ups
- Every 4 years (50,000+ sq ft)
- Reporting tool
- Portfolio Manager + Owner Portal