Providence Building Energy Reporting Ordinance (BERO)
What is Providence's Building Energy Reporting Ordinance?
Providence benchmarking is required by the Building Energy Reporting Ordinance (BERO), signed by Mayor Brett Smiley in November 2023. It requires owners of residential and non-residential buildings of 20,000 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 began reporting in 2025, and buildings of 20,000–49,999 sq ft joined in 2026. Reports are due every May 15, and the City publicly discloses the data it collects.
What buildings must comply in Providence?
- Commercial buildings and campuses of 20,000 sq ft or more
- Multifamily buildings and campuses of 20,000 sq ft or more
- City-owned buildings of 10,000 sq ft or more
The City counts about 859 covered properties, most of them privately owned. Each fall (September 15 to December 15) the City notifies owners, and by January 31 it posts the list of covered addresses. New buildings report the year after they have 12 full months of energy data.
What is the penalty for non-compliance?
- First violation: a written warning.
- 50,000+ sq ft: later violations can bring fines of $40 per day, up to $4,000 per year.
- 20,000–49,999 sq ft: later violations can bring fines of $30 per day, up to $3,000 per year.
- Public disclosure: the City publishes benchmarking results.
The City has focused on outreach and a phased rollout so far. First-year compliance among the largest buildings was 42% in 2025.
What is the compliance process?
Providence owners report through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. A typical filing looks like this:
- First, confirm your property on the Covered Properties List and complete the City’s BERO contact survey.
- Next, add your Providence Building ID (your Property ID, a period, and the property card number) in Portfolio Manager.
- Then connect the Rhode Island Energy Building Data Portal to transfer whole-building data, or upload it by spreadsheet.
- Enter 12 full months of energy data for the previous calendar year and run the Data Quality Checker.
- Finally, share your property with the City of Providence in Portfolio Manager by May 15 and watch for the City’s compliance email.
What is the deadline for Providence benchmarking?
Providence benchmarking reports are due May 15 every year and cover the previous calendar year.
Next deadlineMay 15, 2027 for calendar-year 2026 data
Both size groups now report every year, so 2027 is the first year all covered buildings report together.
Providence BERO vs. the proposed statewide bill
In 2026, Rhode Island lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 2260, a statewide benchmarking act. It had not passed as of its last recorded action. Here is how it compares:
| Requirement | Providence BERO (in effect) | RI S 2260 (proposed) |
|---|---|---|
| Who’s covered | Buildings 20,000+ sq ft in Providence | Buildings 25,000+ sq ft statewide |
| First reports | 2025 (50,000+), 2026 (20,000+) | 2028 (50,000+), 2030 (25,000+) |
| Deadline | May 15 each year | May 15 each year |
| Run by | City of Providence | Office of Energy Resources |
| Local programs | — | Existing city programs like BERO could continue |
Bottom line: Providence owners should keep filing with the City every May 15. The state bill would not replace BERO if it passes.
What utilities are required for benchmarking reporting?
- Electricity
- Natural Gas
- Fuel Oil
- District Steam
- Any other purchased fuel
Water reporting is not required under BERO.
What is the purpose of Providence's ordinance?
Buildings are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Providence. BERO supports the City’s Climate Justice Plan and its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 in two main ways:
Help owners save energy. Benchmarking shows how a building compares with similar buildings nationwide and where savings are possible.
Make performance transparent. Public data helps tenants and buyers compare buildings. Efficient buildings can also earn ENERGY STAR certification.
See our guides for nearby Boston BERDO and Massachusetts, or our full energy benchmarking compliance guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Providence benchmarking deadline?
May 15 every year. The next deadline is May 15, 2027 for 2026 data.
Are apartment buildings covered?
Yes. BERO covers residential and non-residential buildings and campuses of 20,000 sq ft or more.
What are the fines?
A written warning first. After that, up to $40 per day (max $4,000 per year) for buildings of 50,000+ sq ft and $30 per day (max $3,000 per year) for buildings of 20,000–49,999 sq ft.
Where do I get whole-building data?
Rhode Island Energy’s Building Data Portal can send whole-building data straight to Portfolio Manager.
Can Energy Fave file my Providence report?
Yes. Energy Fave can connect Rhode Island Energy data, set up Portfolio Manager and submit your BERO report on time.
Interested in benchmarking help?
Providence BERO at a Glance
- Who's covered
- Buildings 20,000+ sq ft
- Next deadline
- May 15, 2027The 2026 report was due May 15, 2026. Not filed yet? We can file it now →
- Late penalty
- Up to $40 per day
- Data source
- Rhode Island Energy portal
- Reporting tool
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager