Automated Benchmarking for Utilities

Automated benchmarking is a process for providing electronic access to EPA's Energy Performance Scale housed in Portfolio Manager. Third parties including energy service companies, utilities, and regional efficiency programs can send energy consumption and building characteristic data to EPA over the Web and receive ENERGY STAR scores, weather normalized energy use intensity (EUI) benchmarks, and carbon emissions estimates in return.

The automated benchmarking process updates monthly energy use data required by Portfolio Manager, and makes it easier for utilities and customers to track savings from energy efficiency measures over time. Utilities seeking to implement automated benchmarking can follow one of two basic processes.

  • Provide utility data — After creating a Portfolio Manager account, customers can enter building characteristic information in Portfolio Manager without adding energy data. Instead, customers can request that their utilities import energy data directly into Portfolio Manager on their behalf, and view and track energy performance scores in their account.
  • Provide automated benchmarking services — Some utilities offer customers energy information tools as a part of their online bill access Web sites or as standalone software packages. Utilities can add automated benchmarking as a value-added service or as a part of efficiency programs, allowing customers to view their energy performance scores directly within the utility Web site or software package.

View additional information and technical documentation for automated benchmarking.

See What Others Are Doing with Automated Benchmarking.