LL95 Letter Grade Posting Delayed
Each fall, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) releases updated Energy Efficiency Scores and Letter Grades as part of Local Law 95 (LL95) — which requires most buildings over 25,000 square feet to post their grade near each public entrance by October 31.
However, in 2025, the DOB announced a delay in releasing this year’s updated grades due to ongoing system maintenance within the DOB NOW: Public Portal. As of early October, new 2024 benchmarking data had not yet been processed and converted into letter grades, resulting in temporary unavailability of updated labels for building owners and managers.
What This Means for Property Owners
Buildings that have already posted their 2024 (last year’s) Energy Efficiency Grade should keep it displayed until new labels are made available. Once updated grades are released, the DOB will issue a notice allowing sufficient time for properties to print and post their new letter grades.
While the 2025 delay may cause confusion, the city has confirmed that no fines will be issued for temporarily displaying last year’s grade during this administrative delay. However, once new grades are available, failure to post them within the designated timeframe will still result in a $1,250 penalty.
Understanding LL95 Letter Grades
Letter grades are based on each building’s ENERGY STAR score, generated through Local Law 84 (LL84) benchmarking data. The scale is as follows:
A: 85–100
B: 70–84
C: 55–69
D: 1–54
F: Failure to submit benchmarking data
Grades are recalculated annually based on the prior calendar year’s benchmarking submission.
Next Steps
Aurora Energy Advisors will continue to monitor the DOB NOW system and notify clients once the new 2025 labels are released. When available, owners can access and download updated grades by visiting the DOB NOW: Public Portal and searching by borough, block, and lot (BBL) under “Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label.”
Market Analysis
Electricity
NYISO Zone J electricity pricing held steady in September, averaging $0.04 to $0.05 per kWh. Moderate temperatures and strong grid reliability kept volatility low heading into fall.
Natural Gas
Natural gas futures rose slightly to around $2.70 per MMBtu in September, reflecting early heating demand and minor production slowdowns due to Gulf Coast maintenance.
Crude Oil
Crude oil prices increased modestly to $83 per barrel, driven by reduced U.S. stockpiles and anticipation of higher winter fuel demand globally.
💡 Mitchell’s Tip: Keep last year’s grade posted until new labels are released — and use the downtime to review how your property’s energy score has changed year over year.
