LL88 and LL97 Step-by-Step Filing Guide
With the June 30 deadline for LL88 and LL97 filings quickly approaching, building owners and service providers alike are eager to submit their filings. Many have already completed the required upgrades for LL88, while others have finalized benchmarking and other prerequisites for LL97. In most cases, all that remains is for the service provider to submit the filings.
LL88 and LL97 filings must be submitted to the Department of Buildings (DOB) through their new reporting portal, BEAM. To help you navigate this updated process, we have created a step-by-step guide. If you're working with us on LL84, LL88, or LL97, rest assured—we are leading the coordination efforts on your behalf.
If filing LL88 and LL97 this year:
Step 1: Pay the LL97 filing fee in DOB NOW. During this process, you’ll need to enter three email addresses: the building owner, the owner’s representative, and the Registered Design Professional (RDP) that was hired to file LL97. Once the fee is paid, BEAM access is granted for the property, and these three individuals receive access. Additional users can be added later. To ensure the properties are properly set up in BEAM, most RDPs are paying this fee, then billing back to the building. If you signed an LL97 filing retainer through Aurora, please do NOT pay the DOB NOW fee yourself unless otherwise discussed.
Step 2: Share benchmarking data with the DOB via Energy Star Portfolio Manager. If the LL97 filing fee has already been paid, the data will automatically populate in BEAM overnight.
Step 3: The contracted RDP will review the energy and square footage data and confirm they have all required supporting documentation. Additionally, an LL97 attestation form must be signed by the building owner. Then, the RDP will file the LL97 submission.
Step 4: Provide BEAM access to your LL88 vendor by adding their email address to the property. Once access is granted and an LL88 attestation form is signed by the owner, the vendor can file for LL88. The LL97 filing fee generates a payment confirmation number, which can be used for both submissions. Share this number with the LL88 vendor so they can complete their submission.
If filing LL88 but not LL97 this year:
Step 1: Follow the same payment process as above, but ensure the LL88 vendor is listed as one of the three initial email addresses.
Step 2: LL88 vendor completes the submission.
What you can do to prepare for the filing process:
1. Create DOB NOW and BEAM accounts on behalf of the owner using the same email address for both. If you manage multiple buildings, our strong recommendation to streamline the process is to create the DOB NOW and BEAM accounts with a centralized email address for the entire portfolio for ease of access.
2. Confirm which email addresses your LL88 vendor and RDP will use for BEAM access.
3. Complete and sign the required attestation forms for both submissions. These will be provided by your LL88 vendor and RDP and must be uploaded to BEAM during the submission process.
Your benchmarking provider, LL88 vendor, and LL97 RDP will handle the rest. If you’ve engaged Aurora to manage compliance with these laws, rest assured—we have you covered and will coordinate the entire process.
Market Analysis
Natural Gas
Tariff-related market uncertainty sent the NYMEX lower off its March high of over $4 per MMBtu. By mid-April, warmer weather forecasts and rising production levels forced the commodity even lower, bottoming out just below $3. The NYMEX settled for May at $3.17, its lowest level since November. Springtime typically begins production season when storage levels are built back up during periods of reduced natural gas demand.
Electricity
Currently in the shoulder season when both heating and cooling demand are at annual lows, NYISO Zone J welcomed a further price drop in April after one of the costliest winters in a decade. By the second half of the month, the commodity averaged approximately $0.035 per kWh, after spiking as high as $0.15 in January. As we approach warmer weather, electric consumption from cooling demand will pick up.
Crude Oil
Crude oil ended April at a four-year low of $58 per barrel. Tariff-related trade wars shocked the system, leading to demand concerns amid uncertain economic impacts. Adding further fuel to the fire, Saudi Arabia signaled it intends to ramp up production to expand its market share. The month-over-month decline from March to April was the sharpest since 2021.
💡 Mitchell’s Tip: Engage Aurora for your LL84/LL97 filing!
