Washington · Counties
King County: Tier 2 by utility
Last updated · Checked against primary sources
Short answer
What does Tier 2 mean for King County buildings?
The same state rules apply countywide: buildings with more than 20,000 and up to 50,000 sq ft of nonresidential space, or multifamily over 20,000 sq ft, report by July 1, 2027. Seattle City Light serves Seattle and PSE serves much of the rest of the county. Seattle buildings also report to the City.
Key factsChecked November 11, 2026
- Seattle electric
- Seattle City Light City Light data page
- PSE electric
- Parts of King County, not Seattle PSE service map
- Seattle uploads
- City Light, PSE gas and CenTrio steam upload monthly seattle.gov instructions
- Free program
- City Light SEM: over 20,000 sq ft, 250,000 kWh minimum City Light SEM page
- Deadline
- July 1, 2027 WAC 194-50-160
Who supplies the data
| Utility | Serves | Getting data into Portfolio Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle City Light | Electric in Seattle | Agree to the terms, then submit the Automated Benchmarking Request Form. See Seattle City Light. |
| Puget Sound Energy | Electric in parts of King (not Seattle), Pierce (not Tacoma), Kittitas and Island counties and all of Kitsap, Skagit, Thurston and Whatcom; gas in parts of King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, Kittitas and Lewis PSE service map | EnergyCAP, PSE's free tool, uploads usage to Portfolio Manager. See Puget Sound Energy (PSE). |
| CenTrio (steam) | District steam customers in Seattle | Monthly upload to Portfolio Manager, per the City of Seattle seattle.gov instructions |
Inside Seattle, electricity usually comes from City Light and gas from PSE. Elsewhere in King County, check your bills.
Seattle versus the rest of the county
- In Seattle
- Buildings over 20,000 sq ft also report to the City for benchmarking and its Building Emissions Performance Standard. See Seattle: Tier 2, benchmarking and BEPS.
- Elsewhere in King County
- The state Tier 2 rules apply as written. Check with your city for any local program.
- Portfolios
- Each building is assessed and filed separately, even when one owner holds buildings in several cities.
Free local help
- Seattle City Light's Strategic Energy Management program is free for commercial and multifamily buildings over 20,000 sq ft with at least 250,000 kWh of whole-building use City Light SEM page.
- PSE lists a free Clean Buildings Accelerator for multifamily buildings PSE Clean Buildings page.
- The Smart Buildings Center's Clean Buildings Helpdesk answers Tier 2 questions for free.
- Commerce's BEACON fellowship, which paired owners with trained fellows, had its services on hold when we checked November 11, 2026 (Commerce BEACON page).
Tier 2 dates
- About January 1, 2027
- Last safe date to apply for an Exemptions.
- January 1, 2027 to January 1, 2028
- Window to apply for an Extensions.
- July 1, 2027
- Tier 2 compliance report due, then every five years.
Steps and figures on this page were read on the linked sources on November 11, 2026.
Clean Buildings Associates is a private company. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, King County, the Washington State Department of Commerce, or any other utility. Utility programs and steps change; confirm on the utility's page before you act.
Want it done for you?
Send the address and floor area. We confirm coverage, estimate the incentive and quote a flat fee per building.
Reply within 1 business day. No call required.