What smart thermostat rebates pay in Philadelphia
The PECO amounts come from PECO's appliance rebate page and the PGW amounts from PGW's EnergySense pages. We re-read both on October 5, 2026. PECO serves every Philadelphia home with electricity, and PGW serves most with gas.
PECO smart thermostat
$50 off at select Home Depot stores and on PECO Marketplace, or $25 after install if you apply online. PECO says the amount depends on the heating or cooling system the thermostat connects to.
PGW smart thermostat instant rebate
For homes on PGW gas. PGW's overview page says up to $70 and another PGW page says up to $90, so check the PGW online marketplace for today's price.
Which option to pick
The instant $50 is double the after-install amount, so check PECO Marketplace and the select Home Depot stores first. If you took an instant discount you cannot also claim the $25. The $25 claim is online only, through PECO's Energy Efficiency Portal.
Does a smart thermostat help in a Philadelphia home?
It helps most when you have central heating or cooling with one thermostat on the wall. A smart model learns when you are home and turns the heat down when you are not. It does nothing for homes heated by electric baseboards with a dial on each heater, or by old steam radiators with no thermostat at all.
The US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) shows how Philadelphia heats: 69.6% of households use PGW gas, 24.7% electricity and 2.7% fuel oil. If your furnace burns gas, the heating savings show up on your PGW bill, not your PECO bill. Summer cooling savings land on your PECO bill either way.
If you heat with PGW gas
Most Philadelphia households (69.6%, per the Census survey above) buy heating gas from PGW. PGW runs its own EnergySense program for gas customers, and it sells ENERGY STAR smart thermostats at an instant rebate on its online marketplace. PGW's overview page says up to $70; a second PGW page says up to $90. We could not tell which is current, so look at the price in the marketplace before you buy. A gas-heated home can use a PGW thermostat discount, but PECO does not pay a second time if you took an instant discount on the same thermostat.
Old homes, old wiring
Philadelphia's housing is old: 83.3% of homes were built before 1980, and 39.9% before 1940. Older heating systems often have no C-wire, the extra wire many smart thermostats need for steady power. Before you buy, take off your current thermostat cover and look. If you see no wire marked C, pick a model that comes with an adapter, or ask an HVAC tech to run a wire.
Homes with old two-wire systems, such as some boilers, may need a model made for that setup. A bad match can stop your heat on a cold night, so check the maker's compatibility tool first.
Settings that save the most
The thermostat only saves money if you let it work. Three settings matter most in a Philadelphia home:
- Away mode: let it drop the heat a few degrees when nobody is home. Most models do this using your phone's location.
- Night setback: a cooler house overnight is the easiest saving in winter. In summer, set the air conditioning a little warmer while you sleep.
- Gentle recovery: if you have a heat pump, use the model's heat pump setting. It warms the house slowly in the morning instead of turning on costly backup electric heat.
Rowhouses lose less heat through shared walls than detached houses, so they cool down slowly when the heat is off. That makes setbacks gentler, and the house warms back up faster.
Renters
About 48.2% of Philadelphia households rent. The rebate goes to the PECO customer who buys the thermostat. If you rent, ask your landlord before you swap it, and keep the old thermostat so you can put it back when you move.
Pair it with a bigger upgrade
A thermostat on its own is a small step. It pays off more alongside a new heat pump or air conditioner, because the installer can wire it in on the same visit, and you set up the schedule once. If you are planning that kind of work, ask the installer to include an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat in the quote, then claim PECO's $25 after the job.
How to get the PECO smart thermostat rebate
- Check your wiring and your heating system type.
- Look at PECO's instant offer first for the $50 discount.
- If you buy elsewhere, pick an ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostat and keep the receipt.
- Install it, then claim the $25 on PECO's online application. The $25 claim cannot be made by mail.
Common questions
How much is PECO's smart thermostat rebate?
$50 off instantly through PECO's offer, or $25 back after you install one.
Do I need a PECO account?
Yes. The rebate is for PECO customers, which includes every Philadelphia home.
Will it work with my radiators?
Only if your boiler has a wall thermostat. Steam or hot water systems with no thermostat, or with valves on each radiator, get little from a smart model.
What if I have no C-wire?
Choose a model that ships with a power adapter, or have a technician add one. Check the maker's compatibility tool before you buy.
Is there a federal tax credit for smart thermostats?
No. Federal home energy credits ended for spending after December 31, 2025.
Does PGW also pay for a thermostat?
PGW lists instant rebates on ENERGY STAR smart thermostats for its gas customers through its online marketplace. The amount is up to $70 on one PGW page and up to $90 on another, so check the marketplace price.
What to do next
See every PECO rebate, our smart thermostat guide, or the Philadelphia heat pump rebate if you are replacing your heating.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 5, 2026: PECO appliance rebates, ENERGY STAR smart thermostats, US Census Bureau, ACS 5-year table B25040, US Census Bureau, ACS 5-year table B25034, PGW EnergySense residential rebates. All Philadelphia rebates → Every PECO rebate →