What we checked for windows and doors
Each card names the fact we keep on file. We read the PPL and PECO pages on October 5 and 6, 2026.
PPL Electric
PPL's 15 rebates cover heat pumps, a heat pump water heater, thermostats, insulation, air sealing and appliances. None is for windows or doors.
PECO
PECO's rebate index lists appliance, heating and cooling, new home, water heating and solar. It lists no window or door rebate.
Federal 25C credit
The credit for windows, doors and insulation covered improvements through December 31, 2025.
Free weatherization
The state program lists air sealing, insulation and heating work for households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Penn Energy Savers
The state's federal-funded rebates have no launch date or published amounts.
We could not read Duquesne Light or FirstEnergy Pennsylvania, so we cannot say whether they pay for windows. We would be surprised, since Pennsylvania utility programs focus on equipment, but ask before you buy.
How old the housing is
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) shows how many homes were built before 1980: 83.3% in Philadelphia, 83.0% in Pittsburgh, 82.1% in Allentown and 88.6% in Erie. Before 1940 the shares are 39.9% in Philadelphia, 48.3% in Pittsburgh, 37.9% in Allentown and 39.2% in Erie. Only 3.2% of Erie homes and 9.3% to 9.7% of homes in the other three cities date from 2000 or later. These are old houses, and many have had windows replaced at least once.
Why windows are rarely the first fix
A new window costs a lot per square foot of heat saved, compared with sealing air leaks and insulating the attic, rim joist and walls. A leaky attic floor and an uninsulated rim joist let out more heat in most old houses than a decent double-hung window does. Utilities pay for the cheaper fixes, which tells you where the savings are. Do air sealing and insulation first. You can reconsider windows after that, with a smaller heating system in mind.
Cheaper fixes for drafty windows
Caulk gaps around the trim, add weatherstripping to the moving parts, and fit storm windows or interior inserts over single-pane glass. These cost a fraction of replacement. If the glass itself is cracked or a sash will not close, replacement may be the right call, and you should accept that no rebate will help.
If you must replace windows
Ask for the U-factor and the solar heat gain rating on the window's label, and compare models by those numbers. Make sure the quote includes proper flashing and air sealing around the frame, since a good window installed badly still leaks. Get the warranty in writing, and check that the contractor holds the state's home improvement registration.
Free help if money is tight
If your household is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, apply for weatherization first. The state says it audits the home and installs the most cost-effective measures, spending an average of $8,547 per household. Window work is not named on the state's page, so ask the agency what it would include.
PPL insulation can sit beside a window project
PPL pays up to $200 or $500 each for attic, wall, rim joist and basement wall insulation, and up to $150 for air sealing, for spaces conditioned by electric heat or central air conditioning with non-electric heat. If you are doing window work in a PPL home, put those jobs on the same schedule.
What to do about windows in Pennsylvania
- Seal and insulate first, and claim any rebates for that work.
- Fix drafts with caulk, weatherstripping and storm windows.
- If you must replace, compare U-factor and solar heat gain on the label.
- Get two quotes that include flashing and air sealing.
- Ask your utility whether any window offer has opened since we looked.
More for Pennsylvania homes
- Pennsylvania home rebates: every program in one place
- Philadelphia home rebates: PECO and PGW offers
- Pittsburgh home rebates: Duquesne Light and free weatherization
- Allentown home rebates: PPL Electric offers
- Erie home rebates: what we could and could not confirm
- Allentown insulation rebates: PPL's offers
- Philadelphia insulation rebates: PGW's roof insulation rebate
Common questions
Is there a window rebate in Pennsylvania?
None that we found. PPL's catalog and PECO's rebate index list no window or door item, and the federal credit ended after 2025.
Is the federal window tax credit still available?
No. The 25C credit covered improvements through December 31, 2025.
Are windows worth replacing in an old house?
Often not first. Air sealing and insulation save more heat per dollar. Replace windows when they are failing or when you want the comfort, and expect to pay full price.
Can free weatherization replace windows?
The state's page does not name windows. Ask the local agency what it would include after its audit.
Do Duquesne Light or FirstEnergy pay for windows?
We could not confirm either, since their rebate pages were not readable. Ask before you buy.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 6, 2026: PPL Electric rebate catalog, PECO rebates and discounts, Pennsylvania DCED: Weatherization Assistance Program, IRS: energy efficient home improvement credit, US Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates 2020 to 2024.