Updated June 2026. Programs change; verify all figures with the agencies linked below before relying on them.
The short answer for 2026: there is no PECO or PPL utility rebate that covers replacement windows, and the federal window tax credit is gone. The financial tool that actually helps Pennsylvania homeowners replace windows this year is the PHFA HEELP loan at 1% fixed interest. This guide maps what is real, what ended, and how to finance a window project in Bucks County right now.
The federal window tax credit ended December 31, 2025
If you were planning a window replacement hoping to use the Section 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, the 30% federal credit with a $600 cap for windows, that program is gone. Congress terminated it through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21), signed July 4, 2025. [Source: IRS FAQ on OBBBA, irs.gov verified 2026-05-05]
Any window installed in 2026 does not qualify, regardless of when you signed the contract or made a deposit. The “placed in service” date controls. Work completed in 2025 can still be claimed on your 2025 tax return using Form 5695, so that window is still open for last year’s projects.
Most contractor websites have not updated this. If a competitor’s site still says “claim 30% back on your windows,” that page is out of date.
PA utility rebates do not cover windows
PECO and PPL both run Act 129 energy efficiency rebate programs. Neither rebates replacement windows.
Under Act 129, PECO offered rebates for insulation, air sealing, and heat pump equipment. Windows were never in the program. [peco.com/ways-to-save/for-your-home/rebates-discounts verified 2026-05-15]
PPL’s program covered insulation, air sealing, and heat pumps. Windows were never in the program either. [pplelectricsavings.com verified 2026-05-15]
This is not a recent change. Windows have not been in PA utility rebate programs for years. What changed in 2026 is that the federal credit that once ran alongside these programs is now also gone.
Where the Act 129 rebate programs stand now
Act 129 Phase IV ended May 31, 2026 for both PECO and PPL. Phase V began June 1, 2026 and runs through May 31, 2031. The Pennsylvania PUC approved Phase V, but the individual utilities have not yet published their Phase V rebate amounts or full eligible-measure lists. [PA PUC Act 129 EE&C program page, puc.pa.gov, verified 2026-06-07; web search 2026-06-07]
What this means for a window buyer in mid-2026: even the bundling angle (adding attic insulation or air sealing to a window job to capture a rebate on those measures) is on pause until the utilities publish Phase V figures. We are tracking the PECO and PPL Phase V announcements and will update this guide with the exact amounts the moment they post. Until then, the dependable tool is financing, not rebates.
PHFA HEELP: the main financing tool for PA window replacements in 2026
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Homeowners Energy Efficiency Loan Program (HEELP) is the most useful financial tool available to income-qualified PA homeowners replacing windows in 2026.
Loan terms, verified at phfa.org 2026-05-15:
- Loan amount: $1,000 to $10,000
- Interest rate: 1% APR, fixed
- Term: 10 years, no prepayment penalty
- Income limit: approximately 80% of Area Median Income, about $81,600 for a 4-person household in Bucks County (verify current limits at phfa.org, as they update annually)
- Eligible measures: energy-efficient windows and doors, insulation, HVAC, roof replacement, air sealing, smart thermostat
The monthly payment math: $5,000 borrowed is roughly $44 per month; $10,000 borrowed is roughly $88 per month.
HEELP has no deadline. It is evergreen and not tied to the Act 129 Phase IV to Phase V transition. A homeowner replacing windows today has full access to it.
HEELP requires a PHFA-approved contractor. Before starting any project you plan to finance through HEELP, confirm the contractor is on the approved list at phfa.org or call PHFA at 1-855-827-3466.
PA KEEP loan: above the HEELP income cap
If your household income exceeds the HEELP limit, the Keystone Energy Efficiency Plus Home Energy Loan (KEEP) program has no income restriction.
- Loan amount: $2,500 to $25,000
- Rate: below-market (confirm at application)
- Term: 36 to 120 months
- No income restriction, available to any PA homeowner
KEEP is the right tool for larger projects or households above the HEELP income limit. A window replacement exceeding $10,000 can be financed here. [pa.gov/agencies/dep energy programs page, verified 2026-05-05]
ENERGY STAR specifications that still matter even without the credit
The federal credit is gone, but ENERGY STAR specifications still matter for two reasons: PHFA HEELP requires minimum efficiency standards, and any Phase V utility rebate is likely to impose efficiency thresholds when published.
Bucks County falls in the ENERGY STAR Northern Climate Zone (IECC Climate Zone 4A). The V7.0 specification (effective October 23, 2023) requires:
- U-factor: 0.22 or lower (measures heat loss; lower is better)
- SHGC: 0.17 or higher (measures solar heat gain; higher captures passive solar heating in winter)
[Source: energystar.gov/products/res_windows_doors_skylights verified 2026-05-05]
The Most Efficient tier (U-factor 0.20 or lower) was the old 25C threshold. That credit is gone, but these windows future-proof the project.
What the HEELP rate is actually worth
The value of HEELP is the interest rate, not a rebate. At 1% APR for $10,000 over 10 years, the payment is roughly $88 per month. Compare that to a 7.5% home equity line on $10,000: roughly $119 per month over 10 years. The difference is about $31 per month, or roughly $3,720 over the life of the loan. For an income-qualified household, that is the real 2026 advantage on a window project.
How to know which utility serves your Bucks County address
Most Bucks County addresses are served by PECO (southern and central Bucks: Doylestown, Bensalem, Warminster, Newtown, Levittown, Langhorne, Yardley). Northern Bucks near Quakertown may be PPL. Some northern Bucks townships are Met-Ed / FirstEnergy.
The fastest check: look at your electric bill. The utility name is on the first page.
This matters once the Phase V rebate amounts publish, because a PECO address submitting a PPL rebate form will be rejected, and the reverse is also true. YBR confirms your utility by service address before any rebate paperwork is started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there window replacement rebates in Pennsylvania in 2026?
No utility rebate from PECO or PPL covers replacement windows, and that has been the case for years. The federal 25C tax credit was terminated December 31, 2025. The main financial option for PA homeowners replacing windows in 2026 is the PHFA HEELP loan at 1% APR ($1,000 to $10,000 for income-qualified households) or the PA KEEP loan (up to $25,000, no income cap).
What is the PHFA HEELP loan for windows?
HEELP offers $1,000 to $10,000 at 1% APR fixed for 10 years with no prepayment penalty. It covers energy-efficient windows and doors. Income limit: approximately 80% of Area Median Income, about $81,600 for a 4-person household in Bucks County. Verify current limits at phfa.org.
Did the May 31, 2026 deadline affect window replacement?
Not for windows directly. May 31, 2026 was the end of Act 129 Phase IV for PECO and PPL insulation and air sealing rebates; windows were never covered. Phase V started June 1, 2026, but the utilities have not yet published Phase V rebate amounts. PHFA HEELP financing has no deadline and is available now.
What ENERGY STAR rating do I need for windows in Pennsylvania?
IECC Climate Zone 4A (Bucks County) requires U-factor 0.22 or lower and SHGC 0.17 or higher under ENERGY STAR V7.0 specs. The Most Efficient tier is U-factor 0.20 or lower.
Can I still claim a federal tax credit for windows in 2026?
No. The Section 25C credit was terminated by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21), signed July 4, 2025, effective for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Talk through your 2026 window financing options
YBR GROUP Inc confirms your utility territory by service address, helps you check income qualification for HEELP, and will sequence any Phase V rebate paperwork once the utilities publish their figures.
Call (267) 902-2393 for a free 30-minute conversation. No commitment to hire us.
Or use the contact form.
YBR GROUP Inc is not a tax advisor. Verify all rebate amounts and income limits directly with PHFA (phfa.org), PECO (peco.com), and PPL (pplelectric.com) before relying on them in your project budget. Programs change. This guide was last updated June 2026.