What it costs, what's permitted, and what to ask before you hire.
Last verified: 2026-05-31 · Well-sourced
Likely first step
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Panel / electrical
Verify your panel capacity with an electrician
Complexity
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Permit likelihood
Confirm with your building department
Rebate sensitivity
Verify current programs
Best first call
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Utility impact
Electric & gas: SDG&E
San Diego Gas & Electric
As of 2026-05-30, SDG&E's default residential plan is TOU-DR1, a three-period time-of-use plan with on-peak / off-peak / super off-peak windows and a 4-9 PM peak. TOU-DR2 offers a simpler two-period structure with the same 4-9 PM peak. Households with EVs, batteries, or heat pumps may benefit from TOU-ELEC (designed for electrified homes), or from EV-specific plans: EV-TOU-5 (whole-house TOU with the lowest overnight pricing for home charging and the Solar Billing Plan) and EV-TOU (a separate-meter option). TOU-DR-P and EV-TOU-5-P are event-based variants that add Reduce Your Use events (up to 18/year) with a $1.16/kWh event adder during 4-9 PM. Plans require 12-month commitments; homeowners should verify the current default and rate cards on the SDG&E pricing plans page before assuming a peak window or rate.
$8,000–$22,000 — Whole-house window replacement cost for a single-family SoCal home (roughly 12–20 windows) using mid-range ENERGY STAR-rated vinyl or fiberglass dual-pane low-E windows, pre-incentive. Range reflects window count, retrofit vs. full-frame replacement, and any abatement on older homes.
Section 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (windows and skylights)
Expired Dec 31, 2025. For 2023–2025: 30% of product cost, up to $600/yr (sub-cap inside the $1,200 envelope). EXPIRED: This federal credit ended Dec 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, signed July 4, 2025). Installations completed in 2026 or later do not qualify, regardless of when payment was made. For installations completed during 2023–2025, the credit applied to a U.S. principal residence owned and used by the taxpayer (renters and second homes were not eligible for this category) and required ENERGY STAR Most Efficient windows or skylights, verified by NFRC Certified Product Directory number against climate-zone requirements. The $600 windows sub-cap sat inside the $1,200 annual envelope. Homeowners with eligible 2025 installations may still claim the credit on their 2025 federal tax return. Verify with a qualified tax professional.