Abstract: An electrically heated window assembly and method for heating a movable front door window (side lite) of a motor vehicle defrosts and deices the front window by producing a concentration of heat at the portion of the front window through which an operator or passenger of the vehicle views an exterior rear view mirror. To heat the window, a current flows between a first bus bar, positioned along the front edge of the window, and a second bus bar, positioned along the rear edge of the window. A conductive film provides the current path between the respective bus bars. A nonconductive break is formed in the conductive film substantially along the nominal door line of the window to prohibit heating of the window below the nominal door line. The first bus bar may preferably be arcuately-shaped to provide a uniform heating pattern on the window. Various control devices, such as temperature sensors and position sensors, are used to control the heating process.