Compare Local Pros
Solarsesame vs Sun Light & Power
Alameda Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Sun Light & Power's 49 years of California licensing vastly outweighs Solarsesame's two years, bringing decades of system troubleshooting expertise and long-term warranty reliability.
| Solarsesame | Sun Light & Power | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 2 years | 49 years |
| License # | 1116168 | 326203 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Hayward, CA | Berkeley, CA |
| Website | solarsesame.com | www.sunlightandpower.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Solarsesame
Customers appreciate Solarsesame's knowledgeable representatives, patient consultation approach, and helpful online tools that simplify decision-making and system visualization.
Sun Light & Power
Customers consistently emphasize Sun Light & Power's technical thoroughness, realistic projections without overselling, and professional execution across complex installations and repair work.
Key Takeaway: Solarsesame receives praise for accessible sales processes and modern tools, while Sun Light & Power earns recognition for technical depth and the confidence that comes from employee-owned institutional expertise.
Customer Reviews
Solarsesame
Yay! I got my roof and solar done just in time for rainy season. Super easy. Thank you Kerrie! Happy customer here. :)
Thank you so much you guys are amazing!I refer you guys 100%
I had excellent experience working with Kevin Feltis, sales rep from SolarSesame. Kevin was professional, knowledgeable, and patient in answering all my questions about going solar. He explained the s...
Sun Light & Power
I'm on my fourth project with SL&P and I have to say that they are one of the very best contracting companies I have worked with. They are very thorough and attentive to detail. The workmanship has b...
Here are my criteria for choosing a solar vendor: Long-lived company: ✅ Competitive pricing: ✅ (similar to another bid we got, and in line with local data) Good communication: ✅ (no BS, ever ...
This team is very thorough and detail oriented - as you want when having something installed on your house that is supposed to function for over 25 years. They have been around a long time and will be...
Consider Solarsesame if...
- ✓ You're installing solar on a straightforward single-story home with modern electrical and uncomplicated roof geometry where installation complexity is minimal
- ✓ Solarsesame's online tools and visualization features strongly appeal to you for understanding system design and projected savings before committing
- ✓ You prioritize a no-pressure sales consultation and appreciate their patient approach to explaining financing options in detail
- ✓ You're comfortable accepting the risk that comes with a newer contractor in exchange for potentially competitive pricing on standard installations
Consider Sun Light & Power if...
- ✓ Your home has complex conditions like steep roofs, older electrical panels, or custom mounting requirements that benefit from decades of problem-solving experience
- ✓ Long-term warranty reliability matters significantly to you, and you want a contractor with proven staying power over decades
- ✓ You may need future repairs, system expansions, or battery additions years from now and want a company with institutional knowledge of their own installations
- ✓ You value the employee-owned business model and the workforce stability that suggests for ongoing support and technical continuity
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Solarsesame for references from customers whose systems have been operating for their full two years, and how they handle warranty claims given their brief history
- → Ask Sun Light & Power about their typical project timeline and whether their thoroughness extends project duration compared to newer competitors
- → Ask both companies what happens if your inverter fails in ten years—how does each ensure parts availability and technical support for aging systems
- → Ask Solarsesame how they plan to support long-term warranties if the company is sold or ceases operations, a common scenario in the solar industry
The Bottom Line
Sun Light & Power is the clearly superior choice for most homeowners investing in solar. Their 49 years of California licensing, employee-owned stability, and proven ability to support systems decades after installation provide warranty reliability that Solarsesame simply cannot match at two years old. The experience gap matters practically: Sun Light & Power diagnoses problems during assessment that newer installers miss, handles complex roof and electrical conditions confidently, and repairs systems when other installers have disappeared. Choose Solarsesame only if you have an exceptionally straightforward installation, strongly prefer their sales tools and consultation style, and accept the meaningful risk that comes with a contractor whose long-term viability remains unproven in an industry where many new installers fail.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Experience doesn't necessarily mean slower, but Sun Light & Power's reviews emphasize thoroughness, which may extend consultation and design phases compared to Solarsesame's streamlined sales process. Pricing isn't indicated in the data, but veteran contractors often charge for expertise that prevents costly mistakes on complex installations. For straightforward projects, this thoroughness may feel excessive; for complicated roofs or electrical systems, it typically saves money long-term.
Two years of licensing is genuinely limited for an industry where problems often emerge 5-10 years after installation. Many solar companies fail within their first five years, leaving customers without warranty support. Solarsesame may perform well on standard installations, but their ability to diagnose hidden issues during assessment and provide decades of warranty support remains unproven. Equipment warranties from manufacturers exist separately, but installation workmanship warranties depend on company longevity.
Yes, significantly. Sun Light & Power explicitly handles repairs for systems installed by other companies, including defunct installers—a service that requires deep diagnostic expertise and familiarity with multiple equipment generations. Their 49 years mean they've seen virtually every solar technology and failure mode. Solarsesame focuses on new installations and lacks the institutional knowledge for complex troubleshooting on aging systems from other installers.
Both install battery systems, but Sun Light & Power's experience adding batteries to decades-old arrays they didn't originally install suggests superior capability for integrating storage with existing electrical and solar infrastructure. They understand compatibility issues across equipment generations. If you're adding batteries to an existing system or have complex electrical requirements, Sun Light & Power's diagnostic expertise provides meaningful advantage over Solarsesame's two years of experience.
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See our ranked list of top electrical contractors in Alameda.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 12, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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