Compare Local Pros
Evans Lighting And Electric vs Hatch Electric
El Dorado Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Hatch Electric's 52 years of experience and workers compensation coverage provide significantly stronger homeowner protection than Evans Lighting's 11-year operation without workers comp.
| Evans Lighting And Electric | Hatch Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.4 |
| Years Licensed | 11 years | 52 years |
| License # | 1004709 | 291539 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Placerville, CA | South Lake Tahoe, CA |
| Website | — | www.hatchelectric.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Evans Lighting And Electric
Customers consistently praise Evans Lighting's troubleshooting expertise and ability to explain complex electrical issues in understandable terms, with reliable scheduling and fair pricing.
Hatch Electric
Hatch Electric customers emphasize responsive owner communication with early callbacks, transparent hourly billing without excessive diagnostic fees, and punctual technician arrivals.
Key Takeaway: While both companies demonstrate responsiveness, Evans stands out for technical explanation skills during complex troubleshooting, whereas Hatch is noted more for accessible owner communication and straightforward billing practices.
Customer Reviews
Evans Lighting And Electric
I needed a hot tub hook up and Ray at Evans Lightning and Electric came out quickly and did an amazing job! Highly recommended Ray for all your electrical needs!
I've had Ray out for two jobs now. Both not so big but required an electrician. Prompt courteous and fair. Chasing down the issues at my home was a challenge but not for him. I would use him again an...
Ray does a great job. He is highly skilled. Shows up on time and explains things in a simple way that the home owner can understand. His prices are fair for a journeyman electrision. He is highly reco...
Hatch Electric
Charo and Akita were wonderful and helped us greatly during a busy time. ðŸ™
The best in town
Best electricians in town with the fairest prices. Won't try to gauge you on initial assessment fees just charge a basic hourly fee and do the work that's necessary.
Consider Evans Lighting And Electric if...
- ✓ You're located in Placerville or western El Dorado County and want a locally based contractor who won't charge travel time from South Lake Tahoe
- ✓ Your project involves complex electrical troubleshooting in an older home where diagnosis skills matter more than decades of institutional experience
- ✓ You've verified with your homeowner's insurance that you have adequate coverage for contractor injuries and are comfortable assuming that risk
- ✓ You value the contractor's reputation for explaining technical work clearly to homeowners who want to understand what's being done
Consider Hatch Electric if...
- ✓ You want the strongest liability protection, with workers compensation insurance covering any job-site injuries rather than risking claims against your homeowner's policy
- ✓ Your electrical system involves older or unusual configurations where 52 years of institutional knowledge becomes valuable for diagnosing hidden issues
- ✓ You're located in South Lake Tahoe or eastern El Dorado County where Hatch is the local contractor
- ✓ You need a contractor with multiple technicians who can handle scheduling flexibility or larger commercial projects alongside residential work
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Evans Lighting: Ask directly about liability coverage and verify with your homeowner's insurance whether contractor injuries on your property are covered and what your deductible would be
- → For Hatch Electric: Ask which technician would be assigned to your project and how their experience level matches your specific electrical needs
- → For both: Request references from projects similar to yours in scope and request details about warranty coverage on labor and materials
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners, Hatch Electric is the safer choice. The workers compensation coverage alone eliminates a significant liability risk that Evans Lighting creates for your homeowner's insurance. Add 52 years of experience versus 11, and Hatch brings substantially deeper problem-solving capability for complex electrical issues. Evans Lighting makes sense primarily if you're in Placerville and want to avoid potential travel charges, have confirmed adequate insurance coverage for contractor injuries, and your project is straightforward enough that 11 years of experience is sufficient. Before hiring Evans, call your insurance agent this week to understand your exposure. Otherwise, Hatch's veteran status and full insurance coverage provide meaningfully stronger homeowner protection.
Get Up to 3 Free Quotes
Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward work like outlet installation or simple circuit additions, the gap matters less. But for troubleshooting mysterious electrical problems, upgrading older homes with outdated wiring, or handling code compliance issues, Hatch's five decades means they've likely encountered your exact situation before. Evans at 11 years is established enough for most residential work, but lacks the institutional memory for truly unusual scenarios.
If an electrician is injured on your property, medical bills and lost wages could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. California law may allow injured workers to pursue claims against property owners when the contractor lacks coverage. Contact your homeowner's insurance agent this week to understand your policy's limits and whether you need additional coverage before hiring any contractor without workers comp.
South Lake Tahoe to Placerville is roughly 60 miles, which could add travel time charges to your bill. Ask Hatch directly about their service area pricing and whether they charge travel fees for western El Dorado County. Evans being based in Placerville eliminates that concern for projects in the immediate area.
Customer feedback suggests both avoid price gouging, but hourly rates and project estimates may still differ. Hatch specifically mentions transparent hourly billing without high diagnostic fees. Request detailed written estimates from both contractors that break down labor rates, materials costs, and any additional fees so you can compare actual numbers, not just general pricing reputation.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top electrical contractors in El Dorado.
Other El Dorado Electrical Contractors Comparisons
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.
Get in Touch
Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.