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All Sierra Electric vs Coldwell Energy
Placer Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Coldwell Energy offers twice the experience and workers comp coverage, but All Sierra Electric specializes in diverse residential electrical work while Coldwell focuses primarily on solar installations.
| All Sierra Electric | Coldwell Energy | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.5 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 7 years | 14 years |
| License # | 1048616 | 969149 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Colfax, CA | Rocklin, CA |
| Website | allsierraelectric.com | coldwellenergy.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
All Sierra Electric
Customers consistently praise All Sierra Electric's technical versatility across diverse residential projects and responsiveness to emergency situations, with repeat clients highlighting the owner's hands-on involvement and ethical practices.
Coldwell Energy
Customers emphasize Coldwell Energy's organized solar installation processes and professional execution on both residential and agricultural scale projects, with positive mentions of customer service and leadership engagement when issues arise.
Key Takeaway: All Sierra Electric's feedback centers on quick response and problem-solving across varied electrical needs, while Coldwell Energy's reviews focus exclusively on planned, larger-scale solar installations requiring project management and systematic execution.
Customer Reviews
All Sierra Electric
I have to say, there is no need to search any further. Caleb is the guy you are looking for. He is extremely experienced and thorough. He has done multiple jobs for us including a ground mount solar s...
Highly recommend! Caleb did not charge us as our issue was a simple fix. Professional and Ethical! He will definitely be our go to guy for all of our electric needs!
Caleb from All Sierra Electric has been out to my house a few times to do a variety of electrical projects for me. Caleb is fantastic! He is a great communicator, does his work efficiently and is a tr...
Coldwell Energy
Update: After posting this review, I was contacted directly by Coldwell Solar's president, Sean, who assigned a team to work on our behalf to get the issues addressed. Coldwell has done an outstanding...
Super excited to be work with Coldwell Solar team on our next solar project. Check out their community solar program and the renewable solar credits. Huge opportunities to save on energy costs.
Coldwell Solar installed two arrays for us. The whole process went extremely smooth and the systems are working great.
Consider All Sierra Electric if...
- ✓ You need traditional residential electrical work like panel upgrades, circuit additions, garage wiring, or troubleshooting existing systems rather than solar installation
- ✓ You have an urgent electrical problem requiring emergency response or off-hours service availability
- ✓ You want a contractor with repeat customer relationships and feedback showing technical versatility across diverse electrical projects
- ✓ You're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accept the liability risk of working with an uninsured contractor
Consider Coldwell Energy if...
- ✓ You're installing a solar energy system for your home or agricultural property and want a contractor who specializes in renewable energy
- ✓ Workers compensation coverage is a priority and you want to avoid potential liability if someone is injured during your project
- ✓ You value the additional diagnostic experience and code familiarity that comes with 14 years versus 7 years of licensing
- ✓ Your project involves larger-scale or more complex solar installations including tracker or fixed array systems
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask All Sierra Electric for proof of current liability insurance and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're covered if a worker is injured on your property without the contractor carrying workers comp
- → Ask Coldwell Energy whether they handle the specific electrical work you need beyond solar installation, as their customer feedback indicates solar specialization
- → Ask All Sierra Electric for references from projects similar to yours completed within the past two years
- → Ask both contractors about their permitting process and timeline, especially regarding inspection schedules in Placer County
The Bottom Line
If you're installing solar, choose Coldwell Energy—they're solar specialists with 14 years of experience and full insurance coverage that protects you from liability. If you need residential electrical work like panel upgrades, repairs, or emergency service, All Sierra Electric has the relevant experience and customer feedback showing versatility, but you must address the workers compensation gap first by verifying your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries. Don't hire All Sierra Electric without confirming your liability exposure with your insurance agent. The workers comp issue is manageable if you understand and accept the risk, but it's not something to overlook.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on customer feedback, Coldwell Energy's work centers exclusively on solar array installations for residential and agricultural properties. If you need panel upgrades, circuit work, or electrical repairs unrelated to solar, All Sierra Electric shows clear experience with diverse residential electrical projects. Confirm directly with Coldwell Energy if they handle the non-solar electrical work you need.
Without workers compensation, you could be held financially responsible if an electrician is injured on your property, potentially facing medical bills and legal costs that could reach tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your homeowner's insurance may provide some coverage, but many policies have limitations or exclusions. Before hiring All Sierra Electric, contact your insurance agent to understand your specific exposure and consider whether the risk is worth any cost savings.
Coldwell Energy's 14 years means they've navigated twice as many code updates, handled more edge cases, and dealt with more permitting complications than All Sierra Electric's 7 years. For straightforward projects, 7 years is solid experience. For complex solar installations involving structural considerations, utility interconnections, and evolving renewable energy standards, the additional experience provides more confidence in handling unforeseen issues. Both are experienced contractors, but Coldwell Energy has seen more.
All Sierra Electric clearly serves this need, with customer feedback specifically mentioning emergency response, off-hours availability, and urgent weatherhead replacements during storms. Coldwell Energy's reviews focus on planned solar installations without mention of emergency service. If you need immediate electrical repairs, All Sierra Electric demonstrates this capability despite the workers comp concern.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top electrical contractors in Placer.
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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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