Compare Local Pros
California Renewable Energy vs Coldwell Energy
Placer Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Coldwell Energy brings nearly triple the licensing experience (14 years vs 5 years), which matters for complex solar installations and long-term warranty support.
| California Renewable Energy | Coldwell Energy | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 5 years | 14 years |
| License # | 1068801 | 969149 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Roseville, CA | Rocklin, CA |
| Website | care.green | coldwellenergy.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
California Renewable Energy
Customers emphasize California Renewable Energy's financing flexibility, thorough consultations, and responsive communication across diverse home improvement projects.
Coldwell Energy
Customers highlight Coldwell Energy's technical execution, professional workmanship, and effective system performance on solar installations ranging from residential to agricultural scale.
Key Takeaway: California Renewable Energy's reviews focus on the customer service journey and multi-project coordination, while Coldwell Energy's reviews concentrate on solar-specific technical outcomes and installation quality.
Customer Reviews
California Renewable Energy
Had new heatpump and energy efficient water tank installed. Contracted work to other installation companies. Managed install work for both with no issues. I would use them again.
Jeff was very easy and pleasant to talk to about the cost of a new roof and gutters
Thomas and Brent with California Renewable Energy are amazing!! They walked us through every step, they addressed any questions or concerns we had right away, both are very friendly/professional and m...
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 California Renewable Energy if...
- ✓ You need solar bundled with other home improvements like roofing, windows, or HVAC in a single coordinated project with one point of contact
- ✓ Your project requires flexible financing arrangements or you need help navigating budget constraints and program options
- ✓ You value frequent communication and educational consultation throughout the decision-making process
- ✓ Your installation is straightforward residential solar where coordination matters more than specialized technical depth
Consider Coldwell Energy if...
- ✓ Your solar project involves complexity such as ground-mount systems, agricultural applications, or larger installations requiring specialized technical expertise
- ✓ You prefer a contractor whose primary focus is solar rather than managing multiple service categories
- ✓ Long-term company stability matters to you for warranty support and potential system expansions over the next 10-15 years
- ✓ You want a contractor who has weathered multiple solar technology cycles and regulatory changes through 14 years of continuous licensing
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask California Renewable Energy which partner installation companies would handle your specific solar work and request references from those crews
- → Ask both companies about their warranty support process and how they handle equipment issues that arise 5-10 years after installation
- → Ask California Renewable Energy how they coordinate multi-service projects and who manages quality control across different installation teams
- → Ask Coldwell Energy about their experience with projects similar to yours in size and complexity, particularly if you need anything beyond standard roof-mount residential solar
The Bottom Line
For most solar projects, Coldwell Energy's 14 years of established licensing and solar specialization provide stronger assurance for this long-term investment, particularly if your installation involves any complexity or you value having an experienced contractor available for warranty support over the next two decades. Choose California Renewable Energy if you specifically need solar bundled with other home improvements like roofing or HVAC in a coordinated project, or if their financing assistance makes your project financially feasible when it otherwise wouldn't be. For straightforward solar-only installations where long-term reliability matters, Coldwell Energy's deeper experience and focused expertise justify their selection.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your priorities. This model can provide flexibility and access to specialized crews for different services, which works well for bundled projects. However, it adds a coordination layer between you and the actual installers. Ask specifically which company would install your solar system, verify that crew's experience, and clarify who handles warranty issues if problems arise years later.
For solar specifically, yes, if the price difference is reasonable. Solar systems last 25+ years, and having a contractor with established longevity increases the likelihood they'll be available for warranty support, system expansions, or troubleshooting a decade from now. Their experience also reduces risk of installation errors that might not surface until years later. However, if California Renewable Energy offers significantly better financing terms that make the project feasible, that practical advantage may outweigh the experience gap for straightforward installations.
California Renewable Energy's customers emphasize the consultation process, financing assistance, and communication throughout projects involving multiple services. Coldwell Energy's customers focus on technical execution and system performance, particularly for solar-specific work. If you need hand-holding through financing decisions and prefer frequent updates, California Renewable Energy's approach may suit you better. If you want solar expertise and care most about the technical outcome, Coldwell's specialized focus aligns with that priority.
Not necessarily, but understand what you're getting. They appear to operate as a project manager coordinating specialists rather than a company with in-house crews for everything. This works well if you need multiple home improvements managed together. However, if you want deep solar expertise and direct access to the installers, a specialized solar contractor like Coldwell Energy provides more focused technical knowledge and accountability without the coordination layer.
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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 11, 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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