Compare Local Pros
Coldwell Energy vs High Tech Electric
Placer Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
High Tech Electric brings twice the industry experience with 30 years of licensing versus Coldwell Energy's 14 years, but Coldwell specializes in solar while High Tech focuses on traditional electrical.
| Coldwell Energy | High Tech Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 3.5 |
| Years Licensed | 14 years | 30 years |
| License # | 969149 | 724950 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Rocklin, CA | Loomis, CA |
| Website | coldwellenergy.com | www.hightechelectric.us |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Coldwell Energy
Customers consistently highlight Coldwell's smooth solar installation processes, organized project execution, and effective system performance after completion.
High Tech Electric
Customers emphasize High Tech's friendly service approach, professional worker presentation, and positive owner interactions rather than specific project outcomes.
Key Takeaway: Coldwell's reviews focus on technical execution and solar system effectiveness, while High Tech's reviews emphasize interpersonal service quality without mentioning specific electrical project types.
Customer Reviews
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.
High Tech Electric
Best service . Easy to work with and friendly.
Talked about buting a truck from them. Mike Klein is the young owner & is building a Empire. Very Sweet...
Outstanding personal. Professional work. Will always use them
Consider Coldwell Energy if...
- ✓ Your project involves solar panel installation, whether residential rooftop or ground-mounted agricultural arrays, where Coldwell's documented solar specialization directly matches your needs
- ✓ You're installing tracker systems or larger agricultural solar projects that require experience with complex mounting and orientation systems
- ✓ You want a contractor whose entire business model centers on renewable energy, ensuring their crews work with solar components daily rather than occasionally
- ✓ Customer feedback about systems working effectively after installation matters to you, as solar performance depends heavily on proper installation technique
Consider High Tech Electric if...
- ✓ Your project is traditional electrical work such as panel upgrades, rewiring, commercial electrical systems, or troubleshooting existing circuits where 30 years of broad experience applies
- ✓ You have a commercial property requiring electrical services, where High Tech's documented commercial focus provides relevant expertise
- ✓ You value the depth of experience that comes from three decades of navigating code changes, utility requirements, and evolving electrical standards
- ✓ You need a versatile electrical contractor for ongoing maintenance or varied electrical projects beyond solar installation
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Coldwell Energy how many solar installations they complete annually and request references for projects similar in size and type to yours, particularly if you're planning agricultural or tracker systems
- → Ask High Tech Electric directly about their solar installation experience and how frequently they perform solar work versus traditional electrical services
- → Confirm with both contractors their familiarity with current solar interconnection requirements and local utility policies if your project involves solar
- → Ask about warranty coverage specifics, particularly for solar components versus installation labor, to understand long-term protection
The Bottom Line
If your project involves solar installation, choose Coldwell Energy. Their 14 years have been spent building solar-specific expertise with documented success on residential and agricultural systems, and customer feedback confirms effective system performance. If you need traditional electrical work, panel upgrades, commercial electrical services, or troubleshooting, choose High Tech Electric, whose 30 years of broad electrical experience provides depth for complex electrical challenges. Don't hire High Tech for solar based solely on their longer licensing period—those extra 16 years weren't spent installing solar systems. Match the contractor's specialization to your actual project type rather than defaulting to longer experience in an unrelated focus area.
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Frequently Asked Questions
While High Tech Electric holds an active electrical contractor license that legally permits solar work, their customer reviews don't reference solar installations, and their description emphasizes commercial and residential electrical services. If you're considering them for solar, ask directly about recent solar projects, their crew's specific training on solar systems, and how often they perform these installations versus their core electrical work.
Not for solar projects. Coldwell's 14 years positions them as an established contractor who has spent their entire licensing period focused on renewable energy during a time of significant solar industry growth. Their customer feedback confirms successful completion of complex projects including agricultural tracker systems. The relevant question is depth in solar specialization versus breadth in general electrical work.
Coldwell Energy is the direct match for residential solar, with documented experience and customer reviews specifically mentioning smooth solar installation processes and systems working effectively. High Tech Electric's commercial electrical expertise doesn't translate to a solar advantage unless your project combines solar with complex electrical upgrades where their 30 years of troubleshooting experience becomes relevant.
This situation requires asking both contractors specific questions. Coldwell can likely handle standard electrical work accompanying solar installations, which is routine for solar contractors. High Tech could potentially handle both if they perform solar regularly. Ask each company about their experience with combined projects and consider whether using specialized contractors for each component might provide better results than compromising on either the solar or electrical expertise.
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 13, 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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