Compare Local Pros
Coldwell Energy vs North Valley Electric
Placer Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing a specialized 14-year solar contractor against a newly-licensed electrical company focused on emergency repairs—fundamentally different businesses.
| Coldwell Energy | North Valley Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 14 years | 0 years |
| License # | 969149 | 1144334 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Rocklin, CA | Loomis, CA |
| Website | coldwellenergy.com | www.nv-electric.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Coldwell Energy
Customers consistently praise Coldwell Energy for organized solar installations with professional workmanship, effective system performance, and responsive service including leadership engagement when concerns arise.
North Valley Electric
North Valley Electric receives recognition for fast emergency response, efficient diagnostic work, and competitive pricing that undercuts other contractors on urgent repairs.
Key Takeaway: Coldwell's feedback centers on successful multi-phase project completion and long-term system performance, while North Valley's reviews focus entirely on speed and value for immediate problem-solving.
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.
North Valley Electric
The guys at North Valley Electric are the BEST! I had an emergency electrical problem pop up. Other companies were going to leave my family without power for days and charge $1000's more. Jason was a...
I run a busy breakfast restaurant. Jason came out early and quickly diagnosed our situation. He got right to the repair and we were back up and running before we even opened. Highly recommend.
Consider Coldwell Energy if...
- ✓ You're planning a solar installation for your home or property and need a contractor with demonstrated experience navigating utility requirements, permitting, and system design
- ✓ Your project timeline allows for proper planning and you value established operational systems over the 14-year licensing period
- ✓ You're undertaking a larger or more complex renewable energy project, particularly if agricultural or commercial-scale, where Coldwell's portfolio shows relevant experience
- ✓ You want a contractor whose long-term workmanship can be evaluated through over a decade of completed installations
Consider North Valley Electric if...
- ✓ You have an urgent electrical problem requiring immediate diagnosis and repair rather than a planned installation project
- ✓ Your need is straightforward electrical troubleshooting or emergency service where North Valley's responsive approach and competitive pricing offer clear value
- ✓ You're a commercial client needing off-hours service to minimize business disruption, as reviews highlight early morning availability
- ✓ You're comfortable with a newer contractor for simpler electrical work where their limited track record presents less risk than it would for complex installations
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Coldwell Energy: Ask for references from solar projects similar in scope to yours, particularly regarding how systems have performed over multiple years and how warranty issues were handled
- → For North Valley Electric: Ask how long they've been operating and request references you can contact about completed work quality, not just emergency response speed
- → For North Valley Electric: If considering them for installation work rather than repairs, ask about their specific experience with that project type and how many similar installations they've completed
- → For both: Confirm exact scope of work, timeline expectations, and what situations would require change orders or additional costs
The Bottom Line
These contractors serve fundamentally different needs. If you're planning a solar installation, Coldwell Energy's 14 years of specialized experience in renewable energy projects provides substantially lower risk and proven capability with the complex permitting, engineering, and installation requirements these systems demand. If you need emergency electrical repair or diagnostic troubleshooting, North Valley Electric's responsive service and competitive pricing make them worth contacting. Don't hire a solar specialist for emergency repairs, and don't hire an emergency repair contractor for a complex solar installation just because both hold electrical licenses. Match the contractor's demonstrated expertise to your specific project type.
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Frequently Asked Questions
While electrical contractors can legally perform electrical work on solar systems, nothing in North Valley Electric's background suggests solar installation experience—their reviews focus entirely on repairs and diagnostics. Solar installations require specific expertise in system design, structural considerations, utility interconnection, and specialized permitting that emergency repair experience doesn't provide. For solar work, Coldwell Energy's 14-year track record in this specialty offers substantially lower risk.
For complex solar installations, yes—the experience gap matters significantly. Solar projects involve structural analysis, electrical system design, utility coordination, and long-term performance considerations where mistakes can be expensive to fix. Coldwell's established history means proven processes and a track record you can verify. For simple electrical repairs, experience matters less than responsiveness, which is where newer contractors often compete effectively.
It means limited operational history to evaluate their work quality over time, fewer completed projects to assess, and less experience navigating complications that arise during installations. For emergency repairs this matters less—you need someone responsive who can diagnose problems quickly. For planned installations requiring warranties and long-term performance, a newer contractor presents more uncertainty about whether they'll still be operating years from now when issues might surface.
High owner involvement benefits both companies but plays out differently. For Coldwell's solar installations, it suggests leadership oversight on complex, multi-day projects requiring coordination. For North Valley's emergency repairs, it means direct accountability and faster decision-making during urgent situations. The value depends on your project: planned installations benefit from experienced oversight, while emergencies benefit from someone empowered to solve problems immediately without corporate approval.
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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