Compare Local Pros
Coldwell Energy vs Southwest Electric
Placer Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Coldwell Energy specializes in solar with verified workers comp and customer feedback, while Southwest Electric brings veteran electrical experience but lacks workers comp insurance on file.
| Coldwell Energy | Southwest Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 3.5 |
| Years Licensed | 14 years | 37 years |
| License # | 969149 | 561279 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Rocklin, CA | Auburn, CA |
| Website | coldwellenergy.com | www.electricianincalifornia.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Coldwell Energy
Customers consistently praise smooth installation processes, professional workmanship, and responsive customer service including direct owner involvement in resolving any concerns.
Key Takeaway: Coldwell Energy has verifiable customer feedback documenting satisfaction across multiple project types, while Southwest Electric lacks public reviews to assess recent performance or customer experience.
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.
Southwest Electric
No reviews available
Consider Coldwell Energy if...
- ✓ Your project is solar-specific, whether residential or agricultural scale, and you want a contractor with documented solar installation experience including tracker and fixed array systems
- ✓ You want to avoid potential liability exposure from worker injuries, as Coldwell Energy carries verified workers compensation insurance
- ✓ Customer service responsiveness matters to you, as reviews indicate owner involvement and commitment to resolving concerns that arise during projects
- ✓ You value verifiable customer feedback showing consistent satisfaction with both technical execution and communication throughout the project lifecycle
Consider Southwest Electric if...
- ✓ Your project involves complex electrical work beyond solar installation and you need veteran expertise with 37 years of California electrical experience
- ✓ You're comfortable verifying current insurance status directly and confirming your homeowner's policy adequately covers contractor worker injuries
- ✓ The longer licensing history matters for your specific electrical situation, particularly if dealing with older systems or unusual configurations that benefit from decades of field experience
- ✓ You're willing to request and contact references directly since limited public feedback is available about recent project performance
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Southwest Electric for proof of current workers compensation insurance and confirm what liability coverage exists if workers are injured on your property, then verify with your homeowner's insurance what you'd be responsible for
- → Ask Southwest Electric for specific references from recent solar projects similar to yours, including contact information so you can verify their solar installation experience directly
- → Ask Coldwell Energy about their experience with your specific project type, whether residential rooftop or ground-mount systems, and request examples of similar completed installations
- → Ask both contractors about permit handling and inspection processes specific to solar installations in your jurisdiction, as this reveals familiarity with local requirements
The Bottom Line
For solar installations, Coldwell Energy is the stronger choice for most homeowners. Their 14-year solar specialization with documented customer satisfaction, full workers comp coverage, and proven experience across residential and agricultural projects provides both technical capability and liability protection. Southwest Electric's 37 years of electrical experience is impressive, but the missing workers comp creates real financial risk for you, and their lack of verifiable solar-specific feedback makes it difficult to assess actual solar installation quality. Unless your project requires complex electrical work beyond solar where veteran electrical knowledge is essential, and you're willing to verify insurance and references yourself, Coldwell Energy offers the combination of specialized expertise and complete contractor protection that solar projects require.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The experience advantage matters more for complex electrical troubleshooting than straightforward solar installations. For solar specifically, Coldwell Energy's 14 years of specialized solar work with documented customer satisfaction is more relevant than general electrical tenure. The workers comp gap at Southwest Electric creates real liability risk that experienced electrical knowledge doesn't eliminate—if someone gets hurt installing your panels, their decades of licensing won't protect you from potential claims.
Not necessarily—many homeowner's policies have limited or no coverage for contractor employee injuries, especially when the contractor should have carried workers comp. You'd need to verify your specific policy language and potentially face increased premiums or gaps in protection. Hiring a contractor with workers comp insurance transfers this risk away from you entirely, which is why Coldwell Energy's coverage is a meaningful advantage for homeowner protection.
Yes—14 years of active solar licensing means Coldwell Energy has installed systems through multiple generations of solar technology and evolving code requirements. Their documented experience with both residential and agricultural projects, including complex tracker arrays, demonstrates capability beyond basic rooftop installations. For solar specifically, their specialized focus is more valuable than Southwest Electric's broader but less solar-specific electrical experience.
This could reflect different business models, customer bases, or online presence strategies, but it does create an information gap when you're trying to evaluate recent performance. The lack of verifiable feedback means you'll need to request references directly from Southwest Electric and actually contact them. Coldwell Energy's documented customer satisfaction provides transparency about what to expect regarding communication, workmanship, and problem resolution that you simply can't verify for Southwest Electric without additional legwork.
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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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