High West Electric vs North Valley Electric
Placer Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
North Valley Electric carries workers compensation insurance while High West Electric does not, a critical difference for homeowner liability protection despite both being newer contractors.
| High West Electric | North Valley Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 2 years | 0 years |
| License # | 1121457 | 1144334 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Rocklin, CA | Loomis, CA |
| Website | www.highwest-electric.com | www.nv-electric.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
High West Electric
High West Electric customers consistently emphasize clear communication, thorough project explanations, and fair pricing across diverse residential electrical projects.
North Valley Electric
North Valley Electric customers highlight rapid emergency response, efficient diagnostic work, and competitive pricing for urgent electrical issues.
Key Takeaway: High West's reviews reflect planned residential installation work with educational service, while North Valley's feedback centers specifically on emergency response speed and commercial diagnostic efficiency.
Customer Reviews
High West Electric
We recently had Mike come out to help with some electrical issues, and I couldn't be happier with the service. He was on time, friendly, snd well equipped. He took the time to explain what the problem...
Mike of High West Electric is incredible. He replaced the breaker box in my mobile homes wiring. Very trustworthy, great customer service and overall genuine guy and company. I'll highly recommend to ...
Mike went above and beyond to help me with my electrical needs. Communication was great and they very clearly laid out the plans and scope of the work. Very fair on price compared to other options we ...
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 High West Electric if...
- ✓ Your project is a planned residential upgrade like a panel replacement, hot tub installation, or outdoor outlet addition where High West's documented experience is directly relevant
- ✓ You value thorough explanations and educational service approach during electrical work, which multiple customers specifically highlighted
- ✓ You're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accept the liability implications of working with a contractor without workers comp
- ✓ You need an electrician comfortable with varied residential settings including mobile homes and ranch properties
Consider North Valley Electric if...
- ✓ You're facing an urgent electrical issue and need fast response times, which is North Valley's demonstrated strength according to their emergency service feedback
- ✓ Workers compensation coverage is a non-negotiable requirement for you, eliminating potential liability exposure on your property
- ✓ You operate a commercial facility requiring early morning service or quick turnaround to minimize business disruption
- ✓ You're comparing emergency service quotes and North Valley's competitive pricing model appeals to your budget constraints
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask High West Electric directly about their liability insurance limits and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're covered if a contractor's worker is injured on your property when the contractor lacks workers comp
- → Ask North Valley Electric for references from residential projects similar to yours, since their documented reviews focus heavily on emergency and commercial work
- → Ask both contractors how long their current crew has been working together and what backup plans exist if the owner is unavailable, given both appear to be high owner-involvement operations
- → Ask High West about any additional insurance they carry beyond the bond that might provide injury coverage, even if not formal workers comp
The Bottom Line
For planned residential electrical projects, High West Electric offers more documented experience and customer feedback reflecting thorough, educational service across diverse installations—but only if you can address the workers comp gap by verifying your homeowner's liability coverage and confirming additional insurance with them directly. For emergency situations or if workers compensation is non-negotiable, North Valley Electric provides that critical protection and demonstrated fast response, though you should ask for references on projects similar to yours given their limited review history. Don't hire either contractor without asking the specific questions about insurance coverage and relevant project experience outlined above.
Get Up to 3 Free Quotes
Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
If an electrician is injured while working at your home, you could be held liable for medical costs and lost wages if the contractor lacks workers compensation insurance. Your homeowner's policy may provide some coverage, but filing a claim could affect your rates, and coverage limits vary. Before hiring High West, contact your insurance agent to understand your specific exposure and consider requiring proof of additional liability coverage.
North Valley's license was just issued, and their documented customer feedback focuses on emergency diagnostics rather than installation projects. High West has two years of licensing history with specific customer mentions of panel replacements and installation work. For planned residential upgrades, ask North Valley directly about similar projects they've completed and request references, as their current reviews don't demonstrate this experience.
High West Electric shows broader documented experience with planned residential projects including hot tub installations, panel replacements, and outdoor outlets, with customers specifically praising their thorough explanations. However, their lack of workers comp creates liability risk you must address. North Valley has the insurance protection but limited documentation of non-emergency residential work. If you can verify adequate liability coverage with High West, their project diversity gives them an edge for planned work.
Two years versus newly licensed is a modest difference, but it does provide High West with more documented customer history and demonstrated project variety. Both are still in the newer contractor category where asking for specific project references is critical. The workers comp difference is more significant to your decision than the licensing timeline in this comparison.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top electrical contractors in Placer.
Other Placer Electrical Contractors Comparisons
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.
Get in Touch
Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.
Compare Local Pros