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Hooked On Solar vs Southwest Electric
Placer Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Hooked On Solar is a specialized solar contractor with workers comp and documented customer feedback, while Southwest Electric has deeper trade experience but lacks workers compensation coverage.
| Hooked On Solar | Southwest Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 3.5 |
| Years Licensed | 16 years | 37 years |
| License # | 949707 | 561279 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Rocklin, CA | Auburn, CA |
| Website | www.hookedonsolar.com | www.electricianincalifornia.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Hooked On Solar
Customers consistently praise organized installation crews, thorough communication throughout the project, and the company's expertise navigating permitting and utility coordination processes.
Key Takeaway: Hooked On Solar has documented customer feedback confirming their solar installation capabilities and service approach, while Southwest Electric has no available reviews to assess current operations or customer satisfaction.
Customer Reviews
Hooked On Solar
I would recommend Hooked on Solar. I know they were really busy this fall and they worked hard to get us installed before the end of the year, even with some unexpected hurdles (that they had no contr...
We were very pleased with our experience working with Hooked On Solar to get our solar project completed. From our initial contact and all the way through the project everyone we spoke with was knowle...
Solid company. The staff were communicative and helpful. Did everything they said they would. I'd use them again.
Southwest Electric
No reviews available
Consider Hooked On Solar if...
- ✓ You're installing solar panels or adding battery storage and want a contractor with documented solar-specific experience in permitting, utility coordination, and HOA approvals.
- ✓ Workers compensation coverage matters to you, and you want to avoid potential liability if someone is injured during installation on your property.
- ✓ You value being able to review customer feedback about installation quality, communication, and post-project support before making a decision.
- ✓ Your project involves specific equipment like Tesla Powerwall, Franklin batteries, or SunPower panels that Hooked On Solar has documented experience installing.
Consider Southwest Electric if...
- ✓ Your project involves general electrical work rather than solar installation, where Southwest Electric's 37 years of broader electrical trade experience may be more relevant.
- ✓ You're willing to verify current workers comp status directly and confirm your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries before proceeding.
- ✓ You can obtain and check recent references from solar projects similar to yours, since no customer reviews are available to evaluate their solar installation capabilities.
- ✓ The company's longevity in the region matters more to you than documented customer feedback or solar specialization.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Southwest Electric: Ask for current certificate of workers compensation insurance and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're covered if a contractor's worker is injured on your property without their own coverage.
- → For Southwest Electric: Request references from at least three recent solar installations similar to your project size, and verify their experience with your specific equipment and local utility requirements.
- → For both: Ask who will be on-site daily, how long their installation crew has worked together, and what their typical timeline is from contract signing to final utility permission to operate.
- → For both: Clarify warranty terms, what post-installation support they provide, and their typical response time for service issues after the system is operational.
The Bottom Line
For a solar installation project, Hooked On Solar is the clearer choice for most homeowners. Their workers comp coverage protects you from liability, their 16 years of solar-specific experience addresses the exact technical and administrative challenges your project will face, and customer feedback confirms organized installations with strong communication. Southwest Electric's 37 years of electrical licensing shows longevity, but without workers comp, documented solar project history, or customer reviews, you're taking on significant risk and uncertainty. Unless you have specific reasons to pursue Southwest Electric, verify their solar capabilities thoroughly, and confirm insurance coverage before proceeding, Hooked On Solar offers more verifiable qualifications for residential solar work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a contractor doesn't carry workers comp and someone gets injured on your property, they can potentially sue you directly, and your homeowner's insurance may have to cover it. Solar installations involve roof work, electrical connections, and heavy equipment where injuries can happen. Hooked On Solar carries workers comp, transferring this risk to their insurer, while Southwest Electric does not have coverage on file, leaving you potentially exposed.
Not necessarily for solar-specific work. Southwest Electric has longer general electrical licensing, but solar installation requires specialized knowledge of permitting, utility interconnection agreements, battery integration, and monitoring systems that differ from standard electrical work. Hooked On Solar's 16 years focused exclusively on solar means documented experience with the exact challenges your project will face, supported by customer feedback confirming this expertise.
Yes, especially for a significant investment like solar installation. Reviews provide insight into communication, installation quality, problem-solving, and post-project support that you cannot assess otherwise. Without reviews, you're relying entirely on what the contractor tells you about their capabilities. Request multiple recent references for solar projects and actually contact them before making a decision.
You can require it in your contract, but the contractor must actually purchase the coverage, which they currently don't carry. Ask why they don't maintain workers comp and whether they'll obtain it for your project. Be aware that contractors working without coverage may have cost structures or business practices that differ from insured competitors, and adding it mid-stream may not be straightforward.
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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 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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