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Oldtown Electric vs Scarbrough Electric
Sacramento Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Both young companies deliver responsive service with strong customer feedback, but Scarbrough Electric lacks workers compensation insurance on file.
| Oldtown Electric | Scarbrough Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 3 years | 4 years |
| License # | 1099728 | 1091074 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Citrus Heights, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Website | www.oldtownelectricinc.net | — |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Oldtown Electric
Customers emphasize thorough explanations throughout the service process, clean work practices, and educational approach with technicians taking time to ensure understanding.
Scarbrough Electric
Customers highlight exceptional emergency responsiveness including after-hours availability, efficient work completion faster than expected, and the owner's personable yet professional approach.
Key Takeaway: Scarbrough Electric demonstrates proven emergency service capability with evening and weekend availability, while Oldtown Electric receives specific praise for teaching customers about their electrical systems during service calls.
Customer Reviews
Oldtown Electric
Old Town Electric did a fabulous job running power 400 feet from the service to our barn, installing a subpanel, 30 overhead lights in our covered arena and barn, light switches and plugs throughout,...
I am completely happy with Old Town Electric's service. Not only did they provide a competitive quote for my EV charger installation, they walked me through the app setup and explained the work they ...
Courteous and speedy, got the job done explained the issue well.
Scarbrough Electric
Brian did a ton of work for us, everything from installing new EV charger to adding electrical lines and outlets, adding a sub panel, to running new lines for recessed light and drilling new holes to ...
Brian from Scarbrough Electric did a fabulous job replacing the electrical panel completely and coordinating with SMUD to ensure that power was restored to our home. Our power went out very early morn...
I was referred to Brian - and from the get go his service was fantastic!! I had an issue with my doorbell with a crazy buzzing sound that was driving me crazy. Brian came over past working hours whi...
Consider Oldtown Electric if...
- ✓ You want the liability protection that comes with hiring a contractor carrying workers compensation insurance, avoiding potential exposure through your homeowner's policy.
- ✓ You value thorough explanations and educational approach, as customers specifically mention technicians walking them through installations and ensuring understanding.
- ✓ You prioritize clean work practices and proper cleanup, which appears as a recurring theme in customer feedback.
- ✓ Your project involves commercial work alongside residential services, as Oldtown handles both types of clients.
Consider Scarbrough Electric if...
- ✓ You need genuine emergency service capability with evening, weekend, and holiday availability, which Scarbrough demonstrates through actual customer experiences.
- ✓ You're comfortable verifying your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accepting that liability exposure in exchange for other benefits.
- ✓ You prefer working directly with the owner on every aspect of the project, as Scarbrough operates with the owner performing the electrical work personally.
- ✓ Speed of work completion is your top priority, as customers consistently note projects finished faster than anticipated.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Scarbrough Electric directly about liability coverage and verify with your homeowner's insurance whether you're covered if a contractor without workers comp is injured at your property.
- → Ask both companies for references from projects matching yours in scope and complexity, given their relatively early stage of business development.
- → Ask Scarbrough whether the owner works alone or brings helpers, and if helpers are involved, how injury liability is handled.
- → Ask about current scheduling availability, as both offer quick service but Oldtown may have expanded beyond owner-only operations.
The Bottom Line
Both contractors deliver responsive service and earn strong customer feedback, making either a reasonable choice for standard residential electrical work. However, the workers compensation difference is real and consequential. If you want full liability protection without depending on your homeowner's insurance, choose Oldtown Electric. If you're willing to verify your insurance coverage and accept that exposure in exchange for Scarbrough's demonstrated emergency availability and fast work completion, that's a defensible choice with proper preparation. Contact your homeowner's insurance before deciding to understand your actual liability exposure with an uninsured contractor.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If the owner or any helper is injured while working at your home, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage for their medical bills, lost wages, and potential disability claims. This could affect your insurance rates and expose you to liability. Before hiring, call your homeowner's insurance to understand your coverage and verify what happens if an uninsured contractor is injured on your property.
Not meaningfully in this case. Both are young contractors in the growing phase, with Scarbrough at four years and Oldtown at three years. The workers compensation difference is far more significant than the one-year experience gap. Both demonstrate competence through customer feedback and handle similar project complexity.
Scarbrough Electric has demonstrated emergency availability through customer experiences, with people specifically mentioning late evening, weekend, and holiday calls answered promptly. While Oldtown offers same-day and next-day service, the customer feedback doesn't specifically highlight after-hours emergency response like Scarbrough's does.
Both show high owner involvement, but the operational structure may differ. Scarbrough's description emphasizes the owner performing electrical work directly, while Oldtown's description as handling both residential and commercial clients suggests potential for additional technicians. Ask each company directly who will be performing your specific work and whether they employ additional electricians or apprentices.
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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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