Compare Local Pros
Courtesy Electric vs Simtek Electric
Santa Clara Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Courtesy Electric offers documented customer feedback and responsive service while Simtek brings nearly twice the licensed experience but minimal review history.
| Courtesy Electric | Simtek Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.3 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 18 years | 37 years |
| License # | 903345 | 541101 |
| Workers' Comp | — | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Sunnyvale, CA | Gilroy, CA |
| Website | courtesyelectric.us | www.simtekelectric.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Courtesy Electric
Customers consistently praise responsive communication, extended availability, and diagnostic expertise that solved problems other electricians couldn't identify.
Key Takeaway: Courtesy Electric has documented customer feedback establishing service patterns while Simtek's current performance quality cannot be assessed from available reviews.
Customer Reviews
Courtesy Electric
Mike Valenzuela/Courtesy Electric installed a new electric charger in our garage and we couldn't have been happier with his service. Not only timely in his response to our phone calls, estimate and wo...
These men know electric, such great men, never had any doubt I always had a good feeling the job was gonna be done right
Best service in Santa Clara county true professional
Simtek Electric
Always great to work with!
Consider Courtesy Electric if...
- ✓ Your project involves diagnostic work or troubleshooting existing problems, where Courtesy Electric's documented track record of identifying issues other contractors missed becomes particularly valuable.
- ✓ You prioritize responsive communication and want predictability around scheduling, given customer feedback consistently mentions timely callbacks and extended service hours.
- ✓ You're located in northern or central Santa Clara County where Sunnyvale-based service will likely mean faster response and lower travel costs.
- ✓ You want to speak with recent customers before hiring, as Courtesy Electric has verifiable feedback from completed projects.
Consider Simtek Electric if...
- ✓ Your home has very old electrical systems or unusual legacy installations where Simtek's 37 years might provide exposure to rare configurations and historical code knowledge.
- ✓ You're located in or near Gilroy where local presence could mean better familiarity with neighborhood permitting and faster emergency response.
- ✓ You're willing to request references directly and verify current capabilities through your own due diligence, given limited public feedback.
- ✓ The project is straightforward enough that the additional 19 years of licensing history provides meaningful reassurance despite less documented service information.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask both companies to confirm their current workers compensation status and if they don't carry it, verify what happens if someone is injured at your property—then check whether your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries.
- → Ask Simtek for references from projects completed in the past year similar to yours, and actually call them to understand current service quality and crew stability.
- → Ask Courtesy Electric whether they handle your specific project type directly or use subcontractors, especially important given the workers comp consideration.
- → Confirm travel charges and response time expectations based on your specific location relative to each company's base.
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners in Santa Clara County needing electrical work this week, Courtesy Electric provides a clearer decision with documented responsive communication, proven diagnostic expertise, and customer feedback that sets concrete expectations. The 18 years of licensing represents mature experience for residential projects, and extended service hours accommodate varied schedules. Choose Simtek if you're in South County where their Gilroy location matters, have legacy electrical systems where 37 years might expose them to rare configurations, and are prepared to thoroughly vet current capabilities through direct references since public feedback is limited. With either choice, immediately verify workers compensation status and understand your liability exposure before work begins.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For standard residential work like panel upgrades or EV charger installations, both timeframes represent mature expertise with electrical codes and common issues. The advantage of 37 years becomes more relevant for unusual legacy systems, historical homes, or diagnosing problems in very old wiring configurations. Without customer feedback confirming Simtek's current service quality, the additional tenure alone doesn't guarantee a better experience than Courtesy Electric's documented responsiveness and diagnostic capabilities.
If a worker is injured on your property and the company lacks workers comp, they might pursue a claim against your homeowner's insurance, or you could face direct liability. Before hiring either contractor, verify their current insurance status directly and consult your homeowner's policy to understand your exposure. Some sole proprietors without employees legitimately don't need workers comp, so ask whether they're working alone or bringing crew members who should be covered.
It could simply mean they haven't prioritized online presence or serve a smaller, repeat client base. However, it does make it harder for you to evaluate current performance, crew quality, and communication practices. Request recent references directly and speak with customers who've used them in the past 12 months to confirm the company's current operations match its long licensing history.
Gilroy is about 30 miles south of Sunnyvale, which can affect response time for service calls and may result in travel charges depending on where you're located in Santa Clara County. If you're in San Jose, Cupertino, or points north, Courtesy Electric's Sunnyvale base likely means faster arrival and potentially lower trip fees. If you're in Morgan Hill or South County, Simtek's proximity could be advantageous.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top electrical contractors in Santa Clara.
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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 11, 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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