Compare Local Pros
Five Star Solar vs Community Electric
Sacramento General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing a specialized solar contractor to a general electrical contractor, so your decision depends entirely on whether you need solar installation or electrical repair work.
| Five Star Solar | Community Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 18 years |
| License # | 873535 | 916639 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Elk Grove, CA | Citrus Heights, CA |
| Website | www.fivestarssolar.com | — |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Five Star Solar
Five Star Solar customers emphasize comprehensive education throughout the solar installation process, competitive pricing, and professional crews completing work in one to two days with ongoing post-installation support.
Community Electric
Community Electric customers consistently highlight rapid response times and same-day availability for electrical emergencies, with several maintaining multi-year relationships across multiple smaller projects.
Key Takeaway: Five Star Solar's feedback centers on thorough project management for complex solar installations, while Community Electric's reviews focus almost entirely on speed and availability for urgent electrical needs.
Customer Reviews
Five Star Solar
The folks at Five Star Solar were professional, experienced, fast, organized, and available for questions and communication. My solar system has been working flawlessly since they installed it. I had ...
In October 2025, I saw an ad about installing solar panels. I called my company, and they filed for bankruptcy. I called other companies, and they told me that they won't finish by December deadline f...
Like so many of us that were going to do some type of solar project at some point we now had to scramble to get our solar projects completed by year end due to the abandonment of the Tax Credit. I was...
Community Electric
I called this company in a pinch. I was installing a ceiling fan, and ran into a very odd switch issue. I was super pressed to get this fan installed and was in great need of help. I called Community...
John is the man! The best community electrician there is ! He's been helping us with electrical work around the house for three years now and there is no one else we would rather work with. Not only...
We have done a bathroom remodel and needed to have some electrical outlets and switches replaced, a new fan installed, and some electrical panel repairs done. I can't say Thank You enough to John for...
Consider Five Star Solar if...
- ✓ You're installing solar panels, adding battery backup, or expanding an existing solar system—this is Five Star Solar's exclusive focus with 20 years of specialization
- ✓ You want comprehensive project management including HOA approvals, permitting, system design, and post-installation support documented in customer experiences
- ✓ You prefer working with a contractor who carries workers compensation insurance, eliminating potential liability concerns if someone is injured during installation
- ✓ You value detailed customer education about system performance and capabilities, a pattern repeatedly mentioned in their project approach
Consider Community Electric if...
- ✓ You need general electrical work like outlet installation, panel repairs, circuit troubleshooting, or bathroom remodel electrical—Community Electric's actual service area
- ✓ You have an urgent electrical problem requiring same-day service, which customers consistently report Community Electric provides, often within hours
- ✓ You're comfortable addressing the workers comp gap directly and confirming your own liability protection before work begins
- ✓ You value ongoing relationships with an electrician for multiple smaller projects over time, which several customers mention spanning years
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Community Electric: Ask directly about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're protected if a contractor without workers comp is injured on your property
- → For Five Star Solar: Ask about their experience with your specific roof type and whether they foresee any complications that would extend the typical one-to-two-day installation timeline
- → For either company: Request references from projects completed in the last six months that match your specific scope of work
The Bottom Line
This comparison only works if you're genuinely uncertain about your project scope. If you need solar panels installed, Five Star Solar is your only option here—they specialize exclusively in solar with 20 years of experience, full workers comp coverage, and a track record of quick installations with comprehensive support. If you need electrical repairs, upgrades, or emergency service, Community Electric has the relevant experience and same-day availability, but you must address the workers comp gap before hiring. Call your homeowner's insurance to understand your liability exposure, then ask Community Electric directly about their coverage. Don't hire either company for work outside their specialty—you need the right tool for the job.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, Community Electric focuses on general electrical work like repairs, upgrades, and emergency service calls. Their documented projects include outlets, panels, and circuit troubleshooting, not solar installations. Solar panel systems require specialized design, permitting, and installation expertise that Five Star Solar provides exclusively.
If a technician is injured while working on your property and the company has no workers compensation insurance, your homeowner's insurance policy may become liable for medical costs and damages. Before hiring Community Electric, contact your insurance provider to understand your exposure and ask the company directly about their liability coverage. This is a real financial risk worth clarifying upfront.
Community Electric's customers consistently report same-day service availability, with some technicians arriving within 90 minutes for urgent electrical issues. Five Star Solar focuses on scheduled solar installations that require design, permitting, and HOA approvals, which means a longer lead time but installations typically completed in one to two days once started. Your timeline expectations should match the project type.
Both are veteran contractors with 18-20 years of licensing history and identical $25,000 bonds, so experience levels are equivalent. The meaningful difference is workers comp status—Five Star Solar carries it, Community Electric doesn't. Both show patterns of repeat customers and long-term relationships, suggesting reliability within their respective specialties.
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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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