Compare Local Pros
Five Star Solar vs Royal Electric Company
Sacramento General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing a specialized solar contractor with 20 years experience against a general electrical contractor with 48 years in business but no available customer feedback.
| Five Star Solar | Royal Electric Company | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 4.0 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 48 years |
| License # | 873535 | 357377 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Elk Grove, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Website | www.fivestarssolar.com | www.royalelect.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Five Star Solar
Customers consistently praise Five Star Solar for quick installation timelines, competitive pricing, thorough education during consultations, and professional crews who maintain communication throughout the project.
Key Takeaway: Five Star Solar has extensive customer feedback documenting their solar installation process and performance, while Royal Electric Company has no available reviews to verify their solar capabilities or customer service approach.
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...
Royal Electric Company
Great company and great employees!
Bonito lugar
Great Family Orientated Buissness, Great Experience Working With Them ...
Consider Five Star Solar if...
- ✓ You're installing a solar system and want a contractor with proven solar specialization, not just general electrical knowledge
- ✓ Fast project completion matters to you, as Five Star Solar consistently finishes installations in one to two days according to customer feedback
- ✓ You value transparent pricing and customer education throughout the process, which multiple customers specifically praise
- ✓ Your project involves complexities like HOA approval, system expansions, or taking over incomplete work, where Five Star Solar has documented experience
Consider Royal Electric Company if...
- ✓ You need a general electrical contractor for broader electrical work beyond solar installation
- ✓ You're comfortable selecting a contractor without customer reviews and are willing to request references directly
- ✓ You value extreme business longevity and want a company that has survived nearly five decades in the industry
- ✓ You prefer working with a company that handles both commercial and residential work, suggesting larger workforce capacity
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Royal Electric Company how many solar installations they've completed in the past two years and request references specifically from solar projects, not general electrical work
- → Ask Royal Electric Company about their solar design process, equipment brands they prefer, and whether they handle battery backup systems and system expansions
- → Ask both companies for typical solar project timelines from contract signing to final inspection and utility approval
- → Ask Royal Electric Company why customer reviews aren't available and whether they can provide documentation of completed solar installations
The Bottom Line
For a solar installation project, Five Star Solar is the clearer choice. Their 20 years of solar-focused experience, consistent customer feedback on fast completion and competitive pricing, and documented track record handling complex solar projects provide substantially more confidence than Royal Electric's unverified solar capabilities. While Royal Electric's 48-year history demonstrates business longevity, you're hiring someone to install a solar system, not just perform electrical work. Without customer reviews or documented solar projects from Royal Electric, you'd be taking unnecessary risk when Five Star Solar offers proven solar specialization. If you're considering Royal Electric, insist on speaking with at least three recent solar installation customers and verify their crews have specific solar training before proceeding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For general business stability, yes—48 years demonstrates remarkable longevity. However, for solar installation specifically, those extra 28 years don't necessarily translate to solar expertise unless Royal Electric has been actively installing solar systems. Five Star Solar's 20 years is more than sufficient for veteran-level solar experience, and their documented solar project history is more relevant than Royal Electric's longer general electrical licensing.
Electrically, yes—a licensed electrical contractor has the foundational knowledge. However, solar installation involves specialized skills beyond wiring: system design optimization, inverter and battery selection, understanding net metering policies, navigating solar-specific permitting, and managing utility interconnection. Without documented solar project experience from Royal Electric, you're taking on risk that they have this specialized expertise.
This could reflect different business models—Five Star Solar focuses on residential customers who tend to leave reviews, while Royal Electric may do more commercial work where reviews are less common. However, the absence of any customer feedback makes it impossible to verify Royal Electric's customer service quality, communication style, or project management capabilities for residential solar work.
Not necessarily a red flag for business legitimacy—they've maintained licensing for 48 years, which requires compliance and proper operation. However, it is a significant information gap for you as a homeowner. You'll need to do extra due diligence by requesting multiple references, verifying their solar installation experience directly, and confirming they have crews trained specifically in solar work rather than general electrical service.
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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 08, 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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