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Five Star Solar vs Schetter Electric
Sacramento General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Five Star Solar specializes exclusively in solar installations with 20 years of experience, while Schetter Electric is a general electrical contractor with 7 years in business.
| Five Star Solar | Schetter Electric | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 7 years |
| License # | 873535 | 1049534 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Elk Grove, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Website | www.fivestarssolar.com | www.schetter.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Five Star Solar
Customers consistently highlight Five Star Solar's competitive pricing, rapid installation completion, and thorough education throughout the solar buying process, with many noting the company's ability to handle complex projects and provide long-term support.
Schetter Electric
Customers emphasize Schetter Electric's formal apprenticeship training, professional service delivery, and technical expertise in general electrical work without specific mention of solar installation experience.
Key Takeaway: Five Star Solar's feedback centers specifically on solar project execution and customer education about photovoltaic systems, while Schetter Electric's reviews discuss general electrical professionalism without documenting solar installation capabilities.
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...
Schetter Electric
Experts in their service.
Quality work, professional employees, prompt service.
Best company ever.Great people
Consider Five Star Solar if...
- ✓ You're installing a complete solar system with battery backup or planning future expansion, where Five Star Solar's 20 years of specialized experience provides meaningful advantage in system design and component compatibility.
- ✓ Your project involves complications like HOA architectural review, older roof structures, or special mounting requirements where their documented experience handling complex solar scenarios reduces risk.
- ✓ You value rapid installation timelines, as customer feedback consistently mentions one-to-two-day project completion with minimal disruption to your household.
- ✓ You want a contractor who can provide long-term solar system support, evidenced by their pattern of maintaining customer relationships years after installation.
Consider Schetter Electric if...
- ✓ You need a general electrical contractor who can handle broader electrical work beyond solar installation, and you're willing to verify their specific solar installation experience directly.
- ✓ Your project is small-scale or straightforward enough that solar specialization matters less than general electrical expertise and competitive pricing.
- ✓ You prefer working with a company emphasizing formal apprenticeship training backgrounds, though you should confirm whether their electricians have specific solar installation training and certifications.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Schetter Electric directly: How many solar installations has your company completed, and can you provide references from solar projects similar in size and complexity to mine?
- → Ask about NABCEP certifications or solar-specific training: Does your installation crew have North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners credentials or manufacturer certifications for the equipment you'll install?
- → Inquire about warranty administration: Who handles equipment warranty claims and system performance issues five years from now if problems develop?
- → Ask both companies about their permitting success rate and typical timeline from contract signing to final utility permission to operate.
The Bottom Line
For dedicated solar installation projects, Five Star Solar presents the clearer choice based on 20 years of solar-specific experience, documented customer satisfaction with solar projects, and proven capability handling complex installations including battery systems and HOA approvals. Their veteran-level specialization directly addresses the technical and logistical challenges specific to photovoltaic systems. Schetter Electric is a credible electrical contractor, but without documented solar project history, you'd be asking them to prove capabilities that Five Star Solar has already demonstrated hundreds of times. Unless you have broader electrical needs beyond solar or Schetter Electric can provide compelling evidence of solar expertise, the specialist contractor offers substantially lower risk for a $20,000+ investment expected to perform for 25 years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, particularly because those 20 years represent focused solar installation experience versus general electrical work. Solar installations involve specialized knowledge of module degradation patterns, inverter programming, utility interconnection requirements, and structural load calculations that general electricians encounter infrequently. A veteran solar contractor has navigated hundreds of utility approval processes and seen how systems perform over decades, informing better design decisions for your specific situation.
Yes, a C-10 electrical contractor license covers solar installations in California. However, legal ability and practical specialization differ significantly. Ask Schetter Electric directly about their solar project portfolio and whether their crew has completed solar-specific training, as the installation techniques, safety protocols, and equipment knowledge required for rooftop photovoltaic systems differ substantially from residential wiring work.
Specialized solar contractors develop efficient installation processes through repetition, with crews that install solar systems daily rather than occasionally. This specialization translates to fewer unexpected complications, faster troubleshooting when issues arise, and streamlined coordination between roofing work, electrical connections, and equipment mounting. Faster installation means less disruption to your home and lower labor costs.
Get a detailed quote from Five Star Solar given their documented solar expertise. Only pursue a quote from Schetter Electric if they can demonstrate substantial solar installation experience with verifiable references. Comparing a $20,000 proposal from a solar specialist against a similar price from a general electrician without proven solar experience doesn't provide useful information—the apparent similarity masks significant differences in project risk and long-term support capability.
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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 10, 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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