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Got Watts? vs High Definition Solar

Contra Costa Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

High Definition Solar brings four additional years of licensing experience and specializes exclusively in solar work, while Got Watts offers broader electrical services beyond solar installations.

Got Watts?: A 12-year established electrical contractor offering comprehensive electrical services including solar, battery systems, EV chargers, and HVAC work with strong communication practices.
High Definition Solar: A 16-year veteran solar specialist with dual solar and roofing capabilities, focused on right-sized systems and single-day installations but with noted service responsiveness challenges on older systems.
Note: High Definition Solar has experienced service responsiveness and communication issues when customers needed support years after installation, which matters if you're considering a 25-year solar investment.
Got Watts? High Definition Solar
Rating 4.9 4.1
Years Licensed 12 years 16 years
License # 985920 949189
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location Pleasant Hill, CA Concord, CA
Website www.gotwatts.com highdefinitionsolar.com

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Key Differences

High Definition Solar's 16-year licensing history gives them four additional years navigating solar technology evolution, permitting changes, and utility interconnection processes compared to Got Watts' 12 years. This veteran status translates to experience with older system troubleshooting and equipment that's no longer manufactured. However, customer feedback reveals a pattern: while High Definition Solar excels at fast installations often completed in a single day, some customers report communication breakdowns and delayed responses when service issues emerged years later. Got Watts shows the opposite pattern with consistent emphasis on regular project updates and detailed communication throughout installations, though their broader service offerings mean less exclusive focus on solar technology. Got Watts handles solar alongside electrical panels, batteries, EV chargers, and HVAC work, which provides integrated electrical system planning but potentially less specialized solar depth. High Definition Solar's dual solar-and-roofing capability matters if your roof needs work before panels go up, eliminating contractor coordination. Both companies emphasize transparent pricing and no-pressure sales, with customers noting right-sized system recommendations rather than overselling capacity.

What Customers Say

Got Watts?

Got Watts customers consistently emphasize detailed proposals, transparent pricing, regular project updates, and professional installation crews with strong communication throughout the entire process.

High Definition Solar

High Definition Solar customers highlight professional installations completed quickly, thorough explanations during sales, and right-sized system recommendations, but some report communication and responsiveness challenges when seeking service on older systems.

Key Takeaway: Got Watts shows stronger patterns for ongoing communication and customer relationships over time, while High Definition Solar demonstrates faster installation completion but inconsistent long-term service responsiveness.

Customer Reviews

Got Watts?

Jan 2026

Got watts is incredible. Dont hesitate. Eric is so professional and experienced. They are meticulous about safety and quality and were on time had all the parts and even dealt with permits!!! They com...

Dec 2025

Got Watts continues to do amazing work for us. They're prompt, attentive, and do high quality work. We originally had them install a large solar array and a couple of batteries for us. We recently had...

Dec 2025

I reached out to GotWatts about adding solar panels to my home. They gave me several solid options and clearly explained efficiency, ROI, and cost. Their transparency was refreshing, and their pricing...

High Definition Solar

Jul 2025

Super effort to install my job on the scheduled day. The crew arrived at exactly 8:oo AM as promised and were completely finished at 2:00 pm. Everything worked! The crew was very professional. I aam ...

May 2025

Quick response, took time to explain the process and were able to process everything on time. It went smoothly. Jairo was super helpful and patient!

Apr 2025

We had HD Solar do a big install for us in Richmond California. They did a great job, very professional, and we love saving huge amounts of money of electricity now! Plus, no more power outages due to...

Consider Got Watts? if...

  • You want a single contractor who can handle your solar installation plus related electrical work like panel upgrades, battery backup integration, EV charger installation, or HVAC system additions without coordinating multiple companies
  • Communication and regular project updates matter significantly to you, as Got Watts customers consistently mention detailed proposals, frequent status updates during permitting, and responsiveness to questions throughout the installation process
  • Your project involves complex electrical integration beyond basic solar panels, such as whole-home energy systems combining solar, batteries, backup circuits, and major appliances
  • You value a contractor with documented customer relationships for ongoing additions and system expansions over time, with customers returning for multiple projects
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Consider High Definition Solar if...

  • You want maximum solar-specific experience, as High Definition Solar's 16 years of licensing and exclusive focus on solar installations means deeper expertise navigating utility processes and handling solar-specific technical challenges
  • Your roof may need replacement or repair work before or during solar installation, since High Definition Solar offers both services and can coordinate the timing without involving separate contractors
  • Installation speed is a priority, with customers frequently noting single-day completion for their solar arrays compared to longer timelines elsewhere
  • You're comfortable being proactive about service needs and follow-up, given customer reports of delayed responsiveness on service calls for older systems
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Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • Ask High Definition Solar specifically about their current service response protocols and how they handle warranty issues or system troubleshooting requests, including typical response timeframes and whether you'll have a dedicated service contact
  • Ask Got Watts about their solar installation volume compared to their other electrical services and how many solar-specific installations they've completed in the past two years
  • Ask both companies for references from customers whose systems are at least 3-5 years old to understand their long-term service relationships and support quality
  • Ask about monitoring system setup, how you'll know if components fail, and what the actual process looks like when you need service after the warranty period

The Bottom Line

Choose High Definition Solar if you want maximum solar-specific depth from a 16-year veteran, need roofing work integrated with your solar project, or value fast installation completion and are comfortable being proactive about service follow-up. Choose Got Watts if you want comprehensive electrical services beyond solar panels, prioritize consistent communication and project updates throughout installation, or value documented patterns of responsive ongoing relationships with customers returning for multiple projects. For straightforward solar-only installations on sound roofs where you want detailed communication, Got Watts provides strong all-around performance with 12 years of solid experience. For complex solar projects potentially involving roof work or where those extra four years of solar-specific licensing history matter for your situation, High Definition Solar offers veteran expertise despite service responsiveness concerns.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Got Watts has 12 years of licensed experience and handles solar installations alongside other electrical work, giving them substantial solar project history. Their broader capabilities mean integrated planning for whole-home electrical systems, but High Definition Solar's 16 years focused primarily on solar provides deeper specialization in solar-specific challenges, utility interconnection nuances, and long-term system performance patterns. Ask Got Watts about their solar installation volume over the past few years to gauge their current solar focus.

High Definition Solar's customers frequently mention single-day installations, likely reflecting specialized crew efficiency and streamlined solar-specific processes from 16 years of focus. Fast completion doesn't inherently indicate quality concerns, and customers report professional installation work. However, Got Watts' longer timelines appear connected to their communication style with more frequent updates and project coordination, which some homeowners prefer even if installation takes additional days.

The service responsiveness issues at High Definition Solar appear in feedback about older systems requiring support years after installation, not during the initial installation phase. If you prioritize ongoing communication and responsive service relationships, Got Watts shows stronger patterns in this area. However, High Definition Solar's longer operational history means they've supported systems through equipment generations. Ask High Definition Solar directly about service protocols and recent improvements to their responsiveness.

If your roof needs repair or replacement before solar installation, High Definition Solar's dual capability eliminates coordinating separate roofing and solar contractors and ensures proper roof preparation. This matters most for older roofs that shouldn't support a 25-year solar system without addressing underlying issues first. Got Watts would require you to hire a separate roofer, though they can coordinate timing and structural requirements with roofing contractors.

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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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