Compare Local Pros
Got Watts? vs White House Solar
Contra Costa Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Got Watts offers more licensed experience, essential workers comp coverage, and extensive customer feedback, while White House Solar lacks workers comp insurance.
| Got Watts? | White House Solar | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 12 years | 9 years |
| License # | 985920 | 1023135 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Pleasant Hill, CA | Orinda, CA |
| Website | www.gotwatts.com | www.whitehousesolar.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Got Watts?
Got Watts customers consistently highlight transparent pricing, no-pressure sales, detailed project communication, and professional installation quality across diverse project types.
Key Takeaway: Got Watts has extensive documented customer feedback establishing clear performance patterns, while White House Solar's minimal review history provides no visibility into their actual project execution or customer experience.
Customer Reviews
Got Watts?
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...
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...
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...
White House Solar
Gary Whitehouse was great! He helped my daughter achieve her dream of playing D1 soccer. He was prompt to answer our questions and gave great advice and suggestions and offered a timeline to get thi...
Consider Got Watts? if...
- ✓ You want to eliminate personal liability risk, as Got Watts carries full workers compensation coverage protecting you if injuries occur during installation
- ✓ Your project involves coordination beyond just solar panels, such as electrical panel upgrades, battery backup, EV chargers, or HVAC work that Got Watts regularly handles
- ✓ You value documented customer experiences showing communication patterns, timeline performance, and installation quality before signing a contract
- ✓ You prefer a detailed proposal process with multiple design options rather than a single quote approach
Consider White House Solar if...
- ✓ You're willing to verify current insurance status directly and confirm your homeowner's policy adequately covers contractor injuries before proceeding
- ✓ You have strong personal referrals for White House Solar that provide the project visibility their limited public reviews don't offer
- ✓ You're comfortable with less documentation about their communication style and project management approach
- ✓ The specific expertise or pricing they offer clearly outweighs the insurance and track record concerns
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask White House Solar directly about current workers compensation status and request a certificate of insurance; if they don't carry it, contact your homeowner's insurance agent to understand your liability exposure
- → Ask White House Solar for at least three recent references from projects similar to yours, and actually call them to discuss communication, timeliness, and problem-solving
- → Ask both companies how they handle permit delays, utility interconnection issues, and unexpected electrical panel upgrade needs discovered during installation
- → Ask Got Watts about their typical timeline from contract signing to project completion for a solar installation like yours
The Bottom Line
Got Watts is the clearer choice for most homeowners making a decision this week. They provide essential workers compensation coverage that protects you from liability, three additional years of licensed experience, and extensive documented customer feedback showing reliable communication and professional installations. White House Solar's missing workers comp insurance creates real financial risk that you'd need to carefully evaluate with your insurance agent. Unless you have compelling personal referrals for White House Solar and can verify adequate insurance coverage, Got Watts offers substantially more protection and transparency. Their broader electrical expertise also positions them to handle the panel upgrades and system integrations that solar projects often require.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Without workers compensation insurance, an injured worker can potentially file a claim against your homeowner's insurance policy, which could increase your premiums or create out-of-pocket liability. California law requires contractors with employees to carry this coverage specifically to protect homeowners from this risk. Before hiring any contractor without workers comp on file, contact your insurance agent to understand your specific exposure.
Those additional three years translate to more projects navigating permit changes, utility interconnection requirements, and evolving solar technology. More experienced contractors have typically encountered more roof complications, electrical panel limitations, and inspection issues, making them better equipped to handle surprises during your installation. For straightforward installations on newer homes, this matters less than for older properties with dated electrical systems.
This could reflect different business models, customer engagement practices, or simply that Got Watts actively cultivates reviews while White House Solar relies on referrals. The lack of reviews for White House Solar doesn't necessarily indicate poor work, but it does mean you'll need to do more due diligence through direct references. Got Watts' documented feedback at least shows consistent patterns you can expect.
Solar installations often require electrical panel upgrades, dedicated circuits, or service capacity increases that pure solar companies subcontract out. Got Watts handles these electrical components in-house, which can streamline permitting, reduce coordination problems, and provide single-source accountability. This matters most if your home has an older electrical system that may need upgrades to accommodate solar production.
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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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