Compare Local Pros
Five Star Solar vs Future Energy Savers
Sacramento Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Future Energy Savers brings twice the licensing history (41 years vs 20 years), representing decades of additional experience across multiple generations of solar technology.
| Five Star Solar | Future Energy Savers | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 1.4 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 41 years |
| License # | 873535 | 463720 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Elk Grove, CA | Wilton, CA |
| Website | www.fivestarssolar.com | www.energysavers.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Five Star Solar
Five Star Solar customers consistently emphasize competitive pricing as a decision factor, quick installation completion, and ongoing responsiveness with company leadership maintaining contact years after installation.
Future Energy Savers
Future Energy Savers customers focus on the consultative sales process, appropriately sized system recommendations without overselling, and efficient coordination of permits and utility interconnection.
Key Takeaway: Five Star Solar receives notably more specific feedback about pricing competitiveness driving contractor selection decisions, while Future Energy Savers earns praise for education-focused consultations and right-sizing systems rather than maximizing sale value.
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...
Future Energy Savers
I had a great experience with Future Energy for the sale and installation of my solar panels and battery system. From the initial consultation through to final commissioning, the team was knowledgeabl...
I used Future Energy Savers for both redoing my roof as well as solar installation with backup battery. The entire team for both the solar install as well as the reroofing were prompt, courteous, and ...
Shout Out to Future Energy Solar Corporation - we are less than a year in Sun. City - Normally abhor door knockers. And having succumbed to one 3 weeks ago at most. HUGE THANK YOU to Riley, Lisa, Marg...
Consider Five Star Solar if...
- ✓ Your primary concern is cost competitiveness and you're collecting multiple bids to compare pricing structures for similar system configurations
- ✓ You value direct owner involvement and want ongoing accessibility to the company leadership for questions that arise months or years after installation
- ✓ Your project involves taking over or expanding an existing solar system installed by another company, including scenarios where the original contractor is no longer available
- ✓ You're navigating HOA approval processes or have special design requirements that need experienced advocacy and creative problem-solving
Consider Future Energy Savers if...
- ✓ You're planning a solar installation that requires roof replacement or significant roofing work and want a single contractor handling both scopes without coordination between separate companies
- ✓ You prefer in-house installation crews rather than subcontractors for more direct quality control and accountability throughout the installation process
- ✓ Your decision weighs heavily on maximum industry tenure and you value a contractor who has worked through four decades of solar technology evolution and market changes
- ✓ You want a company with deep experience in permitting coordination across multiple Sacramento County jurisdictions based on their extensive regional history
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Five Star Solar about their crew structure and whether they use in-house installers or subcontractors for installations, and how quality control differs between the two approaches
- → Ask Future Energy Savers about their pricing competitiveness relative to other bids you've received, since Five Star Solar's reviews emphasize this advantage more frequently
- → Ask both companies for references from projects completed 3-5 years ago to assess their ongoing support and system performance tracking after installation
- → If your project requires roofing work, ask Five Star Solar whether they coordinate with roofing partners or if you'll need to hire separately, and compare to Future Energy Savers' integrated approach
The Bottom Line
Future Energy Savers holds meaningful advantages in licensing tenure (41 years vs 20 years), in-house crew structure, and integrated roofing services that matter for complex projects or homes needing roof work. However, Five Star Solar offers competitive pricing that customers consistently mention when explaining their contractor selection, plus notably high owner involvement and ongoing post-installation support. For straightforward solar installations where cost matters significantly, Five Star Solar's 20-year veteran status provides ample experience at better pricing. For projects requiring roof replacement, maximum industry tenure, or preference for in-house crews over potential subcontractors, Future Energy Savers justifies consideration despite potentially higher costs. Get quotes from both, ask about crew structure and roofing coordination needs, then choose based on whether Future Energy Savers' additional experience and integrated services justify any price premium over Five Star Solar's competitive rates.
Get Up to 3 Free Quotes
Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, particularly for complex scenarios. Future Energy Savers has navigated four decades of solar technology changes, building code updates, and utility interconnection rule revisions. This means broader exposure to edge cases like older roof structures, legacy electrical systems, and troubleshooting issues that emerge years after installation. However, Five Star Solar's 20 years still provides substantial veteran-level experience for most standard residential installations.
Five Star Solar receives notably more customer feedback specifically praising competitive pricing and mentions of customers choosing them after comparing multiple bids. Future Energy Savers' reviews focus more on consultative approach and system sizing appropriateness rather than price competitiveness. If cost is your primary decision factor, get quotes from both and ask Five Star Solar to explain their pricing structure compared to competitors.
Future Energy Savers' in-house installation teams provide direct employment accountability and consistent training standards across all installations. If Five Star Solar uses subcontractors for some work, quality control depends on vetting processes and subcontractor relationships. Ask Five Star Solar directly about their crew structure, and request references that speak to installation quality and problem resolution when issues arise.
Future Energy Savers' integrated solar-and-roofing capability simplifies coordination, provides single-point accountability, and can reduce total project timeline. However, this only matters if your roof actually needs replacement concurrent with solar installation. If your roof is in good condition, this advantage disappears and you should focus on solar installation expertise and pricing instead.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top solar contractors in Sacramento.
Other Sacramento Solar Contractors Comparisons
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.
Get in Touch
Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.