Compare Local Pros
Cupertino Electric vs Highlight Solar
Santa Clara Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing a 68-year veteran electrical contractor with broad capabilities to a 15-year specialized solar installer with exceptional customer communication.
| Cupertino Electric | Highlight Solar | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 68 years | 15 years |
| License # | 174637 | 960376 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | San Jose, CA | San Jose, CA |
| Website | www.cei.com | www.highlightsolar.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Cupertino Electric
Customers praise Cupertino Electric's professional service and clean workmanship but note inconsistent communication with some experiencing unreturned calls and coordination challenges.
Highlight Solar
Customers consistently highlight Highlight Solar's thorough consultations, responsive communication throughout installations, and no-pressure sales approach with smooth permitting coordination.
Key Takeaway: Highlight Solar receives uniform praise for communication and customer engagement throughout the solar process, while Cupertino Electric's feedback is more mixed on accessibility and project coordination despite strong technical work quality.
Customer Reviews
Cupertino Electric
I loved the customer service they gave me. Very very professional I must say. Their work is awsome , looks good and clean.
Always a great experience
Top of the "class" indeed. #MindsOfTheFuture #ClaraYvetteDValdez
Highlight Solar
We met with multiple solar companies and settled on Highlight due to both the great recommendations as well as our experience during the initial process. We asked a LOT of questions, then we asked mor...
Highly recommend
I can't say enough about the outstanding service we get from Highlight Solar. The team is incredible. Organized, responsive, skillful, reliable and nice! Every communication was clear from the start. ...
Consider Cupertino Electric if...
- ✓ You need comprehensive electrical work beyond solar installation, such as whole-home rewiring, panel upgrades unrelated to solar, or commercial electrical projects where their 68 years of diverse experience applies directly.
- ✓ Your project involves complex electrical troubleshooting or work on older buildings where multi-generational experience diagnosing hidden issues and navigating legacy systems provides meaningful value.
- ✓ You prioritize working with an established company that has survived multiple business cycles and demonstrated long-term stability in the Santa Clara County market.
Consider Highlight Solar if...
- ✓ You're installing a solar system and want a contractor who specializes exclusively in residential solar, with refined processes for consultation, battery integration, permitting, and utility coordination.
- ✓ Responsive communication throughout your project is a priority—customer feedback consistently highlights Highlight Solar's accessibility and thorough explanations at every stage.
- ✓ You value a no-pressure sales approach and want detailed consultation to design a system matching your specific energy needs and budget, as this is core to their business model.
- ✓ You're comparing multiple solar quotes and want a company customers specifically chose for competitive pricing and straightforward communication after shopping around.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Cupertino Electric how many residential solar installations they complete annually and whether they have dedicated solar specialists, since their business spans commercial and residential electrical work broadly.
- → Ask Highlight Solar about their warranty terms for both equipment and installation labor, and who handles service calls if issues arise after the system is operational.
- → Confirm with either company how they handle change orders if unexpected electrical work is discovered during installation, including pricing transparency and timeline impacts.
The Bottom Line
If you're installing solar, Highlight Solar is the clearer choice for most homeowners. Their 15 years of exclusive solar focus means refined consultation processes, specialized expertise in battery integration and permitting, and customer feedback consistently praising communication and project coordination. Cupertino Electric brings impressive 68-year longevity and broad electrical capabilities, but reviews suggest communication inconsistencies and they serve diverse markets beyond residential solar. Choose Cupertino Electric if your project extends beyond solar into complex electrical work where their multi-generational experience adds specific value. For a residential solar installation where responsive communication and specialized solar expertise matter, Highlight Solar's business model aligns directly with what you need.
Get Up to 3 Free Quotes
Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
It demonstrates deep electrical expertise, but solar installations require specialized knowledge of inverters, battery systems, permitting, and utility interconnection that's distinct from general electrical work. Highlight Solar's 15 years focused exclusively on residential solar means their entire operation—from consultation through inspection—is built around projects exactly like yours. For solar specifically, specialization often outweighs general electrical longevity.
Customer feedback suggests a clear pattern: Highlight Solar consistently earns praise for responsive communication, thorough consultations, and accessibility throughout installations. Cupertino Electric receives mixed feedback on communication, with some customers experiencing unreturned calls and coordination challenges. If hands-on communication matters to you during the solar process, the review patterns favor Highlight Solar's customer engagement model.
Yes, panel upgrades are core electrical work within their 68 years of expertise. However, Highlight Solar also performs electrical panel upgrades as part of their solar installations and has refined this specifically for solar integration. The question is whether you prefer a generalist electrical contractor or someone who does panel upgrades daily in the context of solar systems.
Customers report choosing Highlight Solar specifically for competitive pricing after comparing multiple companies, suggesting their solar-focused model creates efficiency. General electrical contractors may price solar as a specialty service rather than their core business. Get detailed quotes from both, but understand you're comparing very different business models—one does solar as part of a broader portfolio, the other has built their entire operation around it.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top solar contractors in Santa Clara.
Other Santa Clara 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.