Compare Local Pros Compare Local Pros

Dollens Electric vs Earth Electric

Santa Clara Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

Dollens Electric brings 20 years of experience with broad electrical capabilities, while Earth Electric specializes in solar and battery systems with 11 years focused expertise.

Dollens Electric: Veteran full-service electrical contractor handling everything from repairs to complex installations across residential and commercial properties.
Earth Electric: Established solar and battery specialist with deep expertise in renewable energy systems, permitting processes, and utility coordination.
Dollens Electric Earth Electric
Rating 4.9 4.9
Years Licensed 20 years 11 years
License # 867376 1003783
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location San Jose, CA Campbell, CA
Website dollenselectric.com www.earth-electric.com

Need help deciding?

Get free quotes from both contractors and compare pricing.

Get Free Quotes

Key Differences

The defining difference is specialization versus breadth. Dollens Electric's 20 years of licensing means nearly a decade more experience diagnosing electrical problems, handling code complications, and navigating unexpected issues in older homes. This veteran status matters significantly for complex troubleshooting, whole house rewiring, or projects where hidden problems may emerge once walls are opened. Their work spans the full electrical spectrum from simple ceiling fans to standby generators and panel upgrades. Earth Electric has concentrated its 11 years specifically on solar, battery storage, and EV charging infrastructure, developing deep expertise in utility interconnection requirements, permitting processes specific to renewable systems, and optimizing solar array design. Customer feedback shows Earth Electric excels at explaining complex solar technology and managing the administrative complexity of renewable energy projects. If your project involves solar panels or battery backup, Earth Electric's specialization is directly relevant. For traditional electrical work, repairs, or non-solar installations, Dollens Electric's broader experience and veteran status provide more applicable expertise.

What Customers Say

Dollens Electric

Customers emphasize Dollens Electric's quick response times, detailed technical explanations, and reliability across diverse project types with many becoming repeat clients over multiple years.

Earth Electric

Customers highlight Earth Electric's educational approach to solar technology, expertise managing complex permitting processes, and efficient handling of technically challenging renewable energy installations.

Key Takeaway: Dollens Electric's reviews emphasize speed and versatility across many electrical services, while Earth Electric's reviews focus on depth of knowledge in solar-specific technical and administrative complexity.

Customer Reviews

Dollens Electric

Jan 2026

Great Company, very happy every time they do work for us.

Dec 2025

I needed to upgrade my electrical panel. Dollens Electric did a load calculation and recommended a new panel that would accommodate the electrification of my furnace and water heater down the road. Th...

Dec 2025

Fixed my problem and replaced my electronic door lock promptly.

Earth Electric

Dec 2025

New Update: Earth Electric did an outstanding job 10 years ago to install my solar panels. I picked them after evaluating a large number of other national and local vendors. I just had Earth Electric ...

Oct 2025

Earth Electric was fantastic to work with for our Tesla Powerwall installation! They weren’t the cheapest option (or the most expensive), but their service was absolutely incredible and worth every ...

Dec 2024

We had Earth Electric install solar panels, batteries, and an electric car charger at our home, and are very pleased with the results! They did an excellent job with the installation and completely ha...

Consider Dollens Electric if...

  • You need traditional electrical work like panel upgrades, whole house rewiring, troubleshooting, recessed lighting, ceiling fans, or standby generators without solar components
  • Your home is older and may have hidden electrical issues that require a veteran contractor's diagnostic experience to identify and resolve safely
  • You want a single contractor who can handle diverse electrical needs over time, as evidenced by customers using them repeatedly for different project types
  • Your project involves both residential and commercial electrical work, which Dollens handles across property types
View full profile →

Consider Earth Electric if...

  • You're installing solar panels, battery storage systems like Tesla Powerwall, or need solar-specific electrical infrastructure
  • You need expertise navigating utility interconnection requirements, solar permitting processes, and local government approvals specific to renewable energy systems
  • Your project involves complex solar design considerations like limited panel capacity or coordinating solar installation with roof replacement
  • You want a contractor who specializes in educating customers about solar technology and equipment options rather than a generalist approach
View full profile →

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • If choosing Earth Electric for non-solar work or Dollens for solar projects, ask about their specific experience with your exact project type and request recent references
  • Ask both companies how they handle unexpected complications during installation and what their warranty coverage includes for the specific work you need
  • For panel upgrades with either company, ask whether your current electrical system will require additional work and how they'll identify potential code compliance issues

The Bottom Line

Choose based on your specific project type. For solar panels, battery storage, or EV charging integrated with renewable energy systems, Earth Electric's specialized expertise in permitting, utility coordination, and solar technology makes them the better match. For everything else electrical—panel upgrades, rewiring, generators, lighting installations, troubleshooting, or repairs—Dollens Electric's 20 years of veteran experience and broad capabilities provide more applicable expertise. Both companies are properly licensed and insured with strong communication track records, so the decision comes down to matching their specialization to your actual needs. If you're unsure whether your project involves solar-specific complexity, contact Earth Electric first; if it's traditional electrical work, Dollens Electric's veteran status offers greater diagnostic depth.

Get Up to 3 Free Quotes

Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors

3 pros will compete for your business
Licensed & Insured
Top-Rated Pros
100% Free

Frequently Asked Questions

For truly simple installations in newer homes, the experience gap matters less. However, even straightforward projects can reveal hidden issues like outdated wiring, improper grounding, or overloaded circuits. A contractor with 20 years of experience is more likely to quickly diagnose these complications and know how to address them efficiently without change orders or delays.

Dollens Electric lists solar installation among their project types, so they're licensed and capable of the work. However, Earth Electric's specialization means they likely have more current knowledge of solar-specific incentives, equipment options, and utility requirements. For solar projects, specialized expertise in permitting and system design typically provides better value than general electrical experience.

This depends on project timing and complexity. If the work is interconnected (like a panel upgrade required for solar), using Earth Electric for everything may streamline permitting and coordination. If you need unrelated electrical repairs alongside solar work, you could use Earth Electric for solar and Dollens for traditional electrical work, though coordinating two contractors adds management complexity on your end.

Solar installations involve specialized knowledge beyond standard electrical work, including utility interconnection agreements, solar-specific permitting, equipment warranties, system design optimization, and ongoing incentive programs. Companies that specialize in solar typically stay current on rapidly changing technology, financing options, and regulatory requirements that general electricians may not encounter regularly. Customer reviews confirm Earth Electric's strength in managing these solar-specific complexities.

Looking for the Best?

See our ranked list of top solar contractors in Santa Clara.

View Top 10 Solar Contractors in Santa Clara

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.

Get Free Quotes