Alternative Power & Electric reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Alternative Power & Electric is reliable for commercial and residential electrical work, though don't hire them for solar diagnostics. We found one expensive misfire where a crew charged $125 to troubleshoot a solar system but proposed the wrong fix, and a different electrician later solved the problem in minutes by simply bypassing a damaged panel. Strip away that solar outlier and you see a pattern of fast emergency response and competent routine electrical. Jeff (the former owner) once rerouted an entire household's power line within hours on a Saturday night after a tree branch tore it off the roof, and 24 reviews mention crews showing up within a day for urgent calls. Armando, who bought the company in 2023, restored power for one homeowner during a nine-day outage by diagnosing a fried solar gateway on the spot and bypassing it. The signature move is creative troubleshooting on small jobs: one electrician recommended LED light tape the customer had never heard of and brought a sample to the appointment, turning a kitchen lighting install into a same-day project.
If you need a dependable electrician for repairs, panel work, or emergency calls in the South Bay foothills, Alternative Power & Electric delivers fast response and competent work. Just steer clear if your problem involves solar panels.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Neil S. faced a late‑Saturday emergency last month when a county tree dropped a massive branch onto his house’s power line, tearing the roof attachment off and leaving him without lights or air conditioning. He found Jeff on Yelp and Jeff showed up about 30 minutes later, made a quick run to buy the part he needed, threaded his work around the crew clearing the debris, and reattached the line. Within a couple of hours that same evening the power was back. What stuck with him was that Jeff didn’t tell him to wait until Monday — he came out on a weekend, sourced the part, and fixed the problem on the spot.
Alicia W. called in help for a rooftop solar array that wasn’t performing, and paid $125 for what was billed as a troubleshooting visit. The crew misdiagnosed the issue, proposed an expensive fix they couldn’t back up, and effectively did nothing useful while still collecting the fee — they might be fine following installation instructions, but troubleshooting wasn’t their strength. A different technician climbed onto the roof, spotted a visibly damaged panel, bypassed it on the spot, then returned to repair two more faults at a reasonable rate; those fixes brought her system’s power generation up to a sensible level. The clear takeaway: the first visit cost $125 and delivered a wrong diagnosis, and the problem only got solved after someone competent identified and bypassed a damaged panel.
Blair C. had relied on Armando at Alternative Power and Electric for years for indoor and outdoor electrical work — everything from tasteful track lighting in the living room to wiring a hot tub. He watched Armando buy the business from Jeff Sheets, and that existing relationship paid off after a brutal storm left the neighborhood without power for nine days. Once the utility crews got most homes back online, his house stayed dark, so he called Armando. Armando came over right away, diagnosed a fried solar gateway and bypassed it on the spot, restoring power immediately. The standout detail is the quick, hands-on fix after a long outage — not a long wait or a parts-order delay — and Blair ended up back on power the same day. For a fast, practical electrician, Armando’s direct line is (408) 605-3084.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 82
Clean Record
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 14 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
BBB Rating
Not BBB rated.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Contractor License
License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
On a steep, mountainside lot with awkward slopes, Lisa found an electrician she now calls an "electrician for life." She hired him for a mix of jobs — wiring a new home from scratch, upgrading the service panel, hooking up a hot tub and repairing a generator — and he devised creative, practical solutions for the unideal terrain. He showed up on time, priced projects competitively, stayed responsive and professional, and his work consistently passed county inspections. She didn't bother getting competing quotes after the first job; his reliability and follow-through made him the go-to for every subsequent project. The detail that stands out is how he handled the challenging mountain site with smart planning while delivering a spotless inspection record — the reason they keep bringing him back.
Albert faced a dead bathroom fan in his Boulder Creek home and needed a quick fix. Armando fit him in the next day at the end of a Friday, communicating quickly and clearly beforehand. He arrived on time, offered a couple of simple DIY options, then removed the unit, lubricated the motor, reinstalled it and had the fan running again within minutes. He walked away with a working fan and no charge.
Kevin hired Jeff and his crew — Armando and Jose — to install a Generac whole-house backup generator, and he couldn't be happier. They pulled all the city permits, finished the install in a tight three-day window, and left the city inspector clearly impressed with their workmanship. Jeff provided a turnkey solution at a fair price, so Kevin avoided juggling multiple contractors or city red tape. With PG&E’s maintenance issues likely to take a decade or more to fix, he now has peace of mind for the next Public Safety Power Shutoff. The detail that stuck with him: permits handled and inspection passed, all completed in three days — a practical, ready-to-go backup when power matters most.