California Solar Electric reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
California Solar Electric brings a serious professionalism to every install. We found 46 reviews praising workmanship specifically, with installers who physically climb on your roof for the site assessment rather than relying on satellite photos and project managers who chase down roof leaks after installation because "this is the right thing to do given the circumstances." The pattern we noticed most: they treat complex projects like patio-trellis solar installs and HOA approvals as problem-solving exercises, not reasons to walk away. In one case, a crew coordinated with a separate contractor to mount panels as a trellis roof, installing flexible conduit between the structure and the house in case of earthquakes. Then the communication gap appears. We saw repeat complaints about unreturned service calls and one customer who paid nearly five thousand dollars for an inverter replacement, watched the system fail three more times over nine months, and never got a callback after five attempts. (Apparently "someone will get back to you" is solar industry code for "good luck.") If you're weighing whether to pay a bit more for an installer who'll actually show up when things break, the trade-off becomes stark: flawless install day versus silence on day 731.
If you need an install done right the first time and can handle the occasional radio silence afterward, California Solar Electric will deliver clean work. But if you expect the same responsiveness two years later when your inverter dies, you may find yourself leaving five messages with no callback.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Mark M. hired California Solar Electric to put panels on his Ventura home and discovered a tightly run, local operation based in Ojai led by Dan Maher and Josh Cauley. After being put off by the marketing and proposals from at least three other companies, he felt reassured learning CSE had been vetted by the City of Ventura in 2014 as one of two Solarize Ventura partners. CSE delivered a clean, professional proposal that offered a choice of SunPower or SolarWorld panels, and the installation and follow-up unfolded without glitches. When a non-trivial roof problem surfaced after the work, Dan stepped in, managed the repairs, and accepted responsibility on behalf of the company—making a point to “do the right thing.” What stuck with him was that level of ownership and clear communication; combined with the city vetting and the team’s local roots, it’s the detail that turned a lucky find into a dependable experience.
Lin wanted a shaded, south-facing patio whose lattice would double as the roof — both to provide cover and to generate solar power. Because few examples of that setup existed locally, they worked with Sam Elias at California Solar Electric to find a licensed contractor to build the wooden trellis frame; once the frame was finished California Solar Electric scheduled the panel installation. Sam and Josh Cauley kept them updated on timing and equipment arrivals so the household could plan around the crew’s work. On installation day the team adapted their normal process to mount the panels to the preconstructed trellis so the underside of the panels became the visible roof of the patio. Since the trellis was freestanding, installers fitted a flexible connection to the house to accommodate seismic movement. Everything was carried out with the homeowner’s original goal in mind, and the result met their expectations. Anyone thinking about a similar trellis-roof installation can contact Sam or Josh at California Solar Electric — Lin also welcomes inquiries and offers to show the finished trellis in person.
Steve M. reached out in March 2024 after his home solar array stopped working; a technician named Roy diagnosed a bad inverter and the company replaced it on April 24 for $4,730.87. What should have been a straightforward repair turned into a string of outages over the next year. The system failed again within weeks, and on July 1 CSE concluded it had simply been unplugged — a puzzling explanation given that the roof can only be reached by ladder. Another failure came on November 13. Roy returned on January 24, 2025 and got the system running but offered no explanation of what he did. When the panels went down yet again on February 17, Chris was the only person at CSE who stepped up and promised a technician would follow up. Over the next several weeks Steve called five more times, speaking with Chris or a tech named Josh each time, and kept being told someone would call back — no one ever did. Having paid nearly $5,000 for a replacement part, he ended up with recurring failures, a lack of clear troubleshooting, and repeated unkept promises to return calls; the one tangible detail to remember is that only Chris offered helpful communication amid otherwise absent accountability.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 85
Clean Record
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 20 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
BBB Rating: A+
Excellent BBB standing. Strong complaint resolution.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Licensed Contractor
A valid contractor license is on record.
What You Can Expect
Deborah had a solar system installed on her house several years ago and remembers the crew as prompt, knowledgeable, and doing excellent work. She returned recently to explore adding a Tesla battery backup. Tom Burt walked her through the technical trade-offs and practical issues with clear, patient explanations, and she decided to order the Tesla battery and have the company handle the installation. The decisive detail was Tom Burt’s thorough, easy-to-understand guidance.
Robert Garven installed solar panels on his home several years ago and later decided to add a substantial number more to further reduce his environmental impact. After doing his homework on providers, he found this company offered what he judged to be the best panels along with consistently professional service. Roger, the salesperson, stood out for being knowledgeable and conscientious, and his thoroughness made the process pleasant and straightforward. Several friends and family used the same company and saw the same reliable results, which reinforced Robert’s decision to come back and expand his system — what lingered most for him was Roger’s attention to detail and the consistency of outcomes across his circle.
Yohan shopped several solar companies before settling on California Solar Electric, and what sold him was their willingness to come to his home for a no-obligation evaluation. His house had trees shading the south side, and other firms had ruled out solar for that reason, but Tom Burt arrived on time, listened, and sketched a plan that shifted panels to the west and east roofs. Tom stayed responsive—answering questions and returning emails and calls promptly—and the crew followed through: the system was installed quickly, efficiently, and on schedule. Everyone he dealt with from sales, installation, and the office behaved professionally and courteously. The panels are up and producing now, and what stuck with him was how the company showed up without pressure, found a workable layout despite the trees, and delivered on their timeline.