Option One Solar is rooted in over five decades of California family electrical expertise. The Thomas family business was founded in 1970 by Jerry Thomas, whose career included work on NASA's Apollo program and advancements in electrical safety. It is today a third-generation operation led by Scott Thomas (CEO) and Trever Thomas (VP), with Allisun and Emily Thomas in operations. Headquartered at 13581 John Glenn Rd in Apple Valley, the company serves all of Southern California, and their solar arm has completed more than 5,000 residential installations to date.
What distinguishes Option One Solar in our California rankings is the depth of their in-house operation. They handle every phase of every project themselves: design, engineering, procurement, permitting, construction, and interconnection. The company does not subcontract portions out. Their crews carry both a C-10 electrical contractor license and a C-46 solar contractor license under CSLB #985340, and the company has a NABCEP-certified team. Installations are backed by a 25-year warranty covering components, labor, and roof integrity, which is unusually broad coverage in the residential solar industry, where many warranties stop at the panels themselves.
Customer reception in their service area has been remarkably consistent. Option One Solar holds a 4.9-star Google rating across 347 reviews, has been voted "Best of the Desert" for eight consecutive years from 2017 through 2024, and carries zero BBB complaints over the rating period. Their offering includes Tesla Powerwall integration for homeowners adding battery storage, and their multi-generational tenure means systems they install in 2026 will be supported by the same family business that has been wiring Southern California homes since the 1970s. With a composite score of 92.5, Option One Solar earns the top-ranked position in California for 2026.
“Option One Solar was a great choice for our residential solar system. They were easy to work with, very transparent on costs, materials and scheduling. They took care of the whole process from sizing...”
Matt M.
“OptionOneSolar knocked it out of the park. What an incredibly professional, communicative, and speedy team! My wife and I really wanted ground mounts and they came in and installed 24 panel panels in...”
Margarita P.
“We had an excellent experience with Option One Solar on our new construction solar installation. Kelsey, our project manager, was extremely communicative and attentive throughout the entire process....”
Ryan J.
“Couldn't ask for a better experience. I got three quotes for a solar+battery installation, and Option One was the middle in terms of price, but the clear communication and lack of pushy and sketchy...”
Stefan M.
“My experience with Option One Solar is excellent. From the first contact on it was very consultative. Ashton gathered information on how to best spec out a system that fits my needs. Another company...”
Gary D.
“Service was amazing and super quick got me fully installed in 17 days. Will not try to oversell you or let you buy something you don’t need. I was determined on having two batteries and Ashton...”
Christian A.
“Absolutely would recommend the Option One Solar team for a seamless solar set-up and installation. My home is a brand new build and our planner Natasha kept us informed along each step of the way...”
Cory B.
“They did a great job from start to finish. They made the whole process very easy, had the best price I could find, and were able to do a ground-mount system without any issues. Install was fast, and...”
Five Star Solar has been serving Sacramento and the surrounding Northern California region for 20 years, building one of the most consistent track records among independent solar installers in the state. Operating as a DBA of Capital Remodel & Design, Inc. and based in Elk Grove, the company serves homeowners across the Central Valley, the Sierra foothills, and parts of the Sacramento metropolitan area. Their California contractor license (#873535) covers both general building and solar-specific (C-46) classifications, and their BuildZoom ranking places them in the top 2% of all licensed contractors in California.
The company holds NABCEP certification and is a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). What distinguishes Five Star Solar's equipment approach is their position as a certified Panasonic installer, which has historically been a key differentiator in their market. They pair solar arrays with Enphase microinverters and SolarEdge string inverters depending on the system design, and offer Tesla Powerwall battery storage for homeowners seeking backup power and self-consumption optimization. Their willingness to work with both microinverter and string inverter platforms reflects a design philosophy that matches equipment to the specific characteristics of each roof and usage profile.
Five Star Solar performs all installations with their own in-house crews and maintains a stated policy of not using subcontractors. That direct labor model gives them quality control over every phase of a project, from initial site assessment through final inspection and utility interconnection. Their familiarity with both SMUD and PG&E interconnection processes is a practical advantage in a region where utility-specific requirements can add weeks to a project when handled by less experienced companies. The company offers financing through multiple channels, including solar step-down loans and PACE financing through Ygrene, in addition to cash purchase options.
Their warranty package stands out in the market: a 25-year workmanship and production warranty with a lifetime racking warranty, which they brand as the "Five Star Warranty." Their 4.9-star Google rating from 340 reviews reflects a company that delivers consistently across hundreds of installations. Customer feedback frequently highlights accurate production estimates, competitive pricing that matches initial quotes, professional crews who leave jobsites clean, and responsive post-installation support, with owner Dustin Carey personally involved in resolving customer concerns.
With a composite score of 90.1 out of 100, Five Star Solar holds the second-ranked position in California for 2026. In a state where homeowners have hundreds of solar installers to choose from, two decades of consistent quality, in-house installation crews, and near-perfect customer satisfaction distinguish Five Star Solar as one of Northern California's most dependable options.
“We were preparing and researching for solar for a few years. Our situation required special attention. I received proposals from over a dozen solar companies over three years. When I spoke with...”
Austin C.
“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...”
Gary O.
“Purchase solar and battery back up to my specifications. Had some design differences but my wishes were followed. I'm a home inspector and very meticulous. With all construction there were some bugs...”
bbquewizard
“Very happy with Five Star Solar!
System has worked for 5 months without one issue.
I was quoted a great price and that is exactly what I paid.
Five Star was fair and honest throught the process.
No...”
Terra L.
“We're very happy with Five Star Solar. They did an amazing job. Excellent quality construction and kept us informed throughout the progress. The installers were quick and efficient and everything was...”
Sarah P.
“All in all it has been a great experience with 5 star solar. They were very responsive up front getting us a quote and getting the whole process initiated and all the questions answered that I...”
Julie W.
“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...”
Jorge F.
“I did not have the best experience with Dustin and Evelyn. Lack of communication were my main issue with their team. Field installers were great and very knowledgeable of the systems they install but...”
Semper Solaris has built one of the largest veteran-owned residential solar practices in California, with the company positioning itself as the number-one volume residential solar and battery installer in San Diego and operating from a San Diego County base that extends across Southern California and into multiple additional state markets. Founded by a Marine Corps veteran, the company carries the kind of brand identity that resonates with a meaningful share of the California homeowner market, and it has translated that identity into substantial scale — the firm's San Diego Google profile carries a 4.8 rating across nearly 1,500 reviews, one of the larger verified review bases for any solar installer in California.
What stood out is the dual licensing structure. Semper Solaris carries California Contractors State License Board licenses #978152 and #1083681, which is unusual in residential solar and reflects a deliberate decision to run both a C-46 solar contracting practice and a C-39 roofing practice under the same roof. The company is also an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor on the roofing side — the manufacturer's top installer tier — which means homeowners replacing a roof in conjunction with solar can have both scopes completed under a single contract with manufacturer-backed roofing and panel/battery warranties layered together. Tesla Powerwall and Enphase battery storage round out the equipment offering.
Our research team did note that Semper Solaris operates with scale that occasionally translates into the kind of customer-experience friction that smaller installers avoid. Prospective customers should ask which specific install crew will be assigned to their project, whether the same project manager will own the job from sales handoff through final inspection, and how warranty truck-rolls are dispatched across the company's multi-county service area. We also recommend buyers compare an itemized Semper Solaris quote against at least one regional independent installer, since the company's marketing and brand operations come with overhead that smaller competitors may avoid.
The operating fundamentals — dual contractor licensing, Tesla and Enphase certifications, Owens Corning Platinum status, deep California operating history, and a substantial verified review base — give Semper Solaris a credible third-place position behind Option One Solar and Five Star Solar in our 2026 California ranking.
With a composite score of 75.0 out of 100, Semper Solaris holds the third-ranked position in California for 2026.
“I live in Oceanside and recently had Semper Solaris install a new Solar Panel system with a Tesla Power Wall. Paul Rampoldi assisted me through the process and made it extremely easy. From start to...”
Al A.
“I've known Roland since 2022 and I appreciate his honesty and transparency, which can be rare in the solar business. He recommended the right amount of panels for me and 3 years later, after an...”
Richard R.
“I kept putting off thinking about having to replace my shingle roof. As it turned out, the process went quite smoothly and I should have addressed the problem long before the leaks appeared. I went...”
Drew S.
“We had solar panels in the past but recently we were advised that we needed a new roof and therefore new panels... more panels and upgraded ones. Luckily, I had the contact info for our original...”
Dennis S.
“Semper Solaris did an outstanding job with my solar system installation! This is more of a long term update as I have have my system since 2018. Genevieve Johnson was my liason with Semper Solaris...”
HOLLIE R.
“Roland came by today and he explained everything very well and made me and my wife more comfortable with our system. We got our system in 2022 and it was great to have them come back out to check on...”
Heather R.
“Let the light shine down!
Amazing experience working with Rhami Hasenin! He is SO on top of it and an all-around great guy. As soon as we met Rhami, we knew our search for the right solar provider...”
Maritza H.
“We have been working with Genevieve Johnson from Semper Solaris since 2019, and we continue to be impressed by her outstanding service and professionalism. Our experience with her has been so...”
Net billing (NEM 3.0) with time-of-use rates|Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for batteries|Property tax exclusion for solar systems|PACE financing available|DAC-SASH program for low-income households
Under NEM tariffs, participating customers receive bill credits for excess generation that is exported to the electric grid during times when it is not serving ...
NEM 3.0 is California's newest net metering policy, used to dictate the prices that utilities pay for the solar energy produced by homes and businesses.
Navigate through the California Solar Mandate with EnergySage. Make your property compliant and eco-friendly. Start your solar journey now!
*Companies displaying 15 or more years in business are typically established electrical, roofing, or general contracting firms that expanded into solar installation in more recent years. The years shown may reflect the age of the parent organization or a strategic partner, not necessarily the solar division itself. This distinction is worth considering when comparing to dedicated solar installers, as purpose-built solar companies may offer more specialized expertise despite a shorter operating history.
