California Solar Electric Company

What California Solar Electric Company does

California Solar Electric Company is a worker-owned solar cooperative headquartered in Grass Valley, California, founded in 2000 and transitioned to cooperative ownership in September 2019 with approximately 30 worker-owners. The company designs and installs residential, commercial, government, and non-profit solar electric systems across Northern California, including some of California's first grid-tied solar installations, and complements solar with battery storage (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, FranklinWH), EV chargers, home generators, and smart energy management solutions. Its core technology is third-party hardware integration and custom system design rather than proprietary technology, with sales led by a dedicated field and inside sales team offering free evaluations and quote-based pricing. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware installation projects across its segmented customer base, supplemented by an ongoing Service & Repair vertical that introduces recurring revenue, with a community-led go-to-market emphasizing local presence, worker-ownership transparency, and B Corp-certified social and environmental standards.

Name

California Solar Electric Company

Legal name

California Solar Electric Cooperative Corp.

Website

https://cal-solar.coop

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Solar Electric Company is a worker-owned solar cooperative in Grass Valley, California, designing and installing residential, commercial, government, and non-profit solar and battery storage systems across Northern California with approximately 30 worker-owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grass Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Residential Solar Installation: Design and installation of residential solar electric systems with battery storage options. Revenue generated through one-time installation services for homeowners seeking energy independence and cost savings.
2. Commercial Solar Installation: Solar solutions for businesses, government entities, and non-profits. Customized commercial solar systems to meet unique energy needs, reduce environmental impact, and provide financial benefits.
3. Battery Storage and Backup Systems: Battery storage options including Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, and FranklinWH for residential and commercial customers. Provides backup power during outages and helps maximize solar energy utilization.
4. EV Charger Installation: Electric vehicle charger installation services for residential customers.
5. Service and Repair: System check, repair and maintenance services for existing solar installations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

California Solar Electric Company is a worker-owned solar cooperative that designs, sells, and installs photovoltaic solar electric systems with integrated battery storage for residential, commercial, government, and non-profit customers across Northern California. Services span consultation, custom system design, permitting, installation, and post-installation service and repair, with add-on offerings including Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, and FranklinWH battery backup, smart energy management, EV chargers, and home standby generators.

Product overview

California Solar Electric Company operates as a worker-owned cooperative offering a comprehensive portfolio of solar energy solutions. The core offering consists of residential and commercial solar panel installations, complemented by battery storage systems (featuring Tesla, Enphase, and FranklinWH brands), smart energy management, EV charging, and home generators. Services span design, permitting, installation, and ongoing maintenance/repair. The company serves residential homeowners, businesses, government entities, and non-profits across Northern California, particularly Nevada County and surrounding communities. The cooperative structure enables employee ownership and democratic governance while delivering custom solar and battery solutions for energy independence and cost savings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Solar Custom solar panel installation services for homeowners, providing design, permitting, installation, and post-installation support to deliver energy independence and long-term electricity cost savings.
• Battery Storage Battery backup and storage solutions including Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, and FranklinWH systems, providing power during outages and maximizing solar energy utilization for residential and commercial customers.
• Smart Energy Management Intelligent energy management systems integrating solar production, battery storage usage, and grid consumption to maximize energy savings and resiliency for residential customers.
• EV Chargers Electric vehicle charging station installation services for residential homes, enabling customers to charge EVs using solar-generated electricity.
• Generators Home standby generator installation providing backup power during grid outages, complementing solar and battery storage systems for residential customers.
• Service & Repair Ongoing maintenance, system checks, and repair services for existing solar installations to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
• Business Solar Commercial solar installation services for businesses, providing customized solar systems to reduce operating costs and environmental impact while delivering financial benefits.
• Government Solar Solar installation services for government entities and public facilities including fire stations, parks, schools, and municipal buildings to reduce operating costs and meet sustainability requirements.
• Non-Profit Solar Solar installation services for non-profit organizations including churches, homeless shelters, and community organizations to reduce operating costs and advance sustainability missions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Western Gateway Park expects total savings of $175,000 over 25 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FREED Center for Independent LivingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 September 2020FREED and California Solar partnered to ensure Nevada County older adults and people with disabilities are prepared for planned power outages by delivering Goal Zero Yeti 3000 Lithium Power Stations and educational resources to those in need during Public Safety Power Shutoff events.
• Amicus Solar CooperativecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 February 2020California Solar joined Amicus Solar Cooperative, a member-owned purchasing cooperative of over 50 high-quality, independent, values-driven solar energy companies in all 50 states, Washington DC, Canada and Puerto Rico. The partnership provides collective buying power for better pricing on equipment, negotiated financing rates, and access to a brain trust of close to 4,000 solar professionals. The goal is lowering costs for customers and helping Cal Solar stay independently owned.
• Good SuncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2019Good Sun and Cal Solar partnered to donate a solar system to Utah's Place, Grass Valley's homeless shelter. Good Sun is a nonprofit that helped procure equipment and extended the system from 35 to 40 solar panels through fundraising. Combined resources provided Hospitality House's shelter with a 40-unit (13.8kW) Sunpower solar panel system valued at over $40,000.
• Project EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019Project Equity is a San Francisco-based nonprofit that helped Cal Solar transition to a worker cooperative. They walked the company through the cooperative design process, helping establish a sale price, ensuring financial goals were met, and conducting capacity building and training. The transition took about 9 years from initial consideration to completion, with Project Equity beginning work in 2015. Project Equity's Thrive program also supported Cal Solar post-transition to help board and management work better together.
• Sierra HarvestminorOthersLocal community organization that Cal Solar supports through donations and volunteerism as part of their commitment to building a more resilient community.
• South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL)minorOthersLocal environmental organization that Cal Solar supports through donations and volunteerism as part of their commitment to building a more resilient community.
• Hospitality HouseminorOthersLocal homeless shelter that Cal Solar supports through donations, volunteerism, and solar installations. They donated a complete solar system valued at over $40,000 to Utah's Place shelter.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sunrun: Largest U.S. residential solar installer offering solar-plus-battery systems with a similar sales-led, design-to-installation service model. Closest national-scale comparison point for Cal Solar's core residential business.
• Freedom Forever: National residential solar EPC providing customized design, permitting, and installation services. Direct head-to-head competitor for the customer journey Cal Solar delivers, but at significantly greater scale.
• Momentum Solar: Residential solar EPC with vertical integration in sales, design, and installation. Comparable in service scope to Cal Solar's residential offering, with a stronger multi-state footprint.
• ADT Solar: Residential and commercial solar installer (formerly known as ADT Solar / Sunpro Solar) operating across multiple states. Competes for the same homeowner solar-plus-battery use case as Cal Solar.

Broad incumbents

• Enphase Energy: Microinverter and battery technology provider whose products Cal Solar installs. Adjacent in the value chain and an increasingly direct competitor as Enphase expands installer-adjacent services.
• Tesla Energy: Tesla's solar and Powerwall business delivers an integrated solar-plus-storage offering and is a Cal Solar equipment partner (Tesla Powerwall) as well as a competitor for the same end customers.
• SunPower: Long-established solar module manufacturer and installer whose panels Cal Solar deploys. Operates both a dealer network (resembling Cal Solar's model) and a direct installation arm, representing both a supplier and a partial competitor.

Regional players

• Solar Optimum: California-headquartered solar and battery installer serving residential and commercial customers. Comparable product mix (solar + storage) and West Coast regional focus.
• REC Solar: California-based commercial and residential solar installer. Shares Cal Solar's West Coast orientation and commercial-project capabilities, though with broader state coverage.

Others

• Amicus Solar Cooperative: Member-owned purchasing cooperative of 50+ independent solar installers including Cal Solar. Provides peer benchmarking on pricing, financing, and operations rather than direct head-to-head competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CalSolarCo
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaliforniaSolarElectric
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-solar-electric-company

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Solar Electric Company