Yes, there has been bait-and-switch (raising pricing on the PowerWall by $800 and the "Gateway" by $400). But the OP's problem is the local certified installer (not Tesla employees... more like "Big Kahuna Electric") has padded its labor quote by as much as $8,000. Why? Because they are the only Tesla installer on the island, and Hawai'i electricity is !@#$ expensive, so people really, really want stored energy. It's like selling umbrellas in a rainstorm: why charge $10 if people will pay $40? Don't blame the umbrella factory.
How is that Tesla's fault? Should they have contracts with their installers capping labor rates? That would be interesting, but I've never heard of anything like it... imagine if SunPower tried to cap electrician hourly rates on installations of SunPower modules.
The real problem is that there is not more stored-energy competition. If there were 4 competitive vendors to choose from, or 3 different Tesla installers on the island, then the labor quotes would be reasonable. But if the only competition is from a RESU10 bid, then don't expect anybody's Tesla bid to come-in a dime less than a similar RESU10 install.
How is that Tesla's fault? Should they have contracts with their installers capping labor rates? That would be interesting, but I've never heard of anything like it... imagine if SunPower tried to cap electrician hourly rates on installations of SunPower modules.
The real problem is that there is not more stored-energy competition. If there were 4 competitive vendors to choose from, or 3 different Tesla installers on the island, then the labor quotes would be reasonable. But if the only competition is from a RESU10 bid, then don't expect anybody's Tesla bid to come-in a dime less than a similar RESU10 install.
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