[plantain]

That cost makes absolutely no sense. It takes one single day for a couple of people to install solar and batteries on a residential house.

[SR2Z]

Baumol's Cost Disease at work, I guess.

[ZeroGravitas]

It's a third or fourth of the price in Australia with equivalent labor costs.

It's mostly unnecessary red tape and a broken market that cause the differences.

[SR2Z]

Australian labor costs are significantly lower than the US, as are labor costs in most countries. Americans are paid pretty well.

[ZeroGravitas]

Solar installer costs are broadly comparable as Australians are better qualified and even if they weren't comparable the fraction of the cost isn't enough to explain the total difference.

There's various studies comparing the two countries, Tesla did one and found various technical approach changes and permitting reforms. It suggests labor is 7% of the cost in the US. Soft costs around acquisition, sales and marketing can be 18%.