Indeed there are big rebates for heat pump water heater (HPWH) and for HVAC heat pumps if you are low-moderate income - but the state-wide HVAC heat pump rebates for upper income folks ran out of funds recently. www.quitcarbon.com is helping folks get most of what is left (which can be a LOT!)

Such a thrill to see this happening!

This is the exact same supply chain for many, many other things - that aren't necessarily perceived as expensive. Most home services have this supply chain (toilets, carpets, appliances, etc). Auto parts. Etc. A long supply chain does not automatically result in things perceived to be expensive.

Can you clarify how liberal vs. conservative affects the prices consumers pay for heat pump retrofits?
(Sorry it is somewhere in this thread - I'm not finding it)

By itself, this won't change prices - if there are some non-vertically-integrated players, and one vertically integrated, the "full stack" player need only slightly undercut the others (or just do better marketing and servicing, which ain't hard!) and they'll capture large profits.

There is no example I know of of any sort of vertical integration in the USA heat pump market - if anything, it is the opposite, with lots of layers - just as you describe in bsky.app/profile/kevi...

Yes! There is an example of a residential electrification retrofit company that is vertically integrating - check out www.airahome.com (you may need to read some of the press coverage to learn about their plans to own factories, build heat pumps, sell and install them, service, then, etc)

I’m a little unclear on how this is price gouging. Isn’t this just how markets work? The price of a thing is the price that the buyer and seller agree to.

Where QuitCarbon.com works in California we tend to find plenty of installers who are happy for heat pump work. No shortage here… Yet. Of course more supply of labor it would help drive down costs, and that would be awesome!

Yes please I'd like to join this party!