That is just CRAZY expensive, based on our local pricing. I've had many of these quoted, and have had three installed. In fact, I just had your option 1 (same exact model numbers) installed at about $3k. I had three outfits quote, and they were all $2900 - $3200.
I always insist on supplying power from the electrical panel to the outside disconnect box myself. "Power wiring not included," simply means I'm pulling the wiring from the sub panel to where they put the outdoor unit on the pad, and they handle everything else from there.
This is one that has always had me curious. Mine are installed on a pad with a heat pump option, and you'd think they'd freeze up something fierce in deep snow. But, no... the snow just seems to never pile up around them, or melt off very quickly if it does. When I go outside the morning after a big snow storm, snow might be as deep as the outdoor unit in all directions, but there's always a clear area around the unit itself. Doesn't make sense... as it should really be colder around the unit, unless you're operating at NEGATIVE efficiency (i.e. worse than resistance heating).
I have a fairly modern properly sized boiler. It takes almost a gallon of oil a day to heat DHW, which doesn 't sound that bad, until you consider how warm it makes the basement, and remember your AC has to remove all those spare BTUs leaking upstairs.
Yikes. Every time I go to New England, I'm temporarily stunned by how expensive things are up there. I still don't understand the $5k'ish quotes, though. The equipment cost would be the same nationally, and I believe I must have paid about $2k for the equipment, given our local labor costs of $500/man/day and having two men for a full day on the install.
