Public Opposition To "Government Intrusion" Into Energy Shopping Quashes Proposed Muni Aggregation
July 21,2016
A proposed opt-out municipal aggregation in Hamilton Township, New Jersey was rejected by township leaders on the basis of public opposition to the opt-out design and, "government intrusion" into energy shopping, The Trentonian reports
"I do have a problem with us telling people, 'You have to be in the program, these are the steps to get out,'" The Trentonian quotes Council President Ileana Schirmer as stating
In a comment displaying the paternal arrogance that too many elected officials have these days, Councilman Dennis Pone said, in favor of adopting the aggregation program, "If I could save people $78 a year, I’d think I was elected to tell them what to do."
Pone's remarks also miss the point in that opt-out aggregations do far more than tell people what to do (opt-in aggregations can accomplish that), they force people onto the government's chosen product but for an affirmative action by the customer, who is likely unaware of what is even going on