One of the benefits of retail energy choice is the ability to "fire" your supplier if you are dissatisfied with service -- a remedy not available under monopolies.

A New Jersey mayor has said he's done just that -- twice.

In a story concerning steps to create a new municipal electric aggregation for Eatontown, NJ, Atlanticville reports that Gerald Tarantolom "said he has had less-than-favorable experiences with third-party energy companies."

"I have fired two third parties already," Tarantolom said, according to Atlanticville. "The first one did not meet the conditions we mutually agreed to and the second one promised me the world, but then when I saw two consecutive bills where they doubled the amount I was supposed to be paying. I fired them also, and I went back to JCP&L."

Also notable are these comments from Councilwoman Janice Kroposky:

"I do not think it is appropriate for a governing body to make a decision about electricity in someone’s home," she said. "I think that is the individual consumer’s responsibility, and if they are interested in adopting a third party, then they should do their due diligence and research. I think it is beyond our scope of governance."

Nevertheless, a majority of council members voted to proceed with the next step of exploring an aggregation, by hiring a consultant

See Atlanticville for more