PARIS — Western Maine will begin getting “smart meters” that monitor electricity usage in early to mid-August, according to a Central Maine Power spokesman.

John Carroll said CMP has sent letters to customers outlining their ability to opt out and the associated costs. Customers will have 30 days to respond.

Carroll said the new process is at the direction of the Public Utilities Commission. In late June, CMP sent a letter to towns informing them that installations would begin within 10 days. That was before the PUC mandated that CMP send opt-out letters, Carroll said.

Carroll said customers who want the smart meters need not reply and won’t be charged. The smart meters, which transmit information to and from CMP, will be installed.

Another option is getting a smart meter that allows one-way communication from CMP but would still require that a meter reader check usage every other month. That option will cost customers $20 up front as well as $10.50 per month. CMP wouldn’t be able to see hourly usage, as with the fully functional smart meter, but the company could turn power on and off without sending an employee to the home.

For customers who want to opt out of smart meters altogether, there is a one-time $40 fee and a $12 monthly fee.

Carroll said he couldn’t estimate when customers would receive the letters from their towns because the letters are sent based on the routes used by meter readers, and different sections of the same town could receive the letters days or weeks apart from one another. Most Oxford Hills customers should receive opt-out letters in July, however.

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