BATH — The Bath City Council on Monday gave final approval to an ordinance that restricts Central Maine Power’s ability to install so- called “ Smart Meters” in the city for another six months.

The council voted 5-4, with Chairman David Sinclair, the sponsor of the ordinance extension, casting the tiebreaking vote.

But the new ordinance doesn’t take effect for 21 days — on Jan. 9 — according to Bath City Clerk Mary White, and the original ordinance expired Monday.

And CMP plans to move forward with installation in mid- January at the homes of customers who have not “opted out” of the smart meter installation, spokesman John Carroll said Monday. Their plans, however, will still comply with the renewed ordinance, he said.

On Friday, CMP mailed letters to its customers in Bath informing them that within 30 days, the company would begin installing the meters in the city, and if customers elect to “opt-out” — as is their right — they will be charged.

The letter — which Carroll said, “complies with the Bath ordinance” — told residents that “your city council has requested” that all property owners in the city be contacted prior to installation to confirm acceptance of the meters.

An enclosed card requests a response by Dec. 27. Customers are asked to opt for a standard smart meter at no cost; a smart meter that “emits no radio signal” for a one-time $20 fee and an additional monthly charge of $10.50; or an “electro-mechanical meter like the meter you have today” for a one- time charge of $40 plus a monthly $12 charge.

Carroll said a similar letter was sent to CMP customers throughout the state, but customers elsewhere only had to reply if they did not want a smart meter. Bath residents are asked to respond regardless of their choice, and if they don’t, CMP must follow up, he said.

Opponents of the wireless meters — among them, dozens of parties to complaints filed with the Maine Public Utilities Commission — allege that the meters interfere with wireless Internet and medical devices, and that the radio signals can cause health problems.

But CMP officials and their supporters assert that the meters are efficient and accu- rate, and no more dangerous than many other day-to-day items not similarly limited in Bath, such as baby monitors.

“When the first ordinance was put in place … our understanding was that the council wanted time to see how the commission would resolve issues before it, so we waited,” Carroll said Monday. “For us the goal has always been to get this project done, and we had to take it on good faith that the council wanted to get answers and we were able to work around that schedule. Now, even though the ( PUC) has resolved all those questions, (the council) seems to be insistent on maintaining the ordinance, so we’ve just gone ahead with the process. We have 525,000 (smart meters) in, and we’re going to be finished (statewide) in a little over a month from now. We’ll meet our goal and we will have accommodated the goals of the city of Bath.”

Monday’s 5-4 vote in favor of extending the ordinance restricting smart meters was supported by Councilors Steve Brackett, Meadow Rue Merrill, Ruthe Pagurko, Kyle Rogers and Sinclair. Councilors Mari Eosco, Sean Paulhus, Andy Winglass and Bernie Wyman opposed.

bbrogan@timesrecord.com