The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative will mail out ballots tomorrow to about 30,000 residential and business members asking them to approve or overturn a decision by the KIUC board to charge a fee for those who chose not to have a wireless smart meter.

The board received approval from the state Public Utilities Commission in November to levy a $10.27-per-month charge on about 3,000 cooperative members who opted out of the smart meter program. The charges cover the costs of sending technicians to read and service older-style meters.

The charges were challenged by a group of KIUC members who were able to put the question to a vote as stipulated under the cooperative’s bylaws.

Members can vote by mail, online or by phone. Instructions are included with the ballots, which will arrive in specially marked envelopes. Ballots must be received by noon on Jan. 25 and results of the election will be announced later that day, according to a news release from the KIUC.