Abstract: Utility or industrial meters having rotating elements are monitored by an automatic reading unit through which digital input data is stored and read out in response to interrogation by a coded polling signal transmitted to the unit through telephone lines. Readout occurs during a transmit cycle and includes the serial transfer of stored digital data to digital synthesizers through which data is converted to a sinusoidal analog signal transmitted by the telephone lines for decoding at a data collecting station. By the addition of optional components, time of day metering, demand metering and the exercise of control functions at a remote site may be effected.