Abstract: A meter reading system, comprising: a monitoring station which monitors a plurality of meters, wherein the meters each include a storage unit which stores data as to usage and/or generation at predetermined intervals and an interface for communication with a meter reader; and a plurality of meter readers which communicate with the monitoring station, and, under control of the monitoring station, each designate the meters to be read and return data read from the meters to the monitoring station; wherein the monitoring station comprises a storage unit which stores data for each of the meters being monitored, and a communications unit which maintains entries for each of the meters for communication to and from the meter readers, the entries each designating the required data to be read from the respective meters; wherein the meter readers each comprise a storage unit which receives the entries for the meters to be monitored thereby, and, on reading the meters, stores the required data, an interface which is conn