Disclosed is a near-infrared meter reading device, configured to communicatively couple with an infrared communicator in an electric meter, comprising a main body, on one end of which being disposed with a data port. Also disclosed is an electric meter connected between a power grid line and a utility user's load, comprising said near-infrared reading device and a meter housing fitted with the near-infrared reading device, in which is disposed with a processor and an infrared communicator electrically connected thereto; in the meter housing a plurality of iron cylinders are set, and in the near-infrared reading device a plurality of magnetic cylinders are set accordingly, the orientations of said iron cylinders and magnetic cylinders are aligned with each other and may be attracted together. The present invention employs a central symmetry design without request of aligning the infrared emitter with a receiver of the meter for near-infrared communication, thus availing of communication in any emitting angle. The circuitry of the invention can compatibly meets any requirement of near-infrared communication in both IEC standard and ANSI standard.