A cathodic protection monitoring system for buried metal objects comprising a transponder hard-wire connected to a sacrificial anode and a reference electrode, each of the transponder, the sacrificial anode and the reference electrode being buried underground in close proximity to the buried metal object to be protected, thereby forming a first principal circuit between the sacrificial anode and the buried metal object and forming a second principal circuit between the reference electrode and the buried metal object. The system further comprises a portable transceiver disposed above ground tuned to a frequency of the transponder. Power for operation of the transponder is drawn from the cathodic protection circuit, thereby obviating the need for connections to above ground power supplies.