A method and device for transforming an ordinary electricity meter into a smart meter. The method comprises: fixing a probe connected to a collection terminal and aligning the probe to the window reflecting electrical energy on an ordinary electricity meter; the probe sensing an electrical energy image of the ordinary electricity meter; and the collection terminal reading the electrical energy image from the probe, according to the electrical energy image, determining the direction of power and calculating an energy increase, forward and reverse bases of cumulative energy increase, a time-of-use base and a tiered base, displayed and prepaid control loads, and communicating with an external digital apparatus, so as to accomplish the function of a smart meter. By means of implementing the solutions of the present invention, an ordinary electricity meter can be easily transformed to possess the functions of a smart meter, such as, bidirectional, time-of-use, and tiered metering and accounting, prepayment control, remote control, and output of active power P and voltage U as well as remote signals for access control and switching status, and the like, which is close to the performance of a smart meter. Also, the investment is small, the transformation task is small, and a metering wiring error does not occur, so that the investment can be significantly reduced.