An electricity meter comprising an electrically-controlled electromechanical switch is disclosed. The electromechanical switch comprises a rotary actuator comprising a generally-cylindrical permanent magnet rotor having a central axis, a stator comprising a closed stator core and first and second opposite stator poles inwardly-projecting from the closed stator core towards the rotor and first and second coils wound around the first and second stator poles respectively. The electromechanical switch comprises a switch comprising at least one pair of first and second contacts wherein the first contact is movable. The electromechanical switch comprises mechanical linkage between the rotary actuator and the movable contact(s) configured such that rotation of the rotor from a first angular position to a second angular position causes the switch to be opened, and rotation from the second angular position to the first angular position causes the switch to be closed.