A measurement unit (1) for collecting and forwarding measured data, includes at least one measuring point for determining the measured data, and at least one interface for at least indirectly transferring the measured data to a control center (2). A particularly efficient and secure mode of operation that ensures a low network load with reference to networks used for data transmission is rendered possible in the case of such a measurement unit by virtue of the fact that the measurement unit (1) also has a process unit and means (RAM, hard disk) for local storage of measured data in the measurement unit (1), that the measured data are firstly transferred from the measuring point to the process unit, these measured data firstly being transformed into digital signals via an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) if they are made available by the measuring point in analog form, and that the measured data are subsequently written actively by this process unit into a database (6) of the control center (2).