AC.
Electricity flows on hot wire, what's unused comes back on neutral.
Single phase = 1 hot 1 neutral 110v
Single phase = 2 hots 1 neutral shared 220/240v
Three phase = 3 hots 1 neutral shared 208/277/480
AC.
Electricity flows on hot wire, what's unused comes back on neutral.
Single phase = 1 hot 1 neutral 110v
Single phase = 2 hots 1 neutral shared 220/240v
Three phase = 3 hots 1 neutral shared 208/277/480
Yes, digital information can be transmitted through AC current, without smart meter.
Light bulbs can be used to read "sound pressure waves" and send that back to a central location for example.