For the past several months I have been exceeding my free broadband allowance despite my usage, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't really altered. My free allowance is 20GB per calendar month.

I don't have a Smart TV, I do not use a mobile phone, I do not have Netflix or any other streaming subscriptions. Rarely I use ITV Hub, but it is rarely, I also watch a bit of youtube, but only for tutorials etc.

On 4th November I left the house at 07.30 and didn't return until 9th November at 15.30 but my ISP shows me using every hour of the day. Our electricity meters are read by wifi as is my oiltank. I have just emailed both companies to ask how much they are using. Does anyone here know how much is used by smart meters?

I don't get charged much extra each month but really cannot see why my usage has increased, I used to use about 10GB per month.

I have just changed my password so if anyone is logged into my network they are not now!

Oh wow - that's so weird! My husband has a website he can log into and see what IP addresses are sending traffic at specific times, maybe there is a way to identify this with your provider?

I am pretty sure that it is the electricity metre doing the hourly call. However that doesn't explain why my usage as virtually doubled.. I have given in and bought a bolt on of 80gb per month. Now I can watch as many youtubes as I want.