Canadian utility company Nova Scotia Power has confirmed that a recent cyberattack disrupted communication with its power meters, although it did not cause any power outages. The company is informing affected individuals, including some in the United States.
Despite the disruption, the meters have continued to collect accurate energy usage data. However, the breakdown in communication between the meters and the company's systems led to a temporary pause in customer billing. Billing has since resumed, with most customers now receiving estimated bills until normal operations are restored.
The attack which occurred in April, was confirmed to be a ransomware incident that involved the theft of customer data. Exposed information includes names, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, mailing addresses, power usage details, and billing and payment records. In some cases, more sensitive data such as driver’s license numbers, Social Insurance Numbers, and bank account details were also compromised.
The identity of the ransomware group responsible remains unknown, and no cybercriminal group has publicly claimed responsibility.
Nova Scotia Power provides service to around 550,000 customers. Investigations have determined that approximately 280,000 of them were affected. Although the company does not supply electricity in the United States, its parent company, Emera, operates utilities across North America, including in the US.
According to a report submitted to the Maine Attorney General’s Office, 377 Maine residents are among those affected. The total number of impacted individuals in the United States has not been confirmed. The company also stated that both current and former customers were affected by the data breach.
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