CenterPoint Energy has confirmed that personal information belonging to some of its customers was obtained by an unauthorized third party in a data breach discovered earlier this month.
The incident highlights what is a data breach, which generally refers to unauthorized access to or exposure of sensitive information. The company said the incident involved one of its external-facing systems and that an investigation is underway to determine the full scope of the affected customer information.
Company Investigates Data Incident
CenterPoint said it became aware of the issue after an online post by a third party claimed to have obtained a dataset containing customer information. The company activated its cybersecurity response procedures and brought in outside cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and strengthen its systems.
The utility has not yet disclosed how many customers were affected or exactly what types of personal information were obtained. Company officials said they are working to determine the scope of the incident and will notify affected customers and regulatory authorities as required by law. CenterPoint has also reported the matter to law enforcement.
Energy Services Not Affected
CenterPoint said the cybersecurity incident has not disrupted its electricity or natural gas services. The company’s operations continue to function normally while investigators work to determine how the unauthorized party accessed the customer information.
Reports surrounding the incident have included claims that millions of customer records may have been involved, but CenterPoint has not confirmed those figures. The company has said its investigation remains ongoing, making the exact number of affected customers and the specific information involved unclear at this stage.
CenterPoint customers who receive an official notification from the company are expected to receive additional information about whether their personal data was involved and what steps may be available to them. Until the investigation is completed, the company has provided limited details about the breach.
The incident comes as utilities and other large companies face continued cybersecurity threats involving customer and account information. CenterPoint said it is continuing its investigation and will provide required notifications as more information becomes available.
Source : abc13.com
