Chatham County water customers should prepare for big bills after months lost to hack
After a cyber attack halted water bills for months in Chatham County, officials are preparing to start sending the bills again.
On Oct. 28, a hacker locked down the county's computer systems in a ransomware attack designed to extort money from the county.
The hack caused the county to lose use of computers, internet access, office phones and voicemail. The county also had to wipe and re-image servers and more than 550 individual staff computers.
Since the attack, water billing from November through February was interrupted.
Now, officials say water bills will be sent out either at the end of Februrary or the beginning of March when all administrative work is complete, including reading meters for the first time in months, updating account status information in water billing system and processing all incoming payments during the time of the incidents.
To help with the impact of receiving a larger than normal bill, customers will only be charged at the lowest tiered rate.
While the bill will be due on March 25, officials say there will not be late charges.
Customers who might have trouble paying the bill are asked to call 919-542-8270 after they receive the March bill to discuss payment plan options.
