Georgia Power has disclosed a data breach involving its online customer portal that affected approximately 400,000 customer accounts associated with parent company Southern Company. Around 300,000 of those accounts belonged to Georgia Power customers. The utility said an unauthorized third party accessed personal information, including names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.
According to the company, bank account numbers, payment card details, and driver’s license numbers were not accessed. Georgia Power said it acted to stop the suspicious activity after discovering it and contacted law enforcement. The utility reported that its investigation found no evidence of continuing unauthorized access. The publicly reported incident concerns customer account information, with no confirmed impact on electricity operations described in the report.
Georgia Power is notifying affected customers and offering complimentary credit monitoring. According to the company’s notification described in the supplied report, affected customers can receive one year of credit monitoring and identity theft restoration services through Equifax. Enrollment instructions are included in the notification emails. Customers receiving a notice should verify its authenticity through Georgia Power’s official website or the contact number printed on their bill before submitting personal information.
The Georgia Power data breach could make impersonation scams more convincing because exposed contact information gives criminals details they can use in fraudulent messages. Customers should remain cautious of unexpected calls, texts, or emails demanding urgent payment or threatening immediate disconnection. Georgia Power says it does not threaten immediate disconnection or demand payment over the phone. Anyone receiving a suspicious request should end the conversation and contact the utility directly using a verified number. Reviewing account activity and avoiding links in unsolicited messages can also help reduce exposure to follow-up scams.