PES Energize, the municipal electric and broadband utility in Pulaski, Tennessee, reported that a cybersecurity incident has caused the shutdown of its phones and computer systems. This disruption led to the closure of its customer lobby and forced the utility to direct customers to backup channels for reporting outages.
In a statement released on social media, the utility confirmed it is collaborating with federal agencies and external cybersecurity experts to analyze and resolve the issue. As a precautionary measure while the investigation is ongoing, the company has disconnected some of its systems. The incident has rendered internal phones and computers unusable, resulting in the closure of the PES Energize customer lobby. Consequently, staff are unable to accept payments in person or over the phone. Customers were informed that the lobby would remain closed while the utility addressed these problems.
To ensure that essential services remain accessible, PES Energize provided customers with alternative telephone numbers and other methods for reporting electric and fiber outages and for submitting payments.
PES Energize stated that it has “no indication that customer data has been compromised” at present, though officials did not specify which systems were targeted or whether a data review is underway. The utility also did not clarify if power or broadband delivery systems were affected, beyond the internal phones and office computers. PES Energize functions as the board of public utilities for the city of Pulaski, managing the city’s electric transmission and distribution system, and also offers broadband internet and telephone services in Giles County.
This incident is part of a series of cyber disruptions recently experienced by Tennessee public agencies and institutions, including a network incident in La Vergne, a ransomware attack on the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and breaches reported by Cookeville Regional Medical Center, Rutherford County Schools, and Southwest Tennessee Community College. PES Energize’s current priority is restoring “full operations” and ensuring system security as investigators continue their work. Customers are advised to use the alternate methods for reporting outages and making payments and to check the utility’s official channels for updates.
Reference:
