Report: Seattle utilities’ flaw gives customers access to other users’ bill
Sep 6, 2016, 7:37 AM
The back of a Seattle City Light truck. (File photo, KIRO 7)
(File photo, KIRO 7)
Seattle’s newly launched billing system had a data flaw that flooded 3,000 customers with redundant email notices and a link showing other people’s bills, according to The Seattle Times.
Reporter Mike Lindbloom writes that the system, which launched over the holiday weekend, gave thousands of customers access to other customers’ names, addresses and billing information.
The problem affected a small group in the batch of 30,000 utility bills issued in the system launch.
City Light spokesman Scott Thomsen told The Seattle Times that no bank account numbers, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers or similar financial data were exposed.
Both the e-billing link and the automatic payments have been disabled while technicians work.
The new billing system, operated by a third-party vendor, also serves water, sewer and garbage customers through Seattle Public Utilities.
The new billing system was already a year late and $34 million over budget, according to The Seattle Times.
