Electric Ireland reports data breach, exposes data of 8,000 customers

Electric Ireland, the retail division of the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), a state-owned electricity company has reported a data breach affecting approximately 8,000 of its residential customers.

The incident stems from an unauthorized access by an employee of a subcontractor company, which may have led to the misuse of customers' personal and financial information.

No details are disclosed about the types of data that were exposed during the breach.

Although the precise method of the breach remains undisclosed, Electric Ireland has initiated contact with all potentially impacted customers, advising them on protective measures against financial fraud and instructing them to get in touch with their banks.

Those who did not receive a letter from Electric Ireland are not affected and require no action.

The company, part of ESB and overseeing 1.1 million residential accounts, is working closely with the Gardaí (the Police) and the Data Protection Commissioner to investigate the breach, emphasizing the need for confidentiality during the ongoing inquiry. Electric Ireland has extended a direct line of communication to those who may have observed fraudulent activity in their accounts as a result of the breach, promising full cooperation with law enforcement.