Customers of the Chatham County Water Utility will see late fees and cutoffs resume in the coming weeks, according to the local government.

A release from Chatham County on Tuesday alerted the community of the change, shifting the local government back to normal billing operations that were altered during the aftermath of a cyberattack. The local government said late fees will resume in April, with water service cutoffs for customers with unpaid bills beginning in May.

Chatham County Water Utility began sending bills to customers at the end of February for the period after the local government fell victim to a ransomware attack in October. After a “phishing” email allowed a criminal organization to access county files, officials shut down the county’s phone, email and internet networks. Rebuilding the networks took the county months, with staff recently reporting the local government is nearing a full recovery.

The bills covered billing cycles from November 2020 from February 2021 and will be due March 25.

Chatham County utility shutoffs were also suspended during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, due to a moratorium enacted by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. Shutoffs resumed throughout the community in September.

The county government said it charged customers at the “lowest tiered rate” to reduce the impact of receiving the multi-month bills. Tuesday’s release said if customers have difficulty paying their bills, they can discuss payment plan options by calling 919-542-8270. Chatham County recommends water bills are paid through their online portal or at 192 West Street in Pittsboro.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

 

 

Related Stories
‹
Chatham County Nearing Full Recovery from 'Cyber Incident', Cause Still Unclear
While the U.S. government is beginning to uncover and react to an expansive cybersecurity breach into branches and departments, one local government is close to recovery from a similar attack. Chatham County is nearing the point where it was before October 28, when a cyber incident disrupted the government’s phone lines, email networks and other […]
Pittsboro Commissioners Vote to End Flock Safety Contract Early, Citing Community Opposition
Pittsboro elected officials voted on Monday to end its contract with Flock Safety, following longstanding backlash from residents about privacy concerns related to the license-plate cameras.
Chatham County Roundup: Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp on Town Budget, Another Public Space Award, and Flock Cameras
Pittsboro Mayor Kyle Shipp spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Tuesday, May 12, discussing town news and events. He gave an update on the town budget, discussed the cancellation of the town's Flock camera contract, and celebrated the town picking up another statewide ward for its public space improvements downtown.
Chatham County Opens George Pauly Trail to Honor Longtime Volunteer, Conservationist
The George Pauly Trail is a 0.3 mile course at Northeast District Park in Chatham County. It sits just yards away from where Pauly lived.
A New Enbridge Pipeline Spurs Opposition in Central North Carolina
In late April, Enbridge announced its plans to build a new 28-mile natural gas pipeline through Chatham County, from Siler City to Moncure.
Chatham County Schools Names 2026 Educators of the Year
Chatham County Schools recognized its 2026 Educators of the Year Thursday during its annual Educator Recognition Reception. Each honoree was nominated by colleagues and selected after a districtwide review. Walter Johnson of Chatham Early College in Siler City was named the district’s Teacher of the Year. Several Pittsboro educators were honored: at Pittsboro Elementary, Emily […]
Orange County Recommends Tax Increases for FY27 Budget; Chatham County Could Keep Rate Flat
Both Orange County and Chatham County revealed their budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year this week. Here are the highlights.
Chatham County Roundup: Chair of the County Commissioners Amanda Robertson on County Budget
Chair of the Chatham County Commissioners Amanda Robertson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey. She discussed the county budget recommendation, which does not include a tax increase. She discussed other highlights of the proposal, including a discrepancy in the request from Chatham County Schools, and more. She also discussed a proposed natural gas pipeline through the rural part of the county, and more.
'Dad Would Be Proud': Chatham County Breaks Ground On Parker's Ridge Park
Parker's Ridge Park will feature an inclusive playground, a pump track, a walking trail, and a picnic shelter on former farmland near Moncure.
Climate Thursday: Inside Climate News Reporter Lisa Sorg
Inside Climate News North Carolina Reporter Lisa Sorg spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, April 30. She discussed some of her recent reporting, which includes analysis of tax break's received by data mining facilities, including Duke Energy. She also discussed some upcoming reporting on a pipeline being planned across Chatham County, and more.
›