Electric companies to get out monitoring message

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s electric companies are urging customers in their bills to sign up for free credit monitoring following a massive security breach at the state’s tax collection agency.

A spokesman for Gov. Nikki Haley said Friday notices sent via mail or email will reach 3.1 million households. Rob Godfrey says the state’s publicly and privately owned utilities, as well as its 20 electric cooperatives, agreed to get the message out at no charge to the state.

The notices provide websites and phone numbers taxpayers need to sign up for services.

State officials say 3.6 million personal tax returns and up to 657,000 business filings dating to 1998 were compromised by an international hacker.

The state is offering individuals a service through Experian. Business owners can sign up for separate services.