Across the Northeast Utilities system beginning on November 1, 2008, our utility companies will implement additional identity theft prevention measures to help us to safeguard our customers’ confidential account information and to ensure only authorized access.

The timing of this implementation is in advance of a Federal Trade Commission May 1, 2009, deadline for creditors and financial institutions to develop and implement written identify theft prevention programs to detect, prevent and mitigate “red flags.” A red flag is any activity that may indicate a possible attempt at identity theft related to an existing customer account or the opening of a new account.

Initially that’s a possibility; however, the calls will proceed quickly as more customers are ready to provide the needed information to access their account.

Northeast Utilities already has existing policies and procedures to mitigate foreseeable risks to customer and company information and to verify a caller’s identity. Northeast Utilities has a new customer service information system (C2) that enhances NU’s electric and natural gas companies’ abilities to implement these additional measures. The Program, effective November 1, 2008, builds additional safeguards into the policies and procedures that the Company already has in place to protect utility accounts.

Someone requesting account information or access will be asked additional questions regarding information about their account in order to verify their identity and their right to access the information. For security reasons, the specific measures are confidential.

The Program provides customers with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the Company is taking appropriate measures to protect and prevent their utility accounts from unauthorized access.

The identity theft prevention measures are required of financial institutions and creditors servicing customer accounts involving multiple payments and transactions, including:
- Financial institutions (banks, credit unions)
- Finance companies
- Credit and debit cards issuers
- Mortgage brokers
- Telecommunications companies
- Utilities (water, gas, electric)

Red Flags are those identity theft patterns or practices that the Company can identify, detect and prevent to protect customers and their utility accounts. One example is someone who tries to use an improper Social Security number to open or access an account. A red flag could also originate in a report from a fraud detection service, or from a law enforcement agency advising the company to beware of a particular pattern of activity.