**Cyberattack Forces Major U.S. Water Utility to Pause Customer Billing**

American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the U.S., revealed on Monday that it had experienced a cyberattack, leading the company to halt its billing process. The New Jersey-headquartered firm, which provides essential services to over 14 million people across 14 states and 18 military installations, reported that it discovered the unauthorized activity on Thursday.

Upon detection of the breach, American Water took immediate safeguarding measures, including deactivating certain systems to prevent further damage. The company stated that, thus far, it has found no evidence indicating that its facilities or operational capabilities were compromised by the cyberattack. Efforts are being made "around the clock" by the company's staff to thoroughly investigate the nature and extent of the security breach.

American Water has informed law enforcement agencies and is actively cooperating with their investigations. They have assured customers that there will be no late fees while billing systems are offline. According to the company's website, American Water handles over 500 water and wastewater systems, serving approximately 1,700 communities in various states including California, Georgia, Hawaii, and New Jersey.