Alexandria, La. (1/9/2025) – Alexandria attorney Thomas Davenport has filed a formal complaint against the City of Alexandria, citing ongoing utility billing problems that have impacted thousands of residents. The complaint was sent to city officials and cc’d to UrbanCast, KALB, KALX, and The Town Talk.
Davenport’s complaint highlights the City’s failure to send utility bills and wrongful utility disconnections, which he argues violate residents’ constitutional rights. However, the problem’s roots trace back to a 2022 cyber breach that disrupted Alexandria’s billing systems for months.
Cyber Breach and Its Lingering Impact
In 2022, the City of Alexandria experienced a significant cyber breach that compromised its operations, including the utility billing system. While details about the breach were sparse, it is known that the City could not generate or send accurate utility bills for an extended period. Residents affected by the breach are still experiencing lingering issues, including billing delays, inaccuracies, and disconnections without notice.
UrbanCast reached out to City Attorney Jonathan Goins and Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Public Information Officer Michael Caffery at 11:38 AM on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, for comments regarding the complaint and the unresolved billing issues. As of this publication, no response has been received.
Transparency and Accountability
When Alexandria faced the cyber breach, transparency was essential to maintaining public trust. However, the City failed to provide critical information, leaving residents uncertain about the breach’s impact and the steps taken to resolve it.
Key questions remain unanswered:
• What caused the breach, and how was it resolved?
• Were residents’ personal or financial data compromised?
• What safeguards have been implemented to prevent future incidents?
The lack of communication has fueled frustration among residents, many of whom are still dealing with billing problems nearly three years later. Clear updates and actionable solutions are critical to rebuilding public trust and ensuring accountability.
Legal Concerns and Davenport’s Complaint
Davenport’s complaint underscores the constitutional implications of the City’s actions. He cited the U.S. Supreme Court case Memphis Light, Gas & Water Div. v. Craft (1977), which established that utility providers must notify customers of pending service terminations and provide a fair process to dispute charges. Davenport alleges the City violated these standards by disconnecting services without proper notice, compounding residents’ frustrations.
“Utility service is a necessity of modern life,” Davenport stated. “The lack of proper billing and disconnection notices threatens residents’ health, safety, and constitutional rights.”
The complaint also includes a recorded call with a customer service representative confirming that no bills were generated due to “IT issues.” Despite this, the City continued disconnecting services, leaving residents with little recourse.
Moving Forward
Davenport has called on the City to address the billing issues and comply with constitutional due process requirements. He has also warned that failure to act could result in further legal action, including complaints to federal authorities.
UrbanCast contacted Davenport, who has agreed to an interview to discuss the broader implications of his complaint. Meanwhile, residents and community leaders are urging city officials to address the ongoing utility issues and provide transparent updates on their resolution.
UrbanCast will continue to monitor this developing story. For the latest updates, visit involvedinitall.com.
Related Article: Local Attorney Files Complaint Over Alleged Fraudulent Utility Billing Practices by the City of Alexandria
