Okaloosa Gas District is committed to protecting the privacy and security of the information in our possession. On or about August 12, 2025, Okaloosa Gas District experienced a data security incident, where an unauthorized party accessed certain systems in our network environment. Upon learning of this issue, we contained the threat and immediately commenced a prompt and thorough investigation.

As part of our investigation, we have been working very closely with external cybersecurity professionals experienced in handling these types of incidents. Following a thorough forensic investigation, it was determined on April 2, 2026, that the files that were removed from the network by an unauthorized third-party actor on or around August 7, 2025, to on or about August 11, 2025, contain personal information. The types of information involved include full name, date of birth, Social Security number, government identification, financial account information, health insurance information, and medical information. Please note that not all information was impacted for all individuals. 

While we have no indication that there has been any fraud as a result of this incident, out of an abundance of caution, commencing on April 17, 2026, Okaloosa Gas District notified individuals whose information was included in the files that may have been removed from the network by an unauthorized third-party actor. Notified individuals have been provided with best practices to protect their information. 

We remain fully committed to maintaining the privacy of the information in our possession, and upon learning of the incident, we took immediate action to protect the information we maintain. We continually evaluate and modify our practices to enhance the security and privacy of information, and we are taking measures to augment existing cybersecurity practices.

For further questions or additional information regarding this incident, please contact the dedicated toll-free response line at 855-291-2548. The response line is available for 90 days, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

                                            – OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION –

1. Placing a Fraud Alert on Your Credit File.
We recommend that you place an initial 1-year “fraud alert” on your credit files, at no charge. A fraud alert tells creditors to contact you personally before they open any new accounts. To place a fraud alert, call any one of the three major credit bureaus at the numbers listed below. As soon as one credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, they will notify the others.

Equifax
P.O. Box 105069
Atlanta, GA 30348-5069
Click here for: Equifax  
(800) 525-6285

Experian
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
Click Here for: Experian
(888) 397-3742

TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016-2000
Click Here for: TransUnion
(800) 680-7289

2. Consider Placing a Security Freeze on Your Credit File.
If you are very concerned about becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, you may request that a “Security Freeze” be placed on your credit file at no charge. A security freeze prohibits, with certain specific exceptions, the consumer reporting agencies from releasing your credit report or any information from it without your express authorization. You may place a security freeze on your credit report by contacting all three nationwide credit reporting companies at the numbers below and following the stated directions or by sending a request in writing, by mail, to all three credit reporting companies:

Equifax Security Freeze
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348
Click here: Equifax Security Freeze
(800) 349-9960
(888) 298-0045

Experian Security Freeze
P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013
Click Here: Experian Security Freeze
(888) 397-3742

TransUnion Security Freeze
P.O. Box 160
Woodlyn, PA 19094
Click Here for TransUnion Security Freeze
(888) 909-8872

In order to place the security freeze, you’ll need to supply your name, address, date of birth, Social Security
number, and other personal information. After receiving your freeze request, each credit reporting company
will send you a confirmation letter containing a unique PIN (personal identification number) or password.
Keep the PIN or password in a safe place. You will need it if you choose to lift the freeze.

3. Obtaining a Free Credit Report.

Under federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months from each of the above three major nationwide credit reporting companies. Call 1-877-322-8228 or request your free credit reports online at Annual Credit Report. Once you receive your credit reports, review them for discrepancies. Identify any accounts you did not open or inquiries from creditors that you did not authorize. Verify that all information is correct. If you have questions or notice incorrect information, contact the credit reporting company.

4. Additional Helpful Resources.
Even if you do not find any suspicious activity on your initial credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that you check your credit reports periodically. Checking your credit report periodically can help you spot problems and address them quickly. If you find suspicious activity on your credit reports or have reason to believe your information is being misused, call your local law enforcement agency and file a police report. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report, as many creditors will want the information it contains to absolve you of the fraudulent debts. You may also file a complaint with the FTC by contacting them on the web at FTC, by phone at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438- 4338), or by mail at Federal Trade  Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. Your complaint will be added to the FTC’s Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse, where it will be accessible to law enforcement for their investigations. In addition, you may obtain information from the FTC about fraud alerts and security freezes.

If your personal information has been used to file a false tax return, to open an account, or to attempt to open an account in your name, or to commit fraud or other crimes against you, you may file a police report in the city in which you currently reside.

5. Protecting Your Medical Information.
We have no evidence that your medical information involved in this incident was or will be used for any
unintended purposes. However, the following practices can provide additional safeguards to protect against
medical identity theft.

• As a general matter, the following practices can help to protect you from medical identity theft.
• Only share your health insurance cards with your health care providers and other family members who are covered under your insurance plan or who help you with your medical care.
• Review your “explanation of benefits statement,” which you receive from your health insurance company. Follow up with your insurance company or care provider for any items you do not recognize. If necessary,  contact the care provider on the explanation of benefits statement and ask for copies of medical records from the date of the potential access (noted above) to the current date.
• Ask your insurance company for a current year-to-date report of all services paid for you as a beneficiary. Follow up with your insurance company or the care provider for any items you do not recognize.

                                                                                                         * * * * *
Iowa Residents: You may contact law enforcement or the Iowa Attorney General’s Office to report suspected incidents of identity Theft: Office of the Attorney General of Iowa, Consumer Protection Division, Hoover State Office Building, 1305 East Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50319. Click Here for: Iowa Attorney General, Telephone:  515-281-5164.

Maryland Residents: You may obtain information about avoiding identity theft from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Office of the Attorney General of Maryland, Consumer Protection Division, 200 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202. Click Here for Maryland Attorney General, Telephone: 888-743-0023.

Massachusetts Residents: Under Massachusetts law, you have the right to obtain a police report in regard to this incident. If you are the victim of identity theft, you also have the right to file a police report and obtain a copy of it.

New York Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the New York  Attorney General’s Office: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341;  Click Here for: New York Attorney General; Telephone: 800-771-7755.

North Carolina Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office: Office of the Attorney General of North Carolina, Consumer Protection Division, 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001. Click Here for: North Carolina Attorney General, Telephone: 877-566-7226 (Toll-free within North Carolina), 919-716-6000.

Oregon Residents: You may obtain information about preventing identity theft from the Oregon Attorney  General’s Office: Oregon Department of Justice, 1162 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-4096. Click here for: Oregon Attorney General/, Telephone: 877-877-9392.

New Mexico Residents: You have rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). These include, among others, the right to know what is in your file; to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information; and to have consumer reporting agencies correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information. For more information about the FCRA Click here. or FTC.

                                                        In Addition, New Mexico Consumers Have the Right to
                                               Obtain a Security Freeze or Submit a Declaration of Removal

As noted above, you may obtain a security freeze on your credit report to protect your privacy and ensure that credit is not granted in your name without your knowledge. You may submit a declaration of removal to remove information placed in your credit report as a result of being a victim of identity theft. You have a right to place a security freeze on your credit report or submit a declaration of removal pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting and Identity Security Act.

The security freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. When you place a security freeze on your credit report, you will be provided with a personal identification number, password, or similar device to use if you choose to remove the freeze on your credit report or to temporarily authorize the release of your credit report to a specific party or parties or for a specific period of time after the freeze is in place. To remove the freeze or to provide authorization for the temporary release of your credit report, you must contact the consumer reporting agency and provide all of the following:

1. The unique personal identification number, password, or similar device provided by the consumer reporting agency;
2. Proper identification to verify your identity; and
3. Information regarding the third party or parties who are to receive the credit report or the period of time for which the credit report may be released to users of the credit report.

A consumer reporting agency that receives a request from a consumer to lift temporarily a freeze on a credit report shall comply with the request no later than three business days after receiving the request. As of September 1, 2008, a consumer reporting agency shall comply with the request within fifteen minutes of receiving the request by a secure electronic method or by telephone.

A security freeze does not apply in all circumstances, such as where you have an existing account relationship, and a copy of your credit report is requested by your existing creditor or its agents for certain types of account review, collection, fraud control, or similar activities; for use in setting or adjusting an insurance rate or claim or insurance underwriting; for certain governmental purposes; and for purposes of prescreening as defined in the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

If you are actively seeking a new credit, loan, utility, telephone, or insurance account, you should understand that the procedures involved in lifting a security freeze may slow your own applications for credit. You should plan ahead and lift a freeze, either completely if you are shopping around or specifically for a certain creditor, with enough advance notice before you apply for new credit for the lifting to take effect. You should contact a consumer reporting agency and request it to lift the freeze at least three business days before applying. As of September 1, 2008, if you contact a consumer reporting agency by a secure electronic method or by telephone, the consumer reporting agency should lift the freeze within fifteen minutes. You have a right to bring a civil action against a consumer reporting agency that violates your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting and Identity Security Act.

To place a security freeze on your credit report, you must send a request to each of the three major consumer reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You may contact these agencies using the contact information provided above.