Karnes Electric Cooperative Data Breach Lawsuit Investigation

Shamis & Gentile P.A., one of the nation's premier class action law firms specializing in data breach cases, is investigating the Karnes Electric Cooperative, Inc. data breach.

If you were affected by the data breach, your sensitive personally identifiable information may have been exposed, and you may be eligible for compensation.

About Karnes Electric Cooperative

Karnes Electric Cooperative is a locally owned, not-for-profit electric distribution utility that serves rural communities in 12 South Texas and Coastal Bend counties. Karnes Electric’s headquarters is located in Karnes City, Texas, with a member service center in Pleasanton.

Incorporated on Oct. 24, 1938, the cooperative’s mission is to provide reliable and affordable electric service to its member-owners.

What Happened?

Karnes Electric Cooperative experienced a data breach involving ransomware.

On Oct. 14, 2025, the Qilin ransomware group claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they obtained 337 GB of the organization’s internal data. This included sensitive financial documents as well as personal data of employees and customers. The stolen data was posted on the dark web network TOR, further increasing the risk of misuse.

The breach was reported to the Texas Attorney General’s office on Feb. 9, 2026. Karnes Electric notified impacted individuals by U.S. mail.

According to the report, 598 individuals in Texas were affected. The total number of affected individuals has not been disclosed to the public.

Information Exposed:

• Names
• Addresses
• Social Security numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
• Government-issued ID numbers (including state ID cards, passports, credit or debit card numbers)
• Medical information
• Health insurance information
• Financial information (such as account numbers)

You May Be Entitled to Compensation

If you were impacted by the Karnes Electric Cooperative data breach, you may be eligible to join a class action lawsuit and receive compensation for damages such as lost time, out-of-pocket expenses, and the risk of future identity theft. Lawyers are ready to help guide you through the process and fight for your rights.

To find out if you qualify and to take the next step, complete the below form to join the lawsuit investigation.

Sources

• Texas Attorney General
• Dark web