Overview
- Lawyers for Eaton Fire victims filed a court statement accusing Southern California Edison of dragging litigation and resisting early mediation to steer people into its payout program, allegations the company denies as premature.
- The Eaton Fire Survivors Network asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to urge regulators to delay SCE’s profit increase from 10.33% to 11.75% and to require immediate $200,000 payments per displaced household without waiving the right to sue.
- Edison says about 580 people have applied to its voluntary compensation program, which makes offers within 90 days and pays within 30 days of acceptance in exchange for waiving litigation.
- CEO Pedro Pizarro said the company’s equipment is the likely ignition source and that investigations by LA County Fire and Cal Fire remain open, with a dormant line reenergizing by induction cited as a leading theory.
- Pizarro said initial losses are covered by a customer-funded $1 billion insurance policy and that broader payouts are expected to be reimbursed by the state wildfire fund.