Southern California Edison doubled the share of legal costs it will cover for Eaton Fire claimants who use attorneys, increasing the compensation for legal expenses from 10% to 20% of net damages in settlement offers, the company announced Tuesday.
The change to SCE’s voluntary Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program also enhances support for displaced Altadena tenants, who will now receive up to three months of housing assistance calculated at the higher of their actual pre-fire rent or fair rental value, according to the company’s press release. Both updates are effective immediately and will be applied retroactively, including to claims under review, offers already extended, offers accepted and payments already made.
“We remain committed to helping the Altadena community recover by making sure that eligible individuals and businesses get fair resolutions and fast compensation for impacts from the Eaton Fire,” said Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, SCE’s parent company, in a statement.
The program, which SCE launched on October 29, offers compensation to individuals and businesses affected by the Eaton Fire in exchange for a waiver of the right to sue the utility. As of February 18, 2026, SCE said 2,405 claims had been submitted on behalf of nearly 7,000 individuals. The company said it had extended 593 offers to more than 1,700 individuals, totaling more than $183 million, with 86 payments already made or in process totaling $18 million, according to the press release.
The attorney fee increase addresses a gap that emerged early in the program. When SCE launched the claims process in October, it offered a 10% supplement to net damages for claimants represented by counsel, according to the company’s original program announcement. Many attorneys, however, charge contingency fees of 25% to 40%, according to a Pasadena Now report, leaving claimants to cover the difference from their settlement amounts. Under the new terms, the 20% compensation for legal expenses applies to claimants represented by an attorney at the time they submit a claim. To date, 32% of claims have been submitted through an attorney or authorized representative, according to SCE.
The Eaton Fire ignited on January 7 in the foothills above Altadena during powerful Santa Ana winds. The blaze killed 19 people and destroyed about 9,400 structures over 14,000 acres, according to Cal Fire, making it one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. SCE has said there is evidence that its equipment was associated with the fire’s ignition but has not admitted fault. Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against the utility, with a trial scheduled to begin in January 2027.
The compensation program has drawn criticism from fire survivors who say the payouts are insufficient. The Eaton Fire Survivors Network, a grassroots organization with about 8,500 members, has called the program’s offers “pennies on the dollar,” according to the Daily News. The network has called on SCE to provide $200,000 per displaced household for housing costs without requiring participants to waive their right to sue.
“It’s been over a year since the fire and Edison has only now done something for 210 people out of the entire community,” Andrew Wessels, strategy director for the network, said in a January 30, 2026, interview with the Daily News, referring to the program’s three-month totals at the time. “That’s a drop in the bucket.”
SCE has said the program provides faster resolution than litigation. According to the company, submitting a claim takes just over 100 minutes on average, settlement offers are delivered within 90 days of a substantially complete claim, and payments are made within 30 days after settlement conditions are met.
The program remains open through November 30, 2026, according to SCE. Claimants can submit applications in English and Spanish at sce.com/directclaims or call 888-912-8528 for assistance in multiple languages. In-person appointments are also available.
Participation is voluntary. Claimants retain all legal rights until they accept an offer and sign a release, which waives past and future claims against SCE related to the Eaton Fire, according to the program’s protocol.
The updated program statistics show a significant increase from January 30, 2026, when SCE reported 2,149 claims submitted, 210 offers totaling $117 million, and 59 payments totaling $13.4 million. The February 13 milestone announcement reported 2,345 claims and more than 500 offers totaling more than $165 million, according to a Business Wire release issued that day.
“By strengthening support and reducing barriers for participation, the program now gives community members greater confidence and clearer pathways to relief,” Pizarro said in the company’s Tuesday statement.
The SCE Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program accepts claims through November 30, 2026. There is no cost to submit a claim; participation is voluntary and legal representation is not required. Claims can be filed online at sce.com/directclaims, with guidance available in English and Spanish. For one-on-one assistance in multiple languages, or to schedule an in-person appointment, call 888-912-8528. For firms representing multiple claimants, a bulk intake process is available by emailing EatonFireLegal@sce.com. Updated sample offers and frequently asked questions are posted at energized.edison.com/wildfire-
The Eaton Fire Survivors Network and plaintiff attorneys have not yet issued public responses to the specific changes announced Tuesday.
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