Edison Rebuts Radio Station’s Pasadena Town Hall Claims

Southern California Edison on Tuesday afternoon disputed accusations made earlier that day by KBLA Talk 1580, asserting SCE committed to participating in an upcoming wildfire recovery town hall because they were told no plaintiffs’ attorneys were involved and withdrew only after they learned otherwise.

Pedro Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, the parent company of SCE, was never scheduled to appear on the panel for the Nov. 4 event, held at Victory Bible Church in Pasadena.

The Nov. 6 town hall, titled “Understanding the Wildfire Recovery Compensation Fund,” aims to inform residents affected by the Jan. 7 Eaton Fire about eligibility and claims processes.

Ahead of the event KBLA host Tavis Smiley sharply criticized Edison’s absence, saying the utility “cannot be trusted” and accusing it of “gaslighting” the Altadena community.

“After destroying lives and property and then creating a settlement fund that consumer advocates have called ‘fast but not fair,’ now Edison chose to cancel its participation in a town hall designed to give African American families in particular a chance to ask pertinent questions,” Smiley said on air.

Edison said it initially expressed interest in attending the event but made clear it would not participate if any plaintiffs’ attorneys were involved, citing potential ethical conflicts.

After learning that a plaintiff’s attorney would be present and that the attorney’s firm was listed as an event sponsor on KBLA’s website, the utility withdrew.

“We are not participating in public events with plaintiffs’ attorneys, as we expect many attendees are represented by attorneys, as is SCE,” the utility wrote in an online article. “This can create ethical challenges, which can be avoided when lawyers and law firms do not participate.”

Edison said it offered to participate in an interview instead and that the offer remains open.

The utility stated that it had requested to appear live on Smiley’s morning show to clarify the facts about the town hall, but the request was declined.
The town hall proceeded without Edison and featured two panels of civic leaders, educators, and advocates, including representatives from the Pasadena NAACP, Altadena Talks, and the Pasadena Community Coalition.

Edison invited residents to attend a virtual community meeting led by Pizarro on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. The utility said its first community meeting, held Nov. 1 in Pasadena, drew about 200 attendees, and that it has hosted more than a dozen prior sessions with community members, public officials, and legal representatives.

“The residents of the Altadena community have experienced a great deal of challenges this year, and we believe they deserve the facts,” Edison’s article concluded. Community members may sign up for the Wildfire Recovery Compensation program at sce.com/directclaims.