So Cal Edison Offers Direct Payments and Expedited Claim Resolution to Eaton Fire Victims

Southern California Edison announced Wednesday it will launch a comprehensive Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program this fall, offering direct payments and expedited claim resolution to individuals and businesses affected by the Eaton Fire.

The program will cover a broad range of damages, including total and partial structure loss, commercial property loss, business interruption, smoke and ash, physical injury and fatalities. Participation will be voluntary and open to owners, renters, and those with insurance — with no application, administrative, or legal fees charged by SCE. Participants may apply with or without an attorney.

Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International, SCE’s parent company, emphasized that community members need not wait for conclusions from the fire investigation to receive aid.

“Even though the details of how the Eaton Fire started are still being evaluated, SCE will offer an expedited process to pay and resolve claims fairly and promptly,” Pizarro said. “This allows the community to focus more on recovery instead of lengthy, expensive litigation.”

Local attorneys have criticized the proposal.

“Experience suggests that these direct payments for victims are neither quick, nor easy, nor equitable. PG&E offered a similar program and wildfire victims ended up receiving inadequate compensation, and it didn’t happen fast,” said Pasadena attorney Doug Boxer of LA Fire Justice.

To design the program, SCE is working with Kenneth R. Feinberg and Camille S. Biros, widely recognized experts in compensation fund administration. The two previously led programs including the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and have over 35 years of experience resolving high-profile disaster claims.

Feinberg said the program will be modeled on direct claims processes they’ve developed previously to efficiently and equitably address losses.

“The goal for SCE’s Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program is to model the program after several successful direct claims programs we have designed,” Feinberg said. “These programs can quickly and fairly compensate individuals and businesses that have experienced losses resulting from these tragic events.”

Feinberg and Biros will continue consulting on the launch and implementation of the program but will not be involved in reviewing claims or administering the program.

Additional program details, including eligibility criteria, documentation requirements and residency verification procedures, will be shared later this summer. SCE will seek input from plaintiff attorneys, elected officials and other stakeholders prior to finalizing the program’s design. The initiative is expected to operate through 2026.

Pizarro added that “the architecture and timing of the SCE direct claims program will be instrumental in efficiently managing funding resources, mitigating interest costs and minimizing inflationary pressures so funds can address actual claims and fairly compensate community members for their losses.”

Southern California Edison has served the Altadena community for nearly 140 years and continues to invest in long-term infrastructure improvements. Plans include undergrounding 63 circuit miles of distribution lines, evaluating another 19 miles, and deploying advanced grid technologies to enhance resilience and service restoration.

SCE is a subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE: EIX) and serves approximately 15 million residents across a 50,000-square-mile service area in Central, Coastal and Southern California.